Method and apparatus to distribute media content

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to distribute media content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a client interface to receive a request from a wireless communication device for authorization to present media, the media received at the wireless communication device in an encrypted format. A database is to store an association of the wireless communication device and a wired network termination unit. A record interface is to, in response to the request for authorization, query the database based on an identifier of the wireless network communication device to determine whether the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via a wired communication path, and in response to determining that the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via the wired communication path authorize the wireless communication device to decrypt and present the transmitted media.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a database to store an association of a wireless communication device and a wired network termination unit, wherein a license is created to authorize the wireless communication device to decrypt and present any media that is authorized to be transmitted to the wired network termination unit;   a client interface to receive a request from the wireless communication device for receiving a media, the media to be sent to the wireless communication device in an encrypted format; and   a record interface to:
 query the database based on an identifier of the wireless communication device to determine whether the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via a wired communication path; and 
 in response to determining that the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via the wired communication path, transmitting the media to the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device is authorized to decrypt and present the media in accordance with the license, wherein at least one of the client interface or the record interface is implemented using hardware, and the media does not include the association of the wireless communication device and the wired network termination unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a video on demand server. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the video on demand server is to receive the media from at least one of: a media creator or a media distributor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a media storage to store the media. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wired network termination unit is at least one of: a cable modem, a satellite receiver, an optical network terminal unit, or a digital subscriber line modem. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the record interface includes at least one of: an application server, an operational support system/business support system gateway, a domain controller, a subscriber and system store, an operational support system/business support system, or a simple network management protocol monitor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including at least one of: a live acquisition server or a video on demand importer. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 storing an association of a wireless communication device and a wired network termination unit in a database, wherein a license is created to authorize the wireless communication device to decrypt, and present any media that is authorized to be transmitted to the wired network termination unit;   receiving a request from the wireless communication device for receiving a media, the media to be sent to the wireless communication device in an encrypted format;   querying the database based on an identifier of the w ireless communication device to determine whether the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via a wired communication path; and   in response to determining that the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via the wired communication path, transmitting the media to the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device is authorized to decrypt and present the media in accordance with the license, w herein at least one of the client interface or the record interface is implemented using hardware, and the media does not include the association of the wireless communication device and the wired network termination unit.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 in response to a request for a list of available media, transmitting the list of available media to the wireless communication device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the license is sent to the wireless communication device prior to transmitting the media to the wireless communication device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the media has a different format when received at the wired network termination unit than when received at the wireless communication device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting a notification to the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device is not authorized to receive the media.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the media comprises an Internet protocol television media. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wired network termination unit is at least one of: a cable modem, a satellite receiver, an optical network terminal unit, or a digital subscriber line modem. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication device is at least one of: a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a portable device or a handheld device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication device is transported from a first location to a second location by a consumer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the license is sent to the wireless communication device after transmitting the media to the wireless communication device. 
     
     
         18 . A tangible computer readable memory including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 storing an association of a wireless communication device and a wired network termination unit in a database, wherein a license is created to authorize the wireless communication device to decrypt and present any media that is authorized to be transmitted to the wired network termination unit;   receiving a request from the wireless communication device for receiving a media, the media to be sent to the wireless communication device in an encrypted format;   querying the database based on an identifier of the wireless communication device to determine whether the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via a wired communication path; and   in response to determining that the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via the wired communication path, transmitting the media to the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device is authorized to decrypt and present the media in accordance with the license, wherein at least one of the client interface or the record interface is implemented using, hardware, and the media does not include the association of the wireless communication device and the wired network termination unit.   
     
     
         19 . The tangible computer readable memory of  claim 18 , the operations further comprising:
 in response to a request for a list of available media, transmitting the list of available media to the wireless communication device.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible computer readable memory of  claim 18 , wherein the license is sent to the wireless communication device prior to transmitting the media to the wireless communication device.