Apparatus and methods of open and closed package subscription

• US 8,528,029 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walker, Gordon Kent, Chen, An Mei, Collins, Bruce, Barone, Joseph, Charlebois, Mark, Pazos, Carlos Marcelo
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSME, NATASHA W
• Application Number:
  US11/270,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20070061860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,856 Days
• Field of Search: 725 9- 21, 725 86-104
• US Class Current: 725/97
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing and receiving media programming information including providing programming package information comprising attributes of a package of media presentation channels. Further, a subscription characteristic is defined that determines an ability subscribe to the package and to present the programming package information on a device. The device operates to compare the subscription characteristic with device-related subscription information. A subscription is allowed and/or the programming package information is presented on the device based on a predetermined relationship between the subscription characteristic and the device subscription information.

Claims

1. A method of providing media program information, comprising:

providing package information describing a package of media presentations associated with a billing and customer service (BCS) provider and an indication of whether the package has an OPEN or CLOSED state, the OPEN state indicating that the package is open for additional subscriptions regardless of a subscriber'"'"'s device type, and the CLOSED state indicating that the package is closed to additional subscriptions regardless of the subscriber'"'"'s device type but that the media presentations of the package are provided to devices that are associated with the BCS provider through a subscription agreement regardless of a type of the devices; and

transmitting the package information and the indication of whether the package has the OPEN or CLOSED state to one of the devices that is associated with the BCS provider through the subscription agreement, wherein the one of the devices is configured to display the media presentations of the package.

2. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

providing package information describing a package of media presentations and an indication of whether the package has an OPEN or CLOSED state, the OPEN state indicating that the package is open for additional subscriptions, and the CLOSED state indicating that the package is closed to additional subscriptions but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package and

transmitting the package information and the indication of whether the package has the OPEN or CLOSED state to a device configured to display the media presentations of the package.

3. A computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed, directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

providing package information describing a package of media presentations associated with a media provider and an indication of whether the package has an OPEN or CLOSED state, an OPEN state indicating that a package is open for additional subscriptions regardless of a subscriber'"'"'s device type and for which information may be displayed to all devices, and a the CLOSED state indicating that the a-package is closed to new subscribers but that the media presentations of the package are available to devices that are associated with the media provider through a subscription agreement; and

additional subscriptions regardless of the subscriber device type but for which existing subscriber may have information displayed regardless of the subscriber'"'"'s device type; and

transmitting the definition of the package information and the indication of whether the package has the OPEN or CLOSED state to a device one of the devices that is associated with the media provider through the subscription agreement, wherein the one of the devices is configured to display the media presentations of the package.

4. An apparatus for providing media program information, comprising:

means for providing package information describing a package of media presentations and an indication of whether the package of media presentations has a CLOSED state, the CLOSED state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

means for transmitting the the package information and the indication of whether the package has the CLOSED state to a device configured to display the media presentations of the package.

5. An apparatus for providing media program information, comprising:

a content server including package information defining a package of media presentations associated with a retailer, the package information comprising an indication of whether the package has an OPEN or CLOSED state, the OPEN state indicating that the package is open for additional subscriptions regardless of a subscriber'"'"'s device type, and the CLOSED state indicating that a package is closed to additional subscriptions but that the media presentations of the package are provided to devices that are associated with the retailer through a subscription agreement regardless of a type of the devices;

a generator operable to generate a message for transmission to one of the devices associated with the retailer through a subscription agreement, the message comprising the package information; and

a transmit subsystem operable to transmit the message comprising the package information including the indication of whether the package has the OPEN or CLOSED state to the one of the devices associated with the retailer through the subscription agreement.

6. A method of providing one or more packages of media programming, the method comprising:

providing information describing a first programming package of media presentations that is open for new subscriptions to a plurality of devices regardless of a type of the devices;

providing information describing a second programming package of media presentations that has been closed to new subscriptions;

permitting a subscription to the first programming package to any of the plurality of devices such that the media presentations of the first programming package are available to any of the plurality of devices; and

substantially concurrently permitting a presentation of the media presentations of the second programming package only to those of the plurality of devices that are currently subscribed to the second programming package, wherein subscribers not currently subscribed to the second programming package are prohibited from subscribing to the second programming package so as to prevent additional subscriptions to the second programming package.

7. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

providing information describing a first programming package of media presentations;

providing information describing a second programming package of media presentations;

permitting a presentation of the media presentations of the first package and the media presentations of the second package for a first subscriber having a subscription to the first programming package and the second programming package; and

permitting a presentation of the media presentations of the first package and prohibiting presentation of the media presentations of the second package for a second subscriber having a subscription to the first package but not to the second package, wherein the second subscriber is prohibited from requesting a subscription to the second package.

8. A computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed, directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

providing information describing a first programming package of media presentations;

providing information describing a second programming package of media presentations;

permitting a presentation of the media presentations of information describing both the first package and the second package for a first subscriber having a subscription to both the first programming package and the second programming package; and

permitting a presentation of the media presentations of information describing the first package and prohibiting a presentation of the media presentations of information describing the second package for a second subscriber having a subscription to the first package but not to the second package, wherein the second subscriber is prohibited from requesting a subscription to the information describing the second package.

9. An apparatus for providing media program information, comprising:

a means for providing information describing a first programming package of media presentations;

a means for providing information describing a second programming package of media presentations;

a means for permitting a presentation of the media presentations of both the first package and the second package for a first subscriber having a subscription to both the first programming package and the second programming package; and

a means for permitting a presentation of the media presentations of the first package and for prohibiting a presentation of the media presentations of the second package for a second subscriber having a subscription to the first package but not to the second package, wherein the second subscriber is prohibited from requesting a subscription to the second package.

10. An apparatus for providing media program information, comprising:

a content server comprising a first set of package information describing a first media programming package of media presentations having a first subscription characteristic, the content server further comprising a second set of package information describing a second media programming package of media presentations having a second subscription characteristic, wherein the second programming package is different from the first programming package, and wherein at least one of the first subscription characteristic and the second subscription characteristic is operable to permit a presentation of the media presentations of the corresponding programming package only on a device having a current subscription to the corresponding programming package while prohibiting any new subscriptions to the corresponding package regardless of device type; and

a generator operable to generate a message for transmission across a network, the message comprising the first set of package information, the second set of package information, the first subscription characteristic and the second subscription characteristic, the message enabling the presentation of the media presentations of the first and second programming packages only on those devices having a current subscription to the corresponding package regardless of device type, wherein devices not having the current subscription to the corresponding package are prohibited from requesting a subscription to the corresponding package.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a subscription manager module operable to receive a request for a subscription to the programming package having a subscription characteristic operable to prohibit any new subscriptions, the subscription manager module further operable to generate a denial of the subscription request based on the subscription characteristic.

12. A method of receiving media programming information on a device, comprising:

receiving, on a device, programming package information describing a package of media presentation channels;

receiving, on the device, an indication of whether a subscription to the package of media presentation channels is OPEN or CLOSED to additional subscribers, wherein the device is configured to present the media presentations of the package;

allowing a request to subscribe to the package for the package being indicated as OPEN to additional subscribers; and

presenting one of the media presentation channels of the programming package on the device for the programming package being indicated as being CLOSED to additional subscribers and the device being already subscribed to the programming package regardless of a subscriber'"'"'s device type.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein presenting further comprises displaying the package in a list of packages available for subscription.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein presenting further comprises displaying at least one channel associated with the package in a media presentation guide.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the device has a subscription to the package and the presenting further comprises displaying a presentation associated with the package.

16. An apparatus for receiving media program information, comprising:

a computer platform operable to present media content;

a data repository comprising programming package information for at least one package and device subscription information indicating the packages to which the device is currently subscribed, the programming package information describing a package of channels including a subscription characteristic that indicates whether the programming package is open for additional subscriptions regardless of subscriber device type; and

a media manager module that determines if the channels of a package may be displayed based on states of the subscription characteristic of the package and the device subscription information regardless of subscriber device type, the media manager module operable to initiate presentation of one of the channels of the package on the device based on the package permission decision regardless of subscriber device type, and the media manager operable to prohibit requests for subscribing to the programming package when the media manager module determines that the package is not open to additional subscriptions.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the predetermined relationship comprises the subscription characteristic having a closed state and the device subscription information indicating an existing subscription to the package.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the predetermined relationship comprises the subscription characteristic indicating that the package is open to new subscriptions.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the subscription characteristic comprises one of a first state or a second state, wherein the first state indicates that the package is closed to new subscriptions and has a limited permission to present the programming package information and the second state indicates an unlimited ability to subscribe to and present the programming information.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a permission controller that generates a permission decision that allows the media manager module to present the package information when the subscription characteristic comprises the first state and the device subscription information indicates an existing subscription to the programming package.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the permission controller generates a permission decision that prohibits the media manager module from requesting a subscription to the package, and which prohibits the media manager module from presenting the package information, when the subscription characteristic comprises the first state and the device subscription information indicates a lack of a subscription to the programming package.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the permission controller generates a permission decision that allows the media manager module to present the package information when the subscription characteristic comprises the second state.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the media manager module is operable to initiate a view of the package in a list packages available for subscription.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the media manager module is operable to initiate a view of at least one channel associated with the package in a media presentation guide.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the media manager module is operable to initiate generating a view of a presentation associated with the package.

26. A method of providing package information, comprising:

providing package information relating to a package of media presentations,

providing a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

transmitting the package information and the first package subscription information to a device configured to display the media presentations of the package.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

providing a second package subscription information that is used to determine whether the device can present one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the second package subscription information is used to determine whether the device can present all of the media presentations of the package of media presentations.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is associated with the closed state, further comprising:

presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, further comprising:

presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentations.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of a package weight used by the device to determine the order in which the package information is presented relative to package information of other packages; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is required in order to subscribe to the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is excluded after subscribing the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

34. A method of receiving package information, comprising:

receiving, by a device, package information relating to a package of media presentations, wherein the device is configured to display the media presentations of the package;

receiving a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

allowing a request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a second package subscription information corresponding to presenting one of the package of media presentations, wherein the second package subscription information is distinct from the first package subscription information; and

comparing the second package subscription information to information stored on the device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, the method further comprising:

presenting, on the device, the one of the media presentations of the package, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentations.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the package of media presentations is associated with a billing and customer service (BCS) provider and the device is associated with the BCS provider through a subscription agreement.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a second package subscription information comprising a package weight;

determining, based on the package weight, an order in which to present the package information relative to other package information corresponding to other packages of media presentations; and

presenting, on the device, at least some of the package information in accordance with the determined order.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

the allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations further comprises allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state and the device is subscribed to the at least one other package.

40. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

preventing the device from subscribing to the at least one other package of media presentations, wherein the device is subscribed to the package of media presentations.

41. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

providing package information relating to a package of media presentations,

providing a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

transmitting the package information and the first package subscription information to a device configured to display the media presentations of the package.

42. The at least one processor of claim 41 configured to perform the further actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is used to determine whether the device can present one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

43. The at least one processor of claim 42, wherein the second package subscription information is used to determine whether the device can present all of the media presentations of the package of media presentations.

44. The at least one processor of claim 42, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is associated with the closed state, and configured to perform the further actions of:

presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information.

45. The at least one processor of claim 42, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, and configured to perform the further actions of:

presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentations.

46. The at least one processor of claim 41 configured to perform the further actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of a package weight used by the device to determine the order in which the package information is presented relative to package information of other packages; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

47. The at least one processor of claim 41 configured to perform the further actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is required in order to subscribe to the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

48. The at least one processor of claim 41 configured to perform the further actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is excluded after subscribing the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

49. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

receiving, by a device, package information relating to a package of media presentations, wherein the device is configured to display the media presentations of the package;

receiving a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

allowing a request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state.

50. The at least one processor of claim 49 configured to perform the further actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information corresponding to presenting one of the package of media presentations, wherein the second package subscription information is distinct from the first package subscription information; and

comparing the second package subscription information to information stored on the device.

51. The at least one processor of claim 50, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, and configured to perform the further actions of:

presenting, on the device, the one of the media presentations of the package, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentation.

52. The at least one processor of claim 49, wherein the package of media presentations is associated with a billing and customer service (BCS) provider and the device is associated with the BCS provider through a subscription agreement.

53. The at least one processor of claim 49 configured to perform the further actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information comprising a package weight;

determining, based on the package weight, an order in which to present the package information relative to other package information corresponding to other packages of media presentations; and

presenting, on the device, at least some of the package information in accordance with the determined order.

54. The at least one processor of claim 49 configured to perform the further actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

the allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations further comprises allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state and the device is subscribed to the at least one other package.

55. The at least one processor of claim 49 configured to perform the further actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

preventing the device from subscribing to the at least one other package of media presentations, wherein the device is subscribed to the package of media presentations.

56. A computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed, directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

providing package information relating to a package of media presentations,

providing a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

transmitting the package information and the first package subscription information to a device configured to display the media presentations of the package.

57. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 56, that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is used to determine whether the device can present one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

58. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the second package subscription information is used to determine whether the device can present all of the media presentations of the package of media presentations.

59. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is associated with the closed state, and that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information.

60. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, and that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentations.

61. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 56 that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of a package weight used by the device to determine the order in which the package information is presented relative to package information of other packages; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

62. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 56 that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is required in order to subscribe to the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

63. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 56 that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is excluded after subscribing the package of media presentations; and

transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

64. A computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed, directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

receiving, by a device, package information relating to a package of media presentations, wherein the device is configured to display the media presentations of the package;

receiving a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

allowing a request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state.

65. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 64, that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information corresponding to presenting one of the package of media presentations, wherein the second package subscription information is distinct from the first package subscription information; and

comparing the second package subscription information to information stored on the device.

66. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 65, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, and that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

presenting, on the device, the one of the media presentations of the package, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentation.

67. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 64, wherein the package of media presentations is associated with a billing and customer service (BCS) provider and the device is associated with the BCS provider through a subscription agreement.

68. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 64, that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information comprising a package weight;

determining, based on the package weight, an order in which to present the package information relative to other package information corresponding to other packages of media presentations; and

presenting, on the device, at least some of the package information in accordance with the determined order.

69. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 64, that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

the allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations further comprises allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state and the device is subscribed to the at least one other package.

70. The computer program resident in a non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 64, that further directs a computer device to perform the actions of:

receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

preventing the device from subscribing to the at least one other package of media presentations, wherein the device is subscribed to the package of media presentations.

71. An apparatus for providing media program information, comprising:

means for providing package information relating to a package of media presentations,

means for providing a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

means for transmitting the package information and the first package subscription information to a device configured to display the media presentations of the package.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

means for providing a second package subscription information that is used to determine whether the device can present one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations; and

means for transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the second package subscription information is used to determine whether the device can present all of the media presentations of the package of media presentations.

74. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is associated with the closed state, further comprising:

means for presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information.

75. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, further comprising:

means for presenting the one of the media presentations of the package of media presentations on the device, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentations.

76. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

means for providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of a package weight used by the device to determine the order in which the package information is presented relative to package information of other packages; and

means for transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

77. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

means for providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is required in order to subscribe to the package of media presentations; and

means for transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

78. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

means for providing a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations for which a subscription is excluded after subscribing the package of media presentations; and

means for transmitting the second package subscription information to the device with the package information and the first package subscription information.

79. An apparatus for providing media program information, comprising:

means for receiving, by a device, package information relating to a package of media presentations, wherein the device is configured to display the media presentations of the package;

means for receiving a first package subscription information that indicates whether the package of media presentations is associated with a closed state, the closed state indicating that the package of media presentations is closed to new subscribers to the package but that the media presentations of the package are available to existing subscribers to the package; and

means for allowing a request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising:

means for receiving a second package subscription information corresponding to presenting one of the package of media presentations, wherein the second package subscription information is distinct from the first package subscription information; and

means for comparing the second package subscription information to information stored on the device.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package of media presentations is not associated with the closed state, further comprising:

means for presenting, on the device, the one of the media presentations of the package, wherein the information stored on the device corresponds to the second package subscription information, or the device requests, and receives, a subscription to the package of media presentations.

82. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the package of media presentations is associated with a billing and customer service (BCS) provider and the device is associated with the BCS provider through a subscription agreement.

83. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising:

means for receiving a second package subscription information comprising a package weight;

means for determining, based on the package weight, an order in which to present the package information relative to other package information corresponding to other packages of media presentations; and

means for presenting, on the device, at least some of the package information in accordance with the determined order.

84. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising:

means for receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

means for the allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations further comprises allowing the request to subscribe to the package of media presentations, wherein the first package subscription information indicates that the package is not associated with the closed state and the device is subscribed to the at least one other package.

85. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising:

means for receiving a second package subscription information that is indicative of at least one other package of media presentations; and

means for preventing the device from subscribing to the at least one other package of media presentations, wherein the device is subscribed to the package of media presentations.