Patent ID: 7664856

Claim:
A processor-executable method, comprising: monitoring resource usage levels of resources on an entertainment server, a network, and a plurality of network devices, as the entertainment server delivers media content to the one or more network devices via the network; determining, based on a desired policy, if one or more of the resource usage levels present a potential for resource contention on one or more of the resources on the entertainment server, the network, and the plurality of network devices; and if the potential for resource contention exists: transmitting a prompt to a high priority user at one of the plurality of network devices, the prompt extending the high priority user an opportunity to choose from one or more possible actions that can be taken to alter a user experience of a lower priority user at a second one of the plurality of network devices to avoid resource contention; changing delivery options of media content from the entertainment server to the lower priority user at the second one of the plurality of network devices in accordance with a possible action chosen by the high priority user to avoid media rendering disruptions that might otherwise result from resource contention; and mandating a highest quality user experience for a network device of the plurality of network devices having a highest quality display and degrading a quality for network devices having lower quality displays; and generating and issuing a report to the entertainment server, the network, and the plurality of network devices that confirms completion of the transmitting a prompt, the changing delivery options, and the mandating a highest quality user experience.