Service system usage control
First Claim
1. A method of controlling use of a service system accessible via a data-capable bearer service of a communications infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) broadcasting content via a broadcast radio channel and periodically including a variable-value access code;
(b) receiving service requests at the service system and, at least for a subset of the requests, only servicing a request where the request is accompanied by a recently broadcast access-code value.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In order to encourage listeners to remain tuned to a particular radio station, loyal listeners are rewarded by being enabled to use a service system accessible via a data-capable bearer service of a communications infrastructure. This is achieved by periodically including, amongst the material broadcast by the radio station, a variable-value access code and then only servicing request to the service system that include the most recent value of the access code. The listener takes advantage of the service by extracting the access code value from the received radio signal and including it in a service request. Typically, the service is a location-based service accessible by a mobile listener via a cellular radio network.
41 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling use of a service system accessible via a data-capable bearer service of a communications infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) broadcasting content via a broadcast radio channel and periodically including a variable-value access code;
(b) receiving service requests at the service system and, at least for a subset of the requests, only servicing a request where the request is accompanied by a recently broadcast access-code value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18)
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13. A method of obtaining use of a service system accessible via a data-capable bearer service of a communications infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a broadcast radio channel that periodically includes, along with the content being broadcast, a variable-value access code;
(b) extracting the access code from the received broadcast radio channel;
(c) sending a service request to the service system via said data-capable bearer service, the service request including a recently broadcast access-code value.
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15. Apparatus for obtaining use of a service system accessible via a data-capable bearer service of a communications infrastructure, the apparatus comprising:
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a radio receiver for receiving broadcast content that periodically includes a variable-value access code;
an extraction subsystem for extracting the access code from the received broadcast radio channel;
a request subsystem for generating a service request and sending it to the service system via said data-capable bearer service, the service request including a recently broadcast access-code value as extracted by the extraction subsystem.
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17. A method of providing for controlled use of a service system accessible via a data-capable bearer service of a communications infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) broadcasting content via a broadcast radio channel and periodically including a variable-value access code;
(b) receiving the broadcast radio channel;
(c) extracting the access code from the received broadcast radio channel;
(d) sending a service request to the service system via said data-capable bearer service, the service request including a recently broadcast access-code value; and
(e) receiving the service request at the service system and only servicing the request where the request is accompanied by a recently broadcast access-code value.
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Specification