Apparatus and method for providing media services subject to viewing restrictions

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, determining that a communication device is outside of a restricted viewing area associated with media content and transmitting the media content for presentation at the communication device responsive to that determination. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 transmitting, to a communication network, information describing whether the mobile communication device is outside a restricted viewing area for viewing first media content; 
 receiving a locked version of the first media content from the communication network responsive to the mobile communication device being outside the restricted viewing area; 
 unlocking the locked version of the first media content to generate an unlocked version of the first media content; and 
 presenting the unlocked version of the first media content. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving alternative media content from the communication network responsive to the mobile communication device not being outside the restricted viewing area; and   presenting the alternative media content.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the information is associated with a blackout notification for the first media content. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving third information associated with a location of the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise determining whether the mobile communication device is outside the restricted viewing area according to the third information. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communication device of  claim 4 , wherein third information comprises an internet protocol address and wherein the operations further comprise determining whether the mobile communication device is outside the restricted viewing area according to the internet protocol address. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the third information comprises global positioning system information and wherein the operations further comprise determining whether the mobile communication device is outside the restricted viewing area according to the global positioning system information. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the locked version of the first media content is encrypted and wherein the unlocking of the locked version of the first media content further comprises decrypting of the locked version. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a subscription offer from the communication network for viewing the first media content according to the mobile communication device being outside the restricted viewing area. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting an acceptance of a subscription offer from the communication network; and   receiving the unlocked version of the first media content responsive to the transmitting of an acceptance of the subscription offer.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise accessing third information from the communication network and wherein the unlocking of the locked version of the first media content is based on the third information. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 comparing, by a processing system comprising a processor, a current geographic location to first information associated with a locked version of first media content to determine whether the processing system is outside a restricted viewing area for viewing the first media content;   unlocking, by the processing system, the locked version of the first media content to generate an unlocked version of the first media content responsive to determining that the processing system is outside the restricted viewing area; and   presenting, by the processing system, an unlocked version of the locked version of the first media content.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the processing system and to a server via a communication network, second information describing that the processing system is inside the restricted viewing area, responsive to determining that the processing system is inside the restricted viewing area;   receiving, by the processing system and from the server, a subscription license associated with viewing the first media content inside the restricted viewing area; and   unlocking, by the processing system, the locked version of the first media content according to the subscription license.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the current geographic location of the processing system is determined according to global positioning system information. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the locked version of the media content is encrypted. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 accessing, by the processing system, second information associated with the locked version of the first media content; and   unlocking, by the processing system, the locked version of the first media content according to the second information to generate the unlocked version of the first media content.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processing system, alternative media content from a media source responsive to determining that the processing system is not outside the restricted viewing area; and   presenting, by the processing system, the alternative media content.   
     
     
         18 . A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 receiving, by a mobile communication device, first media content and first media content viewing area information from a media source;   obtaining a location of the mobile communication device;   determining whether the location is within the first media content viewing area information; and   requesting alternative media content responsive to the determining that the mobile communication device is inside the first media content viewing area information.   
     
     
         19 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 requesting a locked version of the first media content from the media source responsive to determining that the mobile communication device is not inside the first media content viewing area information; and   unlocking the locked version of the first media content to generate an unlocked version of the first media content.   
     
     
         20 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise presenting the alternative media content and receiving second information associated with the location of the mobile communication device.