Patent ID: 7886318

Claim:
A set-top box comprising: a device interface for coupling to at least one external device; a network interface for coupling to a cable network; a television interface for coupling to a television; a remote control interface for receiving user initiated signaling via a remote control device; a processor, coupled to the television interface, the device interface, the remote control interface and the network interface that operates in accordance with a open cable application platform operating system layer that runs an application that includes the following steps: receiving user selection of media content via the remote control interface; receiving user selection of the at least one external device via the remote control interface, wherein the at least one external device is capable of storing and playing the media content independently from the set-top box; sending a request for the media content via the network interface to the cable network for a plurality of selected devices including the set top box and the at least one external device, the request identifying the plurality of selected devices; receiving the media content from the cable network via the network interface for playback via the television and the at least one external device, the media content including device specific digital rights for the set-top box and the at least one external device wherein the device specific digital rights allow playback by the plurality of selected devices and prohibit playback by other devices; and transferring the media content to at least one external device via the device interface.