User status reports provided by an entertainment access system

Abstract

An entertainment access system is provided that enables a user to request and receive status reports that present current information concerning a wide variety of items pertaining to the user's devices, entertainment content and usage rights in a standard, predictable and consistent manner that enhances rather than hinders the user experience. In some illustrative examples, the user can request the status report from one of his devices that is registered with the entertainment access system. The entertainment access system responds by collecting and formatting the status information so that is can be conveniently displayed or otherwise rendered on the registered device. For instance, if the request is received from a cell phone device, which generally has a relatively small screen, the information may be presented in a relatively abbreviated format. On the other hand, if the request is received from the user's personal computer, the information may be presented by the entertainment access system to the personal computer in a more detailed or entirely different format than when the information is to be presented to a cell phone device.

1 . One or more tangible computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions therein that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform an act comprising:
 receiving a request for status information concerning a user permitted to receive entertainment content over a communications network from an entertainment access service;
 collecting the status information identifying entertainment content available to the user, one or more usage rights governing the user's right to use the entertainment content, and two or more devices associated with the user that are capable of rendering, and permitted to render, the entertainment content; 
 presenting the status information to the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The media of  claim 1  in which the status information is collected locally by one of the devices. 
     
     
         3 . The media of  claim 1  in which the request is received over the communication network from a first of the devices associated with the user, and further comprising presenting the status information in a predetermined format selected at least in part on specifications of the first device. 
     
     
         4 . The media of  claim 3  further comprising receiving a second request for the status information from a second of the devices associated with the user and further comprising presenting the status information in a second predetermined format selected at least in part on specifications of the second device. 
     
     
         5 . The media of  claim 1  in which the status information includes metadata concerning at least some of the entertainment content available to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The media of  claim 3  further comprising, after presenting the status information:
 receiving a second request for additional status information concerning at least one content item identified in the status information; presenting the additional status information to the user. 
 
     
     
         7 . The media of  claim 2  further comprising, after presenting the status information:
 receiving a second request for additional status information concerning at least one of the devices associated with the user and identified in the status information; 
 presenting the additional status information to the user. 
 
     
     
         8 . The media of  claim 7  in which the additional status information includes one or more types of entertainment content the user is permitted to receive on the at least one device. 
     
     
         9 . The media of  claim 8  in which the additional status information includes usage rights available to the user for the one or more types of entertainment content the user is permitted to receive on the at least one device. 
     
     
         10 . The media of  claim 4  in which the status information is presented along with a graphical icon through which the user generates the second request. 
     
     
         11 . The media of  claim 1  further comprising collecting at least part of the status information from a plurality of different third-party content providers. 
     
     
         12 . The media of  claim 3  in which the predetermined format is consistent for all devices of a particular type. 
     
     
         13 . A method implemented at least in part by a computing device, comprising:
 causing status information to be communicated to a user, the status information concerning a user permitted to receive entertainment content over the communications network from an entertainment access service; and   receiving the status information over the communications network from the entertainment access service, the status information including information identifying entertainment content available to the user, one or more usage rights governing the user's right to use the entertainment content, and two or more devices associated with the user that are capable of rendering, and permitted to render, the entertainment content.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  in which the status information is caused to be communicated in response to a request from the user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising causing a change in the user status and causing the status information to be communicated over the communications network in response to the change in user status. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising receiving the status information on a first device associated with the user, wherein the status information is presented on the first device in a predetermined format selected at least in part on specifications of the first device. 
     
     
         17 . One or more tangible computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions therein that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform an act comprising:
 collecting status information concerning a user permitted to receive entertainment content over a communications network from an entertainment access service, wherein the status information includes information identifying entertainment content available to the user, one or more usage rights governing the user's right to use the entertainment content, and two or more devices associated with the user that are capable of rendering, and permitted to render, the entertainment content; and   presenting the status information to the user.   
     
     
         18 . The media of  claim 17  further comprising presenting the status information to the user in a format determined at least in part on specifications of a device that will communicate the status information to the user. 
     
     
         19 . The media of  claim 18  in which the status information further includes metadata concerning at least some of the entertainment content available to the user. 
     
     
         20 . The media of  claim 17  further comprising presenting the status information to a user device in a predetermined format that is consistent for all devices of a particular type.