User and device authentication for media services

Abstract

A user obtains access to particular services levels associated with media content. A user and devices associated with the user may be authenticated to access content at a particular service level such as a particular quality level, content level, resolution, limited viewing, unlimited simultaneous viewing, etc. When the user is authenticated at a device, content at an appropriate service level is selected and provided to the device. Authenticating the user at a device such as a set top box may involve receiving a manually entered login and password, a passcode transmitted from a mobile device, face detection, a mobile device authorization code sent using infrared or radio frequency transmission, or other mechanisms identifying that the user or the mobile device is in the vicinity or is periodically in the vicinity of the set top box.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a request to transmit a media stream to a first device, the media stream having been previously transmitted to a second device, the media stream having been terminated at a termination point when transmitted to the second device, the second device being a mobile device associated with a first user;   authenticating the first user at the first device, wherein authenticating the first user at the device includes verifying that the second device is in close proximity to the first device; and   transmitting the media stream to the first device, the media stream being transmitted beginning at the termination point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device is verified to be in close proximity to the first device by geo-location data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device is verified to be in close proximity to the first device by receiving a passcode from the second device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device is determined to be in close proximity to the first device based on wireless communication between the first device and the second device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a set top box and the second device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media stream is pre-recorded when transmitted to the first device, and wherein the media stream was transmitted live to the second device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media stream is transmitted to the first device at a different bit rate, resolution, or quality level than to the second device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining a service level for content accessible to the first user, the service level designating a first one or more content items that the first user is authorized to access.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the service level designates a second one or more content items that the first user is not authorized to access. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the media stream is selected from the first one or more content items that the first user is authorized to access. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 determining that the second device is no longer in proximity to the first device; and   terminating the media stream at a second termination point.   
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 memory operable to store a request to transmit a media stream to a first device, the media stream having been previously transmitted to a second device, the media stream having been terminated at a termination point when transmitted to the second device, the second device being a mobile device associated with a first user;   a processor operable to authenticate the first user at the first device, wherein authenticating the first user at the device includes verifying that the second device is in close proximity to the first device; and   a communications interface to transmit the media stream to the first device, the media stream being transmitted beginning at the termination point.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second device is verified to be in close proximity to the first device by geo-location data. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second device is verified to be in close proximity to the first device by receiving a passcode from the second device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second device is determined to be in close proximity to the first device based on wireless communication between the first device and the second device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first device is a set top box and the second device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the media stream is pre-recorded when transmitted to the first device, and wherein the media stream was transmitted live to the second device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the media stream is transmitted to the first device at a different bit rate, resolution, or quality level than to the second device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
 determine a service level for content accessible to the first user, the service level designating a first one or more content items that the first user is authorized to access, the service level designating a second one or more content items that the first user is not authorized to access.   
     
     
         20 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon for performing a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to transmit a media stream to a first device, the media stream having been previously transmitted to a second device, the media stream having been terminated at a termination point when transmitted to the second device, the second device being a mobile device associated with a first user;   authenticating the first user at the first device, wherein authenticating the first user at the device includes verifying that the second device is in close proximity to the first device; and   transmitting the media stream to the first device, the media stream being transmitted beginning at the termination point.