Patent ID: 7444413

Claim:
A method for authorization access controlled content exchange, the method comprising actions of: causing a plurality of content indexes to be searched to locate a match to requested content, each content index of the plurality of content indexes corresponding to content stored at a target client device of a plurality of target client devices; locating a content match responsive to the causing action, the content match corresponding to the requested content and having predefined authorization access information; determining whether predetermined authorization access information associated with a requesting client device comports with the predefined authorization access information; if not, denying access to the requested content to a user; and if so, providing access to the requested content to the user; wherein the action of providing comprises: transferring the requested content from a target client device of the plurality of target client devices to the requesting client device; and enabling the user to view the requested content via the requesting client device; wherein the action of determining comprises: comparing a plurality of rights holders from the predetermined authorization access information to a rights holder from the predefined authorization access information; and comparing subscription date information from the predetermined authorization access information to an original broadcast date of the requested content from the predefined authorization access information; and wherein the plurality of content indexes are at least co-located with a head end of a multimedia content distribution system; and wherein the locating action is performed by the head end.