Systems and methods for a customized media access user experience

Abstract

A custom graphical user interface is displayed in a media device accessed by a plurality of users upon authorization of access by a select user. The media device receives a request to display a custom graphical user interface, determines authorization for access, and receives data indicative of the custom graphical user interface associated with the select user. The media device may also select at least one command code compatible with the media device for configuring a remote control device to command the media device and transmit the command code to the remote control device for provision the remote control device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for displaying a custom graphical user interface on a media device accessed by a plurality of users, comprising:
 receiving a request to display a custom graphical user interface on the media device, the custom graphical user interface associated with a select user among the plurality of users, causing the media device to:
 determine authorization for access to the media device by the select user; 
 upon determining authorization, receive data at the media device indicative of the custom graphical user interface associated with the select user; 
 determine a media device identifier based on the received data indicative of the custom graphical interface, the media device identifier specifying a setting of the media device to display the custom graphical interface on a display coupled to the media device; and 
 select at least one command code compatible with the media device for configuring a remote control device to command the media device; and 
 transmit the at least one command code to the remote control device for provision the remote control device, where the remote control device will use the at least one command code to command interaction with the custom graphical user interface displayed on the media device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the media device to periodically verify authorization for access to the media device by the select user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein verifying authorization for access to the media device by the select user comprises receiving data by the media device indicative of a proximity of the select user relative to the media device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one command code compatible with the media device is selected based on stored configuration information for the remote control. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is located within an accommodation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining authorization for access to the media device by the select user comprises registering the select user with the accommodation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising causing the media device to remove all authorization for access to the media device by the select user when the user is no longer registered with the accommodation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is a television. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is a set top box coupled to a television. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is further caused to: receive data from a smart device associated with the select user and indicative of a smart device application to cause the media device to determine if the smart device application is compatible with the media device, to retrieve the compatible smart device application and to display the smart device application on the display coupled to the media device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the media device is further caused to: receive data from the smart device associated with the select user and indicative of login information necessary for authorization of the smart device application and to provide the login information to the retrieved compatible smart device application. 
     
     
         12 . A method for displaying a custom graphical user interface on a media device accessed by a plurality of users at an accommodation, comprising:
 receiving a request to display a custom graphical user interface on the media device, the custom graphical user interface associated with a select user among the plurality of users, causing the media device to:
 determine authorization for access to the media device by the select user; 
 upon determining authorization, receive data at the media device indicative of the custom graphical user interface associated with the select user; 
 determine a media device identifier based on the received data indicative of the custom graphical interface, the media device identifier specifying a setting of the media device to display the custom graphical interface on a display coupled to the media device; and 
 periodically verify authorization for access to the media device by the select user. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein verifying authorization for access to the media device by the select user comprises receiving data by the media device indicative of a proximity of the select user relative to the media device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising causing the media device to:
 receive data indicative of a remote control device proximate the media device; 
 select at least one command code compatible with the media device for configuring a remote control device to command the media device; and 
 transmit the at least one command code to the remote control device for provision the remote control device, where the remote control device will use the at least one command code to command interaction with the custom graphical user interface displayed on the media device. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one command code compatible with the media device is selected based on stored configuration information for the remote control. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining authorization for access to the media device by the select user comprises registering the select user with the accommodation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising causing the media device to remove all authorization for access to the media device by the select user when the user is no longer registered with the accommodation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising causing the media device to: receive data from a smart device associated with the select user and indicative of a smart device application to cause the media device to determine if the smart device application is compatible with the media device, to retrieve the compatible smart device application and to display the smart device application on the display coupled to the media device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the media device is further caused to: receive data from the smart device associated with the select user and indicative of login information necessary for authorization of the smart device application and to provide the login information to the retrieved compatible smart device application.