User status reports provided by an entertainment access system

• US 10,075,512 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Alkove, James M., Knowlton, Chadd B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Chau
• Application Number:
  US15/209,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20160323366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

An entertainment access system is provided that enables a user to request and receive status reports that present current information concerning a wide variety of items pertaining to the user'"'"'s devices, entertainment content and usage rights in a standard, predictable and consistent manner that enhances rather than hinders the user experience. In some illustrative examples, the user can request the status report from one of his devices that is registered with the entertainment access system. The entertainment access system responds by collecting and formatting the status information so that is can be conveniently displayed or otherwise rendered on the registered device. For instance, if the request is received from a cell phone device, which generally has a relatively small screen, the information may be presented in a relatively abbreviated format. On the other hand, if the request is received from the user'"'"'s personal computer, the information may be presented by the entertainment access system to the personal computer in a more detailed or entirely different format than when the information is to be presented to a cell phone device.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising storage hardware having computer-readable instructions therein that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps comprising:

receiving, at an entertainment access service, a selection from a third party content provider associated with rendering content;

receiving a unique identifier of a device;

receiving, at the entertainment access service, a request to access the content;

determining that the request to access the content is from the device based upon the unique identifier and that the device is operative to render the content according to the selection associated with rendering the content; and

communicating permission to access the content to the device.

2. The article of claim 1 further comprising receiving entertainment content or indicia regarding entertainment content from the third-party content provider.

3. The article of claim 2 further comprising selecting one or more of resolution formats, file formats, or usage rights to associate with the entertainment content.

4. The article of claim 2 further comprising providing status information identifying entertainment content available to a user, one or more usage rights governing the user'"'"'s right to use the entertainment content, and two or more devices associated with the user that are capable of rendering, and permitted to render, the entertainment content.

5. The article of claim 1 further comprising receiving a selection of at least one of a format, a right, or a fee associated with the content or a content type.

6. The article of claim 1 further comprising instructing the third-party content provider to permit the device to access the content.

7. The article of claim 1 further comprising permitting the device to download the content.

8. The article of claim 1 further comprising adding the selection to a profile for the device.

9. The article of claim 1 further comprising altering user preferences for rendering the content on the device.

10. The article of claim 1 further comprising receiving a selection of at least one of a format, a right, or a fee based upon user preferences for rendering the content.

11. A computer-implemented method executed on a processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving, at an access service, a selection from a third party content provider associated with rendering content;

receiving, at the access service, a unique identifier of a device associated with an authorized user;

receiving, at the access service, a request to access the content; and

permitting the device to render the content based upon determining that the request to access the content is from the device based upon the unique identifier and that the device is configured to render the content according to the selection associated with rendering the content.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving a selection of at least one of a format, a right, or a fee associated with the content or a content type.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising instructing the third-party content provider to permit the device to access the content.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising instructing the third-party provider to transfer the content to the device.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising altering user preferences for rendering the content on the device.

16. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and memory including components comprising:

an access service operative to receive a selection from a third party content provider associated with rendering a content;

receive a unique identifier of a device;

receive a request to access the content;

determine whether the request to access the content is from an authorized user based upon the unique identifier and whether the device is appropriate for rendering the content according to the selection; and

permit the access requested if the device has a right to the content.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising receiving a selection of at least one of a format, a right, or a fee associated with the content or a content type.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising instructing the third-party content provider to permit the device to access the content.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising providing the device with access to the content for download.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising adding the selection to a profile for the device.