Apparatus and Method for Protecting Media Content Rights

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising:   monitoring for media content that is distributable, the monitoring comprising polling media content sources communicating with the processing system via a network, wherein the media content is adapted for distribution to a communication device of a user, wherein the media content has content rights parameters associated therewith for limiting distribution of the media content;   obtaining network topology information from a topology database that includes local restrictions on displaying media content and location information associated with the communication device;   generating rights control data based on the content rights parameters and the network topology information;   detecting an attempt to access the media content by the communication device; and   transmitting the rights control data over the network to the communication device to control a presentation of the media content at the communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the network topology information comprises monitoring a dynamic nature of a network topology of the network, wherein the monitoring the dynamic nature of the network topology comprises retrieving at least a portion of the network topology information from a plurality of network elements included in the network. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the retrieving the at least the portion of the network topology information comprises determining when the plurality of network elements go on-line and go off-line. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the content rights parameters based on a type of communication device used to purchase of the media content. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise propagating the rights control data to a plurality of communication devices coupled to the network and associated with the user. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the content rights parameters based on a purchase of the media content. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution of the media content to the communication device is limited in accordance with a type of communication protocol utilized by the communication device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise provisioning a content capability matrix with the content rights parameters. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise updating the content capability matrix based on new media content identified by the monitoring. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise updating a user profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 monitoring, by a processing system including a processor, for media content that is distributable, the monitoring comprising polling media content sources communicating with the processing system via a network, wherein the media content is adapted for distribution to a communication device of a user, wherein the media content has content rights parameters associated therewith for limiting distribution of the media content;   obtaining, by the processing system, network topology information from a topology database that includes local restrictions on displaying media content and location information associated with the communication device;   generating, by the processing system, rights control data based on the content rights parameters and the network topology information;   detecting, by the processing system, an attempt to access the media content by the communication device; and   transmitting, by the processing system, the rights control data over the network to the communication device to control a presentation of the media content at the communication device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the presentation of the media content is limited based on a time of day. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the monitoring comprises polling a plurality of media content sources communicating with the communication device via the network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising doing, by the processing system, adjusting the content rights parameters based on a type of communication device used to purchase of the media content. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the distribution of the media content to the communication device is limited in accordance with a type of communication protocol utilized by the communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising provisioning, by the processing system, a content capability matrix with the content rights parameters. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising updating, by the processing system, the content capability matrix based on new media content identified by the monitoring. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
 monitoring for media content that is distributable, the monitoring comprising polling media content sources communicating with the processor via a network, wherein the media content is adapted for distribution to a communication device of a user, wherein the media content has content rights parameters associated therewith for limiting distribution of the media content;   obtaining network topology information from a topology database that includes local restrictions on displaying media content and location information associated with the communication device;   generating rights control data based on the content rights parameters and the network topology information;   detecting an attempt to access the media content by the communication device; and   transmitting the rights control data over the network to the communication device to control a presentation of the media content at the communication device.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting the content rights parameters based on a type of communication device used to purchase of the media content. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the distribution of the media content to the communication device is limited in accordance with a type of communication protocol utilized by the communication device.