Configuring user-customized services for networked devices
First Claim
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1. A service center for interfacing a plurality of media devices associated with a user to a plurality of media content providers, comprising:
- one or more processors; and
one or more computer readable storage devices storing the following;
an account management module that stores account information for a user, the account information including;
an identification of each of a plurality of media devices associated with the user; and
configuration settings to apply to each of the plurality of media devices such that each of the plurality of media devices is configured similarly, the configuration settings specifying a plurality of media content providers from which the user desires to receive media content, and including settings to enable each of the plurality of media devices to access content from each of the plurality of media content providers; and
a billing module that stores billing information for the user, the billing information including;
a payment account for the user; and
an indication of at least one of the plurality of media content providers at which the service center is authorized to use the payment account to purchase media content for the user;
wherein when the user accesses media content requiring purchase, from any of the plurality of media content providers, on any of the plurality of media devices, the billing module automatically arranges for payment to the media content provider for the access using the payment account.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for managing one or more aspects of a user'"'"'s relationship with one or more media devices or other information handling systems and one or more media content providers. In some embodiments, a service center functions as a central management point and includes various modules configured to provide the management services.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A service center for interfacing a plurality of media devices associated with a user to a plurality of media content providers, comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more computer readable storage devices storing the following; an account management module that stores account information for a user, the account information including; an identification of each of a plurality of media devices associated with the user; and configuration settings to apply to each of the plurality of media devices such that each of the plurality of media devices is configured similarly, the configuration settings specifying a plurality of media content providers from which the user desires to receive media content, and including settings to enable each of the plurality of media devices to access content from each of the plurality of media content providers; and a billing module that stores billing information for the user, the billing information including; a payment account for the user; and an indication of at least one of the plurality of media content providers at which the service center is authorized to use the payment account to purchase media content for the user; wherein when the user accesses media content requiring purchase, from any of the plurality of media content providers, on any of the plurality of media devices, the billing module automatically arranges for payment to the media content provider for the access using the payment account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method, performed by a service center for interfacing a plurality of media devices associated with a user to a plurality of media content providers, the method comprising:
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receiving account information from a user, the account information including an identification of each of a plurality of media devices associated with the user; receiving media content provider information from the user, the media account information identifying a plurality of media content providers from which the user desires to receive content on any of the plurality of media device; receiving billing information from the user, the billing information including; a payment account for the user; and an indication of at least one of the plurality of media content providers at which the service center is authorized to use the payment account to purchase media content for the user; storing the account information, media content provider information, and billing information; determining configuration settings to apply to each of the plurality of media devices to enable each of the plurality of media devices to receive content from each of the plurality of media content providers defined in the media content provider information; and applying the configuration settings to each of the plurality of media devices so that each of the plurality of media devices is configured similarly to receive content from each of the plurality of media content providers. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification