Systems and methods for sharing cost of a video-on-demand subscription with another subscriber

A method for a primary subscriber of a video subscription to share cost of the video subscription with a secondary subscriber, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from the secondary subscriber to share access to the video subscription;
• in response to receiving the request, providing the secondary subscriber with access to the video subscription;
• monitoring access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber;
• updating, based on the monitoring, a plurality of metrics corresponding to the access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber;
• determining, based on a metric of the plurality of metrics corresponding to the access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber, a first relative usage of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and a second relative usage of the video subscription by the secondary subscriber;
• calculating, based on the first relative usage of the video subscription, a first cost of sharing the video subscription, wherein the first cost is to be attributed to the primary subscriber;
• and
• calculating, based on the second relative usage of the video subscription, a second cost of sharing the video subscription, wherein the second cost is to be attributed to the secondary subscriber and wherein calculating the first cost and the second cost of sharing the video subscription further comprises:
• dividing a total cost of the video subscription between the first cost and the second cost such that the first cost is proportional to the first relative usage and the second cost is proportional second relative usage;
• determining whether the second cost exceeds a threshold cost;
• and
• in response to determining that the second cost exceeds the threshold cost:
• determining an additional amount by which the second cost exceeds the threshold cost;
• assigning the second cost to be a value that is at least one of the threshold cost plus some margin wherein the margin does not exceed the additional amount and the threshold cost minus some margin;
• assigning the first cost to be the total cost minus the second cost.

A system for a primary subscriber of a video subscription to share cost of the video subscription with a secondary subscriber, the system comprising:

• communication circuitry and control circuitry configured to:
• receive, using the communication circuitry, a request from the primary subscriber to share access to the video subscription;
• in response to receiving the request from the primary subscriber, determine whether the primary subscriber is eligible to share access by comparing the access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber for a previous pre-determined period of time to a threshold;
• update, based on the determining whether the primary subscriber is eligible to share access, an entry in a database to indicate that the video subscription is available for sharing;
• receive, using the communication circuitry, a request from the secondary subscriber to share access to the video subscription;
• in response to receiving the request, provide the secondary subscriber with access to the video subscription;
• monitor access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber;
• update, based on the monitoring, a plurality of metrics corresponding to the access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber;
• determine, based on a metric of the plurality of metrics corresponding to the access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber, a first relative usage of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and a second relative usage of the video subscription by the secondary subscriber;
• calculate, based on the first relative usage of the video subscription, a first cost of sharing the video subscription, wherein the first cost is to be attributed to the primary subscriber;
• and
• calculate, based on the second relative usage of the video subscription, a second cost of sharing the video subscription, wherein the second cost is to be attributed to the secondary subscriber.

A system for a primary subscriber of a video subscription to share cost of the video subscription with a secondary subscriber, the system comprising:

• communication circuitry and control circuitry configured to:
• receive, using the communication circuitry, a request from the secondary subscriber to share access to the video subscription;
• in response to receiving the request, provide the secondary subscriber with access to the video subscription;
• monitor access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber;
• update, based on the monitoring, a plurality of metrics corresponding to the access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber;
• determine, based on a metric of the plurality of metrics corresponding to the access of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and by the secondary subscriber, a first relative usage of the video subscription by the primary subscriber and a second relative usage of the video subscription by the secondary subscriber;
• calculate, based on the first relative usage of the video subscription, a first cost of sharing the video subscription, wherein the first cost is to be attributed to the primary subscriber;
• and
• calculate, based on the second relative usage of the video subscription, a second cost of sharing the video subscription, wherein the second cost is to be attributed to the secondary subscriber and wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when calculating the first cost and the second cost of sharing the video subscription, to:
• divide a total cost of the video subscription between the first cost and the second cost such that the first cost is proportional to the first relative usage and the second cost is proportional second relative usage;
• determine whether the second cost exceeds a threshold cost;
• and
• in response to determining that the second cost exceeds the threshold cost:
• determine an additional amount by which the second cost exceeds the threshold cost;
• assign the second cost to be a value that is at least one of the threshold cost plus some margin wherein the margin does not exceed the additional amount and the threshold cost minus some margin;
• assign the first cost to be the total cost minus the second cost.