System and method of providing post-purchase media content to a subscriber

Abstract

A method includes receiving, by a computing device of a media service provider, a search request associated with a first product. The search request is received from a media device associated with a subscriber of a service provided by the media service provider. The method includes, in response to the search request, determining, by the computing device, a responsible party associated with the first product based on a purchase date of the first product and a return period for the first product. The method also includes sending, from the computing device to the media device, contact information of the responsible party. The contact information is to be displayed by the media device to a display device with an option to contact the responsible party.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device of a media service provider, a search request associated with a first product, the search request received from a media device associated with a subscriber of a service provided by the media service provider;   determining, by the computing device and based on the search request, a responsible party associated with the first product based on a purchase date of the first product and a return period for the first product; and   sending, from the computing device to the media device, contact information of the responsible party, the contact information to be displayed by the media device via a display device with an option to contact the responsible party,   wherein the responsible party is a seller of the first product based on the purchase date of the first product indicating that the return period associated with the first product is active.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device, user credentials associated with the subscriber; and   correlating, by the computing device, the purchase date of the first product with the subscriber based on the user credentials.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device and from the media device prior to the receiving of the search request, product purchase information associated with a purchase of the first product.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 sending, by the computing device to the media device, warranty expiration information for the first product based on the product purchase information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 sending, by the computing device to the media device and based on the product purchase information, a consumer notice regarding a recall of the first product.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 sending, by the computing device to the media device and based on the product purchase information, a consumer notice regarding an upgrade for the first product.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the product purchase information for the first product is based on information encoded in a barcode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device, the portion of the product purchase information corresponding to the information encoded in the barcode based on a scan of the barcode on a purchase receipt.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search request includes a request for enabling data to activate the first product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first product is deactivated upon a purchase of the first product. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media device includes a set-top box. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media device includes a mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device and from the media device, access credentials associated with the subscriber; and   identifying, by the computing device and based on the access credentials, a purchase of the first product by the subscriber from a list of purchases stored by the computing device,   wherein the list is associated with a plurality of subscribers, wherein the plurality of subscribers includes the subscriber, and wherein the determining of the responsible party is further based on the identifying of the purchase.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device and from the media device, user generated content generated by the subscriber at a location of the seller of the first product.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device, control criteria specified by the subscriber indicating when and how media content should be sent to a second media device associated with a second subscriber, wherein the media content includes the user generated content; and   sending, by the computing device and to the second media device, the media content in accordance with the control criteria.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the media content comprises instructions regarding a use of the first product with a second product. 
     
     
         17 . A device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including:   receiving a search request associated with a first product from a media device;   determining, based on the search request, a responsible party associated with the first product in accordance with a purchase date of the first product and a return period for the first product; and   sending contact information of the responsible party to the media device, wherein the contact information includes an option to contact the responsible party,   wherein the responsible party is a seller of the first product based on the purchase date of the first product indicating that the return period associated with the first product is active.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further include:
 providing media to the media device, wherein the media includes an offer to purchase a second product sold by the seller.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device of a media service provider, a search request associated with a first product, the search request received from a media device associated with a subscriber of a service provided by the media service provider;   determining, by the computing device and based on the search request, a responsible party associated with the first product based on a purchase date of the first product and a return period for the first product; and   sending, from the computing device to the media device, contact information of the responsible party, the contact information to be displayed by the media device to a display device with an option to contact the responsible party,   wherein the responsible party is a manufacturer of the first product based on the purchase date of the first product indicating that the return period associated with the first product expired.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 sending, by the computing device, media to the media device, wherein the media includes instructions for troubleshooting the first product, configuring the first product, installing a replacement part in the first product, or any combination thereof.