A disclosed example apparatus to monitor a media device includes: an input to obtain a signal at a universal serial bus port of the media device; and a bit rate comparator to: determine the media device is involved in a data transfer if a bit rate of the signal exceeds a threshold; and determine the media device is not involved in the data transfer if the bit rate of the signal does not exceed the threshold.

A device may be configured to render at least one spatial region of 360-degree media content, which may include two or more spatial regions. The device may include a receiver configured to receive the 360-degree media content and metadata associated with the 360-degree content. The metadata may include a classification of a respective spatial region of the 360-degree media content. The device may further include a memory configured to store a user preference and a sensor configured to detect a user movement. The device may include a processor configured to determine that the user movement is associated with a rendering of the respective spatial region. The processor may further determine whether the classification complies with the user preference and alter the rendering of the respective spatial region if the classification violates the user preference.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for user authentication are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving a request to access a streaming service on an electronic device. The actions further include, in response to receiving the request to access the streaming service on the electronic device, determining, by the computing device, that a subscriber device is in a vicinity of the electronic device. The actions further include, based on determining that the subscriber device is in the vicinity of the electronic device, determining, by the computing device, a user identifier associated with the subscriber device. The actions further include determining that the user identifier is associated with a valid subscription to the streaming service. The actions further include providing data to access the streaming service.

Techniques described herein automatically identify, in a multimedia content, an advertiser from which an advertisement in the multimedia content originates and/or a brand to which the advertisement pertains. The system determines whether the identified advertiser and/or identified brand is specified in a not to be displayed list and if so, performs at least one of: presents alternative content during the time interval that the advertisement occupies in the multimedia content or skips over the advertisement in the multimedia content.

Techniques described herein automatically identify, in a multimedia content, an advertiser from which an advertisement in the multimedia content originates and/or a brand to which the advertisement pertains. The system determines whether the identified advertiser and/or identified brand is specified in a not to be displayed list and if so, performs at least one of: presents alternative content during the time interval that the advertisement occupies in the multimedia content or skips over the advertisement in the multimedia content.

Systems and methods are disclosed including techniques for rendering a 360-degree media content. Techniques disclosed include receiving a 360-degree media content and associated metadata that include a classification of a first spatial region from the received content. Techniques disclosed further include determining that a detected user movement is associated with a rendering of the first spatial region and determining whether the classification associated with the first spatial region complies with a stored user preference. If the classification violates the user preference, a path for gradually shifting the content rendering from a currently rendered spatial region to a spatial region that complies with the user preference is determined, and the received content is rendered according to the determined path.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a media server having a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate sending a data stream to a display device. The data stream may include an identification thereof. Upon receiving the identification from a user, the media server associates the data stream with the user. The media server may send to the user, a listing of the media services to which the user has subscribed. Upon receiving, from the user, a selection of a selected media service, the media server streams the selected media service to the display device over the data stream. The data stream may be controlled with the user for as long as the media server detects the user in a vicinity of the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Systems and methods for providing a user access to media assets associated with actions that affect the user's fantasy sports score. These systems and methods, upon receiving a notification of an action that affects the user's fantasy sports score, generate for display a media asset associated with the action that the user has a right to access by: identifying a media asset associated with the action, determining an access right of the media asset, and determining whether the user has a right to access the media asset based on the access right of the media asset and an access right granted to the user in a user subscription. This eliminates the need for the user to manually identify media assets associated with the action that the user has access to and ensures that the user does not miss viewing media assets associated with the actions.

A method includes determining, at a media device, a rating associated with an advertisement. The method also includes receiving, at the media device, information from one or more sensors, where the information indicates that a viewer (e.g., a child) is located within an area associated with the media device. The method includes determining whether the advertisement includes age-inappropriate content for the viewer based on the rating and based on the information. When the advertisement includes age-inappropriate content for the viewer, the method includes inhibiting display of the advertisement.

A method includes determining, at a media device, a rating associated with an advertisement. The method also includes receiving, at the media device, information from one or more sensors, where the information indicates that a viewer (e.g., a child) is located within an area associated with the media device. The method includes determining whether the advertisement includes age-inappropriate content for the viewer based on the rating and based on the information. When the advertisement includes age-inappropriate content for the viewer, the method includes inhibiting display of the advertisement.