# US 12,225,253 B2 · Agnostic media delivery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,253 B2 - Document ID: US12225253B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/656,610 - Filed: 2022-03-25 - Published: 2022-10-13 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-27 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Gregory N. Christie; Alessandro Sabatelli; William M. Bachman; Imran Chaudhri; Jeffrey Robbin; Jim Young; Joe Howard; Marcel Van Os; Patrick L Coffman; Stephen O. Lemay; Jeffrey Ma; Lynne Kress - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225253B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/2541: {Rights Management (protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08)} - H04N 21/232: Content retrieval operation {locally} within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays {(storage management G06F3/0604; details of querying and searching of video data from a database G06F16/739)} - H04N 21/25875: {involving end-user authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)} - H04N 21/25891: {being end-user preferences (retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N 21/2665: Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite - H04N 21/4415: using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning {(cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861)} - H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04N 21/4627: Rights management {associated to the content (security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08)} - H04N 21/4668: {for recommending content, e.g. movies} - H04N 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand} - H04N 21/4821: {using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time} - H04N 21/4826: {using recommendation lists, e.g. of programmes or channels sorted out according to their score} - H04N 21/8456: {by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Systems and methods for a media content delivery service. A media content provider includes a data store for storing and serving media content to subscribers. The media content provider continually records and or otherwise stores video and audio content from around the world. Stored content will generally correspond to a large number of other media content providers, such as cable television operators, Internet based media content providers, television networks, and so on. Subscribers to the media provider interact with the media content provider via hardware and/or software mechanisms either provided by the media content provider or conforming to specifications of the media content provider. Based on these subscriber's subscriptions to the other content providers, the subscribers will have viewing, listening, or application execution privileges for content maintained in the data store. Content of a subscriber corresponding to multiple video content providers is maintained and served by a single provider. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: at a first electronic device in communication with one or more input devices: receiving, via the one or more input devices, an indication of interaction with the first electronic device, wherein the indication of interaction is different from a request to access media content; and in response to receiving the indication of interaction with the first electronic device: in accordance with a determination that a subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating a process to identify a user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device operates using first one or more settings after initiating the process to identify the user when one or more criteria are satisfied; and in accordance with a determination that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is not enabled, operating the first electronic device using second one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings; and after initiating the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device: in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are satisfied, including a first criterion that is satisfied when identification of the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is successful and including a second criterion that is satisfied when the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is associated with a content subscription, operating the first electronic device using the first one or more settings associated with the content subscription associated with the user; and in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are not satisfied operating the first electronic device using the second one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings that are associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes using biometric data associated with the user to identify the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes recognizing a voice of the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes identifying a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device and is associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is received without receiving an indication of interaction with the second electronic device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes initiating a pairing process between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, the method further comprising: in accordance with a determination that the pairing process is successful and that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the second electronic device is associated with a content subscription provider associated with the content subscription. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first one or more settings includes a setting enabling access to subscription content associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second indication of interaction with the first electronic device; and in response to receiving the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device, and in accordance with a determination that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating a process to identify a second user, different from the user, associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device; and after initiating the process to identify the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device, in accordance with a determination that one or more criteria are satisfied, including a first criterion that is satisfied when identification of the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device is successful and including a second criterion that is satisfied when the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device is associated with a second content subscription, different from the content subscription, operating the first electronic device using third one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings associated with the second content subscription associated with the second user and the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first one or more settings grant access to the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of interaction corresponds to launching an application stored on a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of interaction includes an indication of movement of a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of interaction includes a voice command directed to the first electronic device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the indication of interaction includes recognition of a voice of the user providing the voice command. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of interaction includes receiving biometric data from the user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the biometric data is detected at a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device, and received by the first electronic device from the second electronic device. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a first electronic device in communication with one or more input devices, cause the first electronic device to perform a method comprising: receiving, via the one or more input devices, an indication of interaction with the first electronic device, wherein the indication of interaction is different from a request to access media content; and in response to receiving the indication of interaction with the first electronic device: in accordance with a determination that a subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating a process to identify a user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device operates using first one or more settings after initiating the process to identify the user when one or more criteria are satisfied; and in accordance with a determination that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is not enabled, operating the first electronic device using second one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings; and after initiating the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device: in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are satisfied, including a first criterion that is satisfied when identification of the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is successful and including a second criterion that is satisfied when the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is associated with a content subscription, operating the first electronic device using the first one or more settings associated with the content subscription associated with the user; and in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are not satisfied, operating the first electronic device using the second one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings that are associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes using biometric data associated with the user to identify the user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes recognizing a voice of the user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes identifying a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device and is associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is received without receiving an indication of interaction with the second electronic device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes initiating a pairing process between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, the method further comprising: in accordance with a determination that the pairing process is successful and that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second electronic device is associated with a content subscription provider associated with the content subscription. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first one or more settings includes a setting enabling access to subscription content associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second indication of interaction with the first electronic device; and in response to receiving the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device, and in accordance with a determination that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating a process to identify a second user, different from the user, associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device; and after initiating the process to identify the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device, in accordance with a determination that one or more criteria are satisfied, including a first criterion that is satisfied when identification of the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device is successful and including a second criterion that is satisfied when the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device is associated with a second content subscription, different from the content subscription, operating the first electronic device using third one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings associated with the second content subscription associated with the second user and the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first one or more settings grant access to the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the indication of interaction corresponds to launching an application stored on a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the indication of interaction includes an indication of movement of a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the indication of interaction includes a voice command directed to the first electronic device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the indication of interaction includes recognition of a voice of the user providing the voice command. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the indication of interaction includes receiving biometric data from the user. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the biometric data is detected at a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device, and received by the first electronic device from the second electronic device. ### Claim 33 A first electronic device, comprising: one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: receiving, via one or more input devices, an indication of interaction with the first electronic device, wherein the indication of interaction is different from a request to access media content; and in response to receiving the indication of interaction with the first electronic device: in accordance with a determination that a subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating a process to identify a user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device operates using first one or more settings after initiating the process to identify the user when one or more criteria are satisfied; and in accordance with a determination that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is not enabled, operating the first electronic device using second one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings; and after initiating the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device: in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are satisfied, including a first criterion that is satisfied when identification of the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is successful and including a second criterion that is satisfied when the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is associated with a content subscription, operating the first electronic device using the first one or more settings associated with the content subscription associated with the user; and in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are not satisfied operating the first electronic device using the second one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings that are associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes using biometric data associated with the user to identify the user. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes recognizing a voice of the user. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes identifying a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device and is associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The first electronic device of claim 36, wherein the indication of interaction with the first electronic device is received without receiving an indication of interaction with the second electronic device. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The first electronic device of claim 36, wherein the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device includes initiating a pairing process between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, the one or more programs further including instructions for: in accordance with a determination that the pairing process is successful and that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating the process to identify the user associated with the indication of interaction with the first electronic device. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The first electronic device of claim 36, wherein the second electronic device is associated with a content subscription provider associated with the content subscription. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the first one or more settings includes a setting enabling access to subscription content associated with the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 41 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second indication of interaction with the first electronic device; and in response to receiving the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device, and in accordance with a determination that the subscriber authorization setting associated with the first electronic device is enabled, initiating a process to identify a second user, different from the user, associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device; and after initiating the process to identify the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device, in accordance with a determination that one or more criteria are satisfied, including a first criterion that is satisfied when identification of the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device is successful and including a second criterion that is satisfied when the second user associated with the second indication of interaction with the first electronic device is associated with a second content subscription, different from the content subscription, operating the first electronic device using third one or more settings, different from the first one or more settings associated with the second content subscription associated with the second user and the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 42 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the first one or more settings grant access to the content subscription associated with the user. ### Claim 43 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the indication of interaction corresponds to launching an application stored on a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device. ### Claim 44 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the indication of interaction includes an indication of movement of a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device. ### Claim 45 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the indication of interaction includes a voice command directed to the first electronic device. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The first electronic device of claim 45, wherein the indication of interaction includes recognition of a voice of the user providing the voice command. ### Claim 47 (depends on 33) The first electronic device of claim 33, wherein the indication of interaction includes receiving biometric data from the user. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The first electronic device of claim 47, wherein the biometric data is detected at a second electronic device, different from the first electronic device, that is in communication with the first electronic device, and received by the first electronic device from the second electronic device.