Patent ID: 7647606

Claim:
A method for a client device with a processor and memory that is coupled to a server device to provide a subscriber an alternative service upon accessing an unauthorized service, comprising the steps of: receiving from the server device and storing in the memory a service database and an authorization database, wherein the service database includes a channel table referencing a plurality of services corresponding to a plurality of channels and a service table defining the plurality of services and including the definition of alternate services assigned to at least one of the plurality of services, and wherein the authorization database includes a list of authorizations individual to the subscriber and corresponding to the plurality of services; accessing the service database responsive to the subscriber attempting to access a desired channel to determine a first service corresponding to the desired channel; determining whether the subscriber is authorized for the first service according to the authorization database, wherein the client device presents the first service to the subscriber on a display device responsive to the authorization database revealing that the subscriber is authorized for the first service; and presenting one of the alternate services according to the service database responsive to the subscriber being unauthorized to receive the first service.