Authorization systems, methods, and computer program products

A method of providing secure multimedia services from a media server receiving a streaming request from a user having a password belonging to a group of passwords associated with a number of different media streaming performance service levels, said method comprising:

• receiving a user stream request and the password from a user;
• evaluating the password to identify whether to comply with the user stream request and to determine a media streaming performance service level for the user from among the number of different media streaming performance levels based on the password;
• and
• determining if a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level for said user is available.

A method of providing secure multimedia services from a media server receiving a streaming request from a first user having a password belonging to a group of passwords associated with different service levels, said method comprising:

• receiving a first user stream request and the password from the first user;
• evaluating the password to identifying whether to comply with the first user stream request and to determine a service level for the first user from among the number of different service levels, wherein the service level is higher than a predetermined entitlement associated with the password;
• and
• resetting the service level for the first user to a lower service level in response to a second user requesting multimedia services from the media server, wherein the second user has a higher status than the first user.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for authenticating a user requesting a media streaming performance with a server, said user having a password, the instructions, causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

• receiving, by the server, said password from said user;
• transmitting, by the server, said password to a remote password authentication authority, wherein the remote password authentication authority authenticates said user based on said password;
• receiving, by the server, a password authentication notice for said user from the remote password authentication authority;
• determining a media streaming performance service level for said user from among a number of different media streaming performance service levels based on said password of said user;
• and
• determining if a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level for said user is available.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions causing a computer to implement a method comprising;

• receiving a user stream request and a password from a user;
• and
• evaluating the password to identify whether to comply with the user stream request and to determine a media streaming performance service level for the user from among the number of different media streaming performance service levels based on the password;
• and
• determining if a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level for said user is available.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions providing secure multimedia services from a media server receiving a streaming request from a first user having a password belonging to a group of passwords associated with different service levels, the instructions, causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

• receiving a first user stream request and the password from the first user;
• evaluating the password to identify whether to comply with the first user stream request and to determine a service level for the first user from among the number of different service levels, wherein the service level is higher than a predetermined entitlement associated with the password;
• and
• resetting the service level for the first user to a lower service level in response to a second user requesting multimedia services from the media server, wherein the second user has a higher status than the first user.