Communication service subscription management

US 20080214100A1
Filed: 03/02/2007
Published: 09/04/2008
Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A method to enable a secondary communication device to receive communication services, the method comprising:

determining whether the secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device;

setting an authorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and

setting an unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration.

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Abstract

Multiple receivers may be enabled to receive satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) services under a single subscription. For example, an SDAR service provider can enable multiple vehicles, a home-based digital radio, or a portable digital radio, singly or in any combination. Multiple receivers transmit information to each other. One receiver is designated as a primary receiver, and the other receivers are designated as secondary receivers. The SDAR service provider transmits a list of associated secondary receivers to the primary receiver. The primary receiver enables the associated secondary receivers to receive SDAR services by placing them in an authorized state. The secondary receivers must periodically communicate with the primary receiver to remain authorized. A secondary receiver that fails to communicate with the primary receiver within a prescribed time period is switched to an unauthorized state. In this unauthorized state, the secondary receiver no longer performs as an authorized receiver.

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34 Claims

1. A method to enable a secondary communication device to receive communication services, the method comprising:
- determining whether the secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device;
  
  setting an authorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and
  
  setting an unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication link between the primary communication device and the secondary communication device.
  - 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication link comprises at least one of a wireless communication link and a wired communication link.
  - 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication link is established according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of the Bluetooth, ZigBee, ultra wideband (UWB), IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.16, and IEEE 802.20 communication protocols.
  - 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising confirming at prescribed time intervals that the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device.
  - 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the primary communication device to store authorization information using a removable memory device.
  - 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using the secondary communication device to retrieve the authorization information from the removable memory device.
  - 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the removable memory device comprises a flash memory device.

9. A method to set an operational mode of a communication device in a satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) system, the method comprising:
- receiving, in the communication device, control information from an SDAR service provider;
  
  assigning to the communication device one of a primary communication device status and a secondary communication device status as a function of the control information;
  
  when the primary communication device status is assigned, setting an authorized operational mode; and
  
  when the secondary communication device status is assigned,setting the authorized operational mode when the communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device, andsetting an unauthorized operational mode when the communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
- - 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a wireless communication link between the communication device and another communication device.
  - 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless communication link is established according to a wireless communication protocol selected from the group consisting of the Bluetooth, ZigBee, ultra wideband (UWB), IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.16, and IEEE 802.20 communication protocols.
  - 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the wireless communication link to assign to the communication device one of the primary communication device status and the secondary communication device status.
  - 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising confirming at prescribed time intervals that the communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device.

14. A processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions for:
- determining whether a secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device;
  
  setting an authorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and
  
  setting an unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- - 15. The processor-readable medium of claim 14, further having processor-executable instructions for establishing a communication link between the primary communication device and the secondary communication device.
  - 16. The processor-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the communication link comprises at least one of a wireless communication link and a wired communication link.
  - 17. The processor-readable medium of claim 16, further having processor-executable instructions for establishing the wireless communication link according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of the Bluetooth, ZigBee, ultra wideband (UWB), IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.16, and IEEE 802.20 communication protocols.
  - 18. The processor-readable medium of claim 14, further having processor-executable instructions for confirming at prescribed time intervals that the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device.
  - 19. The processor-readable medium of claim 14, further having processor-executable instructions for retrieving authorization information from a removable memory device.

20. A processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions for:
- receiving, in a communication device in a satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) system, control information from an SDAR service provider;
  
  assigning to the communication device one of a primary communication device status and a secondary communication device status as a function of the control information;
  
  when the primary communication device status is assigned, setting an authorized operational mode; and
  
  when the secondary communication device status is assigned,setting the authorized operational mode when the communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device, andsetting an unauthorized operational mode when the communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration.
- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
- - 21. The processor-readable medium of claim 20, further having processor-executable instructions for establishing a wireless communication link between the communication device and another communication device.
  - 22. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, further having processor-executable instructions for establishing the wireless communication link according to a wireless communication protocol selected from the group consisting of the Bluetooth, ZigBee, ultra wideband (UWB), IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.16, and IEEE 802.20 communication protocols.
  - 23. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, further having processor-executable instructions for using the wireless communication link to assign to the communication device one of the primary communication device status and the secondary communication device status.
  - 24. The processor-readable medium of claim 20, further having processor-executable instructions for confirming at prescribed time intervals that the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device.

25. A communication device operable in a satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) system, the communication device comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive a signal from an SDAR service provider;
  
  a decoder subsystem operatively coupled to the antenna and configured to generate a control signal as a function of the received signal; and
  
  an authorization subsystem operatively coupled to the antenna and configured toassign to the communication device one of a primary communication device status and a secondary communication device status as a function of the control signal,when the primary communication device status is assigned, set an authorized operational mode, andwhen the secondary communication device status is assigned, set the authorized operational mode when the communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device and set an unauthorized operational mode when the communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- - 26. The communication device of claim 25, wherein the authorization subsystem is further configured to establish a communication link between the communication device and another communication device.
  - 27. The communication device of claim 26, wherein the communication link comprises at least one of a wireless communication link and a wired communication link.
  - 28. The communication device of claim 27, further comprising a wireless communication port operatively coupled to the authorization subsystem and configured to establish the wireless communication link according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of the Bluetooth, ZigBee, ultra wideband (UWB), IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.16, and IEEE 802.20 communication protocols.
  - 29. The communication device of claim 27, wherein the authorization subsystem is further configured to use the wireless communication link to assign to the communication device one of the primary communication device status and the secondary communication device status.
  - 30. The communication device of claim 26, wherein the authorization subsystem is further configured to confirm at prescribed time intervals that the communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device.
  - 31. The communication device of claim 25, further comprising a data retrieval subsystem configured to retrieve authorization information from a removable memory device.
  - 32. The communication device of claim 31, wherein the removable memory device comprises a flash memory device.
  - 33. The communication device of claim 25, wherein the decoder subsystem comprises the authorization subsystem.
  - 34. The communication device of claim 25, wherein the authorization subsystem is distinct from and operatively coupled to the decoder subsystem.

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Current Assignee
Stripe, Inc.
Original Assignee
Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
Inventors
Walker, Glenn A., Diamond, Harry, Dockemeyer, Joseph R., Miner, Linda L., Hiatt, Michael L.

Granted Patent

US 7,792,482 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

455/3.02
CPC Class Codes

H04H 40/90   specially adapted for satel...

H04H 60/15   on receiving information

H04H 60/80   characterised by transmissi...

Communication service subscription management

First Claim

6 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

16 Citations

34 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

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Communication service subscription management

First Claim

6 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

16 Citations

34 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links