Control access to television services
The present invention provides a method and system for accessing services in a television system. In one implementation, a DHCT presents a user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to separate services or applications offered by the cable television system. The user navigates the menu with a remote device and selects a desired service by choosing the selectable link representation corresponding to the desired service or application. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selectable link command into an executable call, and activates the service or application corresponding to the selected link representation from the menu chosen by the user.
1 . An interface method for providing access to a plurality of services supported by a client device according to a service authorization for a user of the client device, comprising the steps of:
presenting the user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to the plurality of services, wherein the plurality of selectable link representations are presented in one of a plurality of defined display modes based on a service authorization corresponding to each service of the plurality of services;
receiving a user input denoting a selected link representation of the plurality of selectable link representations; and
activating a service responsive to receiving the user input.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the display mode for one or more of the selectable link representations is configurable by the user.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a system operator of a server device coupled to the client device configures the display mode for one or more of the selectable link representations.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating step includes activating an alternative service responsive to the user not being authorized to receive a service that otherwise corresponds to the user input, responsive to an alternative service being defined for the otherwise corresponding service, and responsive to the display mode being set to an active alternative display mode.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the presenting step includes displaying one or more of the plurality of selectable link representations in the menu in a grayed-out format denoting an unactivatable status responsive to the user not being authorized to receive a service that otherwise corresponds to the user input, and responsive to the display mode being set to an inactive display mode.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the presenting step omits from the menu one or more of the plurality of selectable link representations, responsive to the display mode being set to an hidden display mode.