Broadcasting user-specific information

• US 20060234685A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMR LLC
• Original Assignee: FMR LLC
• Inventors: McDonough, John C., Harvey, Nina K., Kalinichenko, Boris Olegovich
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/37 via a different channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/15 on receiving information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08

Abstract

Described are methods and systems, including computer program products, for broadcasting user-specific information through satellite radio or digital radio. Generally, information specific to a user is correlated with an identifier associated with a receiver associated with the user, and the information is broadcast to the receiver, such that use of the information is restricted to the receiver.

Claims

1. A system for broadcasting user-specific information, the system comprising:

a network;

an information provider comprising a first server in communication with said network, said first server retrievably storing information specific to a user; and

,

a broadcast provider comprising a second server in communication with said network, wherein said second server comprises at least one identifier associated with a receiver that is associated with the user;

wherein said receiver is in communication with said second server to selectively receive said information specific to said user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a satellite radio service.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said receiver comprises a satellite radio receiver.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said broadcast provider comprises a satellite broadcast provider.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a digital radio service.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a digital radio receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said broadcast provider comprises a digital radio broadcast provider.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of receivers, wherein each of said plurality of receivers is associated with said identifier that is unique to each of said plurality of receivers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said broadcast provider broadcasts information specific to said user to said plurality of receivers.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said receiver comprising the at least one identifier associated with said receiver that is associated with the user is able to use said information specific to said user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of receivers not comprising the at least one identifier associated with said receiver that is associated with the user is unable to use said information specific to said user.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver transmits information to said information provider.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver selectively receives said information specific to said user based on said identifier associated with said receiver that is associated with the user.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said identifier is encrypted.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver selectively receives said information specific to said user based on a PIN code.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said PIN code is encrypted.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said broadcast provider broadcasts information over a first channel, wherein the information is available for all users.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said broadcast provider broadcasts information over a second channel, wherein the information is available to subscribers of said second channel.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said broadcast provider broadcasts information specific to said user over said second channel.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one web server in communication with said network.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third database server comprising a user-specific information.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the first server or second server comprises a database server.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said user-specific information comprises a financial information.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said financial information comprises a security ticker, a security name, a security quote, a security position, a market value of said security position, a trade confirmation, a trade recommendation, a security news alert, an account alert, or an account balance.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said user-specific information comprises a livery information.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said livery information comprises a pick-up location, a drop-off location, a time for said pick-up location, or a passenger information.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said user-specific information comprises a sports information.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said sports information comprises a sports score, a sports odds, a sports over/under, a player performance information, or a team performance information.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein said user-specific information comprises a traffic information.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said traffic information comprises a traffic advisory, a traffic accident information, a traffic routing recommendation, a weather information, or a road condition information.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein said first database server comprises a plurality of general information.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said general information comprises financial information selected from the group consisting of a financial quote, a ticker symbol, a security price, a time of last trade, or a news alert.

33. A method for broadcasting user-specific information, the method comprising:

receiving information specific to a user;

correlating said information with an identifier associated with a receiver associated with said user; and

broadcasting said information to said receiver, such that use of the information is restricted to said receiver.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said network comprises a satellite radio service.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein said receiver comprises a satellite radio receiver.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein said broadcast provider comprises a satellite broadcast provider.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein said network comprises a digital radio service.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein said receiver comprises a digital radio receiver.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein said broadcast provider comprises a digital radio broadcast provider.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein said receiver is one of a plurality of receivers, and wherein said identifier that is unique to at least one of said plurality of receivers.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein said information provider comprises a web server in communication with said network.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein said user-specific information comprises a financial information.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said financial information comprises a security ticker, a security name, a security quote, a security position, a market value of said security position, a trade confirmation, a trade recommendation, a security news alert, an account alert, or an account balance.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein said user-specific information comprises a livery information.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said livery information comprises a pick-up location, a drop-off location, a time for said pick-up location, or a passenger information.

46. The method of claim 33, wherein said user-specific information comprises a sports information.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said sports information comprises a sports score, a sports odds, a sports over/under, a player performance information, or a team performance information.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein said user-specific information comprises a traffic information.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said traffic information comprises a traffic advisory, a traffic accident information, a traffic routing recommendation, a weather information, or a road condition information.

50. The method of claim 33, wherein said first database server comprises a plurality of general information.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said general information comprises financial information selected from the group consisting of a financial quote, a ticker symbol, a security price, a time of last trade, or a news alert.

52. A computer program-product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for broadcasting user-specific information, the computer program product including instructions being operable to cause data processing apparatus to:

receive information specific to a user;

correlate said information with an identifier associated with a receiver associated with said user; and

broadcast said information to said receiver, such that use of the information is restricted to said receiver