Patent ID: 8068519

Claim:
An audio and video content distribution system with enhanced digital rights management configured for use with a source of programming, such system comprising: a plurality of network devices having a memory, wherein the plurality of network devices are configured to store or pre-cache locally at least an assigned partial content of an original file adapted to be stored in the memory, and wherein a network device of the plurality of network devices includes at least one of a receiver, a sender or any combination thereof; at least a missing content of the original file adapted to be reassembled with the assigned partial content during a playback of the original file; and at least a software layer capable of assigning at least a Media Access Control (MAC) address and at least an Internet Protocol (IP) address to said network devices, peripherals, and internal components of the audio and video content distribution system, wherein the assigned partial content is capable of being accessed directly, remotely or shared between said network devices keeping intact the digital rights policies of the content owner, wherein during the playback of the original file at least one network device, digital rights management (DRM) are used to check the rights of the playback, and wherein each of the network devices reconstructs the original file using DRM with the assigned partial content and the missing content using the assigned MAC and IP address, wherein the software layer is capable of virtualizing the peripherals, the network devices, and groups of the peripherals and the network devices into single addressable group of components.