Video streaming control

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a media server having a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate sending a data stream to a display device. The data stream may include an identification thereof. Upon receiving the identification from a user, the media server associates the data stream with the user. The media server may send to the user, a listing of the media services to which the user has subscribed. Upon receiving, from the user, a selection of a selected media service, the media server streams the selected media service to the display device over the data stream. The data stream may be controlled with the user for as long as the media server detects the user in a vicinity of the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media server comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 associating a first sub-stream with a first user without the media server receiving a signal from a first display device; 
 sending a first data stream to the first display device, wherein the first data stream includes a first identification that identifies the first data stream; and 
 streaming a selected media service to the first display device over the first sub-stream responsive to receiving, from equipment of a first user, a selection of the selected media service of a plurality of media services to which the first user has subscribed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The media server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the plurality of media services to which the first user has subscribed according to first account information of the first user. 
     
     
         3 . The media server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a second data stream to a second display device, the second data stream including a second identification that identifies the second data stream. 
     
     
         4 . The media server of  claim 3 , wherein the first data stream is identical to the second data stream except that the first identification is different than the second identification. 
     
     
         5 . The media server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise embedding the first identification within the first sub-stream, wherein the first data stream further includes the first sub-stream and the first identification, and wherein the first data stream further includes a second sub-stream and a second identification that identifies the first data stream and the second sub-stream. 
     
     
         6 . The media server of  claim 5 , wherein the first sub-stream corresponds to a main screen displayable on the first display device and the second sub-stream corresponds to a sub-screen displayable on the first display device. 
     
     
         7 . The media server of  claim 6 , wherein the sub-screen of the first display device comprises a ticker displayable along an edge of the first display device or a picture-in-picture overlaying the main screen of the first display device. 
     
     
         8 . The media server of  claim 5 , wherein a second user may control the second sub-stream independently of the first sub-stream, such that both the first user and the second user simultaneously control content displayed on the first display device. 
     
     
         9 . The media server of  claim 1 , the operations further comprising receiving, from a mobile communications network, an identity of the first user and a location of the equipment of the first user, wherein the identity and the location are determined by the mobile communications network. 
     
     
         10 . The media server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprising sending to the equipment of the first user, a listing of the media services to which the first user has subscribed. 
     
     
         11 . The media server of  claim 10 , wherein the listing includes fewer than all of the media services to which the first user has subscribed based on a location of the first display device. 
     
     
         12 . The media server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprising:
 detecting the first user in near proximity to the first display device; and   associating the first sub-stream with the first user responsive to the detecting the first user in near proximity to the first display device.   
     
     
         13 . The media server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 detecting the first user is not in near proximity to the first display device; and   transmitting default content via the first sub-stream responsive to the detecting the first user is not in near proximity to the first display device.   
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 sending, by a processing system including a processor, a first data stream to a first display device, wherein the first data stream includes a first identification that identifies the first data stream; and   streaming, by the processing system, a selected media service to the first display device responsive to receiving, from equipment of a first user, a selection of a selected media service of a plurality of media services to which the first user has subscribed,   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining, by the processing system, the plurality of media services to which the first user has subscribed according to first account information of the first user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the streaming the selected media service is via a first sub-stream. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising associating, by the processing system, the first sub-stream with the first user without receiving a signal from the first display device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising embedding, by the processing system, the first identification within the first sub-stream. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions, which, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 sending a first data stream to a first display device, wherein the first data stream includes a first identification that identifies the first data stream; and   streaming a selected media service to the first display device over a first sub-stream responsive to receiving, from equipment of a first user, a selection of the selected media service of a plurality of media services to which the first user has subscribed.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the first identification further identifies the first sub-stream and is embedded within the first sub-stream, wherein the first data stream further includes a second sub-stream and a second identification that identifies the first data stream and the second sub-stream, and wherein the second identification is embedded within the second sub-stream.