Preload-Supported Concurrent Video Stream Limiting

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that when executed, control a computer system to be configured for:

• receiving a request to open a second stream for an upcoming second live media program for a user before a first live media program that is currently being streamed on a first stream ends, wherein a same device that requested the second stream has the first stream open;
• accessing a device identifier database to determine current device identifiers associated with devices in which the user is currently using to receive media programs;
• determining whether a device identifier associated with a device that sent the request is found in the current device identifiers to enforce a per device stream limit for the user to determine whether to allow the request to open the second stream;
• and
• in response to determining that the device identifier for the request is found in the current device identifiers, allowing the request to open the second stream on the same device as the first stream based on determining that the per device stream limit for the user is not violated.

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors to be configured for:
• receiving a request to open a second stream for an upcoming second live media program for a user before a first live media program that is currently being streamed on a first stream ends, wherein a same device that requested the second stream has the first stream open;
• accessing a device identifier database to determine current device identifiers associated with devices in which the user is currently using to receive media programs;
• determining whether a device identifier associated with a device that sent the request is found in the current device identifiers to enforce a per device stream limit for the user to determine whether to allow the request to open the second stream;
• and
• in response to determining that the device identifier for the request is found in the current device identifiers, allowing the request to open the second stream on the same device as the first stream based on determining that the per device stream limit for the user is not violated.