A system and method for notifying client devices in a subscriber account that the account is undersubscribed and no further client devices can stream media content until other client devices are no longer actively streaming media content is disclosed herein. The method comprises receiving a request to receive and play the media content from a requesting client device, the requesting client device being one of a plurality of client devices enabled to receive media content according to a subscriber account and determining if the subscriber account is undersubscribed; if the subscriber account is not undersubscribed. If the subscriber account is not undersubscribed, initiating transmission of the media content, and if the subscriber account is undersubscribed, information is transmitted to the requesting client device, the information including data indicating the subscriber account is undersubscribed without initiating the transmission of the media content.

A system (100) for enabling a user to select media content in an entertainment environment, comprising a remote control device (110) having a set of user-activated keys and a speech activation circuit adapted to enable a speech signal; a speech engine (160) comprising a speech recognizer (170); an application wrapper (180) configured to recognize substantive meaning in the speech signal; and a media content controller (190) configured to select media content. Every function that can be executed by activation of the user-activated keys can also be executed by the speech engine (160) in response to the recognized substantive meaning.

A media system includes a plurality of set-top boxes coupled to a coax network and a controller. The controller displays a first passkey to a user in response to receiving a request from the user to activate playback of a media content on a particular set-top box. The set-top box receives the first passkey from the user and determines whether the user is authorized to activate playback of the media content by comparing the first passkey received from the user with a second passkey obtained from a passkey module on the set-top box. When the user is determined by the set-top box to be authorized to activate playback of the media content, the set-top box determines a radio frequency channel of the coax network according to the first passkey received from the user and begins playback of the media content received on the radio frequency channel on a display device.

Mechanisms for presenting media content items using multiple devices are provided. In some embodiments, methods for presenting media content are provided that include: detecting an offer to initiate a purchase of a content item being presented using the media device, wherein the media device has not been authenticated with a content service that provides the content item; in response to detecting the offer to initiate the purchase of the content item when the media device has not been authenticated with the content service that provides the content item, causing the media device to be discoverable by one or more mobile devices that are connected to a same local area network as the media device; encoding offer data corresponding to the detected offer to initiate the purchase of the content item; in response to receiving a status request from a mobile device that is connected to the same local area network as the media device, transmitting the encoded offer data associated with the purchase of the content item to the mobile device, wherein the encoded offer data causes a payment user interface to be presented on the mobile device; receiving a cast request from the mobile device to cast the content item on the media device; and in response to the cast request, executing a receiver application on the media device that accepts the cast request from the mobile device and causes the content item to be presented using the media device.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a live event video stream service configured to distribute event video streams at diverse price levels, based on configuring video cameras to capture live event video streams from different locations, offering the video streams for purchase at prices based on the camera locations, and automatically maximizing profit by adjusting the quantity and price of the offered camera video streams. In an illustrative example, the cameras may be 360-degree video cameras. The camera locations may be, for example, preferred event viewing positions. In some examples, the cameras may be configured in live event viewing positions ranging from more preferred to less preferred, permitting a range of video stream prices determined based on each camera's position. Some embodiments may determine video stream price based on an auction. Various examples may advantageously maximize event profit based on adjusting the quantity and price of the offered video streams.

An apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal, includes a receiver configured to receive the broadcast signal including physical layer signaling data, signaling data, content data and service guide information, wherein the signaling data is included in a signal frame indicated by the physical layer signaling data, wherein the signaling data includes mapping information between a service and a PLP, and information supporting channel scanning and service acquisition, wherein the service guide information includes a service fragment having information about the broadcast service and a content fragment having information about content data of the broadcast service, wherein the content fragment further includes a content-level PrivateExt element having component information of the content data, wherein the component information includes information for a component in the broadcast service, and wherein the component is one of a video component, an audio component, and a closed caption component (CC).

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for enabling multiple users' digital rights to be applied as needed to access media while those users are present to consume media. In particular, a media guidance application may receive a selection of a media asset and determine that the user equipment device does not allow access to the media asset. In response, the media guidance application may identify all the users consuming content from that user equipment device and retrieve digital rights for each user. The media guidance application may compare the digital rights of each user with digital rights required to access the media asset. The media guidance application may, based on the comparison, identify a set of digital rights (e.g., for another user present) that enable access to the media asset, and use those digital rights to access the media asset for consumption.

In a system for integrating authentication of pay television streams for a sports gaming event using a graphical interface of a computing device application, the system including: a processor configured to: receive authentication information from a user; verify the authentication information with a media service provider; display a live video stream on the graphical interface in response to the verification of the authentication information; receive sports data about the sporting event via a network; access a database of historical statistics relating to the sporting event and to players playing in the sporting event; select at least one betting scenario from a betting scenario database based on the sports data and the historical statistics; display the at least one betting scenario on the graphical interface; and receive a response to the at least one betting scenario from the user.

A system (100) for enabling a user to select media content in an entertainment environment, comprising a remote control device (110) having a set of user-activated keys and a speech activation circuit adapted to enable a speech signal; a speech engine (160) comprising a speech recognizer (170); an application wrapper (180) configured to recognize substantive meaning in the speech signal; and a media content controller (190) configured to select media content. Every function that can be executed by activation of the user-activated keys can also be executed by the speech engine (160) in response to the recognized substantive meaning.

A method includes receiving, at a first device from a server via a first network associated with a wireless service, an offer for a content item that is deliverable via a multimedia service to a second device distinct from the first device. The offer is based on a characteristic of use of the second device. The method includes receiving, at the first device, input indicating acceptance of the offer. The method also includes sending, from the first device to the server via the wireless service, information indicating acceptance of the offer responsive to the input. Based on the information, the server is configured to send the content item to the second device.