Patent ID: 8640156
Filing Date: 2014-01-28
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a mobile communication device, a polling signal from a set-top box device; sending, by the mobile communication device, a response signal to the set-top box device responsive to receiving the polling signal, wherein the sending of the response signal causes the set-top box device to determine a relative proximity of the mobile communication device to the set-top box device according to a time between the polling signal and the response signal; and sending, by the mobile communication device, a viewing request associated with media content of the set-top box device, wherein the sending of the viewing request causes the set-top box device to process the viewing request according to the relative proximity and a permission policy of the set-top box device, wherein the relative proximity corresponds to: being inside a premises but outside a room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is beyond a range of a first short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device; being in contact with the set-top box device if the mobile communication device is within a range of a second short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device; and being inside the room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is within a line of sight of the set-top box device, wherein the viewing request is not fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the mobile communication device is not present at the premises where the set-top box is located, and wherein the viewing request is fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the relative proximity does not exceed a communication range identified by the permission policy.