Patent ID: 8631428
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring video data usage, the method comprising: monitoring end user activity data for media usage for a plurality of access devices associated with a first one of a plurality of end users in an internet protocol television system; receiving from a first one of the access devices, avatar data indicating a plurality of search criteria comprising gender, age, location and end user device type for searching within the end user activity data; searching the end user activity data based on the search criteria; sending to the first one of the access devices, search result data from the search based on the search criteria, wherein the search result data indicates media usage for each of a plurality of avatars having all of the plurality of search criteria, wherein each of the plurality of avatars represents one of a plurality of end users whose media usage indicates that the each of the plurality of end users are watching, recording, or have recorded a program listings, wherein the search result data comprises avatar attributes that indicate a current access device for a second end user; receiving avatar selection data from the first access device indicating a second end user selected from one of the plurality of avatars; determining if a profile setting for an end user profile for the second end user indicates that media usage for the second access device can be joined; and joining the second access device with the first end user client device in the media usage when the end user profile for the second access device indicates that the first end user can be joined in the media usage.