Communication service subscription management
DCFirst Claim
1. A method to enable a secondary communication device to receive communication services, the method comprising:
- configuring a primary communication device to receive communication services from a service provider and communicate with the secondary communication device;
configuring the secondary communication device to receive communication services from the service provider when an authorized operational mode is set, prevent receiving communication services when an unauthorized operational mode is set, and communicate with the primary communication device;
determining whether the secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to the primary communication device;
setting the authorized operational mode for a threshold duration when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and
setting the unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for greater than the threshold duration.
6 Assignments
Litigations
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Accused Products
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.
11 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method to enable a secondary communication device to receive communication services, the method comprising:
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configuring a primary communication device to receive communication services from a service provider and communicate with the secondary communication device; configuring the secondary communication device to receive communication services from the service provider when an authorized operational mode is set, prevent receiving communication services when an unauthorized operational mode is set, and communicate with the primary communication device; determining whether the secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to the primary communication device; setting the authorized operational mode for a threshold duration when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and setting the unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for greater than the threshold duration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method to set an operational mode of a communication device in a satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) system, the method comprising:
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configuring the communication device to receive communication services from a service provider and communicate with another communication device; 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, wherein the secondary communication device status allows receiving communication services from the service provider when an authorized operational mode is set and prevents receiving communication services when an unauthorized operational mode is set; 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 for a threshold duration when the communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device, and setting an unauthorized operational mode when the communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for greater than the threshold duration. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions for:
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configuring a communication device to a secondary communication device status, wherein the secondary communication device status allows receiving communication services from a service provider when an authorized operational mode is set and prevents receiving communication services when an unauthorized operational mode is set; determining whether the secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to the primary communication device; setting the authorized operational mode for a threshold duration when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and setting the unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for greater than the threshold duration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions for:
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configuring a communication device to receive communication services from an SDAR service provider and communicate with another communication device; receiving, in the communication device in a satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) system, control information from the 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, wherein the secondary communication device status allows receiving communication services from the SDAR service provider when an authorized operational mode is set and prevents receiving communication services when an unauthorized operational mode is set; when the primary communication device status is assigned, setting the authorized operational mode; and when the secondary communication device status is assigned, setting the authorized operational mode for a threshold duration when the communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device, and setting the unauthorized operational mode when the communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for greater than the threshold duration. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A communication device operable in a satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) system, the communication device comprising:
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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 to assign to the communication device one of a primary communication device status and a secondary communication device status as a function of the control signal, wherein the secondary communication device status allows receiving communication services from the SDAR service provider when an authorized operational mode is set and prevents receiving communication services when an unauthorized operational mode is set, wherein when the primary communication device status is assigned, set the authorized operational mode, and when the secondary communication device status is assigned, set the authorized operational mode for a threshold duration when the communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device and set the unauthorized operational mode when the communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for greater than the threshold duration. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification