Subscribing to Programming Packages

Abstract

Methods and systems for enabling users visiting a friend or family member to subscribe to a TV programming package that the friend or family member currently subscribes to. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a user-interface (UI) via the friend's set-top box to enable entry of visitor user identification information. This information, along with programming identification information is then sent to the service provider for the programming package. The service provider retrieves or generates information by which a UI may be generated to easily enable the visitor to setup and activate the programming package and sends it to the visitor's home set-top box. In another embodiment, programming package identification information is stored on a portable storage medium and carried to the visitor's home set-top box, where it is read to retrieve the identification information. The information is then sent to the service provider, which sends back appropriate data to generate the UI.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a first set-top box, information identifying a programming package included in a subscription of a first user; and   sending a request to a service provider to subscribe a second user to the programming package of the first user, the request including the information identifying the programming package of the first user, wherein the request is configured to cause the service provider to transmit a signal to a second set-top box associated with the second user, the signal configured to allow the second user to subscribe to the programming package of the first user.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the first set-top box, a selection of the programming package of the first user. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the first set-top box, a reward from the service provider after sending the request to the service provider. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the reward includes a credit to a subscription account of the first user. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request further includes identification information associated with the second user. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information identifying the programming package includes user identification information of the first user. 
   
   
       7 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request to subscribe a first user to a programming package included in a subscription of a second user, wherein the request includes information identifying the programming package;   determining the programming package using the received subscriber information; and   transmitting data to a set-top box associated with the first user, the data configured to enable addition of the programming package to a subscription of the first user.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the programming package using the received subscriber information includes identifying one or more programming packages included in the subscription of the second user. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising determining whether the first user subscribed to the programming package. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising rewarding the second user in response to determining that the first user subscribed to the programming package. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the request further includes identification information associated with the first user. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information identifying the programming package includes user identification information of the second user. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, at the apparatus, information identifying a programming package included in a subscription of a first user; and 
 sending a request to a service provider to subscribe a second user to the programming package of the first user, the request including the information identifying the programming package of the first user, wherein the request is configured to cause the service provider to transmit a signal to a set-top box associated with the second user, the signal configured to allow the second user to subscribe to the programming package of the first user. 
   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving, at the apparatus, a selection of the programming package of the first user. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving, at the apparatus, a reward from the service provider after sending the request to the service provider. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the reward includes a credit to a subscription account of the first user. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the request further includes identification information associated with the second user. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the information identifying the programming package includes user identification information of the first user.