Method for acquiring services on a multiplicity of devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10497005-B2
Application number	US-201816141336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2005
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for acquiring services on a multiplicity of devices. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a service management center (SMC) ( 100 ) that has a plurality of service centers ( 102 - 110 ) for supplying services to a corresponding plurality of devices ( 120 - 128 ), and a controller ( 112 ) for managing operations of the service centers. The controller is programmed to receive ( 202 ) from a select one of the devices an identification reference in response to a request for service by an end user, search ( 210 ) for one or more services associated with the identification reference, select ( 212 ) from the search results one or more services appropriate for the requesting device, and enable ( 220 ) the one or more services on the selected device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a system over a network from a target device, an identification reference associated with a video streaming service selected from among a group of services;
authenticating, by the system, the identification reference;
responsive to a determination that the identification reference is valid according to the authenticating, providing the target device with access to the video streaming service;
determining, by the system, whether the target device is associated with a subscription plan of a user; and
responsive to a determination that the target device is not associated with the subscription plan of the user, limiting the access of the target device to the service based on a number of different devices concurrently accessing the video streaming service.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identification reference is not associated with the target device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identification reference is inputted into the target device in association with a request for the service being generated by the target device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a graphical user interface for presentation by the target device, wherein the graphical user interface provides for a selection of the service from among the group of services.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing of the target device with access to the service is responsive to a second determination that the service is not enabled for the user on a second device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating of the identification reference comprises analyzing the identification reference in comparison to a group of identification references associated with the user, wherein a match with any of the group of identification references enables the determination that the identification reference is valid.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identification reference comprises facial scanning, voice scanning or a combination thereof performed by the target device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the limiting the access of the target device to the service comprises limiting the access to a time period.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service comprises providing of content for presentation, and further comprising adapting the content according to capabilities of the target device.

10. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
receiving, over a network from a target device, an identification reference associated with a service selected from among a group of services;
authenticating the identification reference to a user;
responsive to a determination that the identification reference is valid according to the authenticating, providing the target device with access to the service;
determining whether the target device is associated with a subscription plan of the user; and
responsive to a determination that the target device is not associated with the subscription plan of the user, limiting the access of the target device to the service based on a number of different devices concurrently accessing the service.

11. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the identification reference is not associated with the target device.

12. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the limiting the access of the target device to the service comprises limiting the access to a time period.

13. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the providing of the target device with access to the service is responsive to a second determination that the service is not enabled for the user on a second device.

14. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the authenticating of the identification reference comprises analyzing the identification reference in comparison to a group of identification references associated with the user, wherein a match with any of the group of identification references enables the determination that the identification reference is valid.

15. A server, comprising:
a memory that stores executable instructions; and
a controller coupled with the memory, wherein the controller, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising:
receiving, over a network from a target device, an identification reference associated with a service;
authenticating the identification reference;
responsive to a determination that the identification reference is valid according to the authenticating, providing the target device with access to the service;
determining whether the target device is associated with a subscription plan of a user; and
responsive to a determination that the target device is not associated with the subscription plan of the user, limiting the access of the target device to the service based on a number of different devices concurrently accessing the service.

16. The server of claim 15 , wherein the service is selected from among a group of services according to other user input at the target device and wherein the identification reference is not associated with the target device.

17. The server of claim 15 , wherein the limiting the access of the target device to the service comprises limiting the access to a time period.

18. The server of claim 15 , wherein the providing of the target device with access to the service is responsive to a second determination that the service is not enabled for the user on a second device.

19. The server of claim 15 , wherein the authenticating of the identification reference comprises analyzing the identification reference in comparison to a group of identification references associated with the user, wherein a match with any of the group of identification references enables the determination that the identification reference is valid.

20. The server of claim 15 , wherein the service comprises providing of content for presentation via the target device.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Deas David A
• Grannan Michael
• Desai Umesh M
• Doradla Anil
• Suryanarayana Lalitha
• Wolter David
• Nadarajah Dinesh

Classifications

• H04N7/17318

  Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests · CPC title

• H04N21/25816

  involving client authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06) · CPC title

• H04N21/25875

  involving end-user authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06) · CPC title

• H04N21/43622

  Interfacing an external recording device · CPC title

• G06Q20/127

  Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation · CPC title