Proprietary radio control head with authentication

• US 20070111709A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Interoperable Technologies LLC, Sirius Satellite Radio (Liberty Media Corporation), XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelley, Paul, Singhal, Nitesh, De Luca, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information

Abstract

A combination of a radio receiver with a detachable controller that determine sends either reduced or enhanced metadata about received programming to the detachable controller based upon periodic authorization. A connection from the detachable control device to the radio receiver carries commands to the radio receiver and carries only the reduced set of metadata, such as tuned channel and tuned channel name, from the radio receiver to the controller. The controller is authorized by sending a radio identifier from the radio receiver to the control device, determination of an authentication code at the controller and communication of the determined authentication code back to the controller for validation. Upon validation, an enhanced set of metadata, including song title and artist, is sent to the controller. The enhanced metadata, the reduced metadata, or both, are optionally able to be encrypted. The radio receiver periodically performs this authorization processing.

Claims

1. An automated method on a control device for authenticating the control device to a radio receiver being controlled, the method comprising:

establishing a connection from a control device to a radio receiver, the connection communicating commands from the control device to the radio receiver and communicating a reduced set of metadata from the radio receiver to the control device, the reduced set of metadata pertaining to and contemporary with processing performed by the radio receiver, the metadata having been received by the radio receiver over a broadcast radio link, and the metadata comprising a tuned channel indicator of a radio channel being received by the radio receiver;

receiving a device identifier from the radio receiver;

transmitting, over the connection, a control command to the radio receiver;

determining a first authentication code, the first authentication code being derived from the device identifier in accordance with an algorithm defined within the radio receiver;

transmitting the first authentication code from the control device to the radio receiver; and

receiving, in response to transmitting the first authentication code, an enhanced set of metadata over the connection, the enhanced set of metadata pertaining to and contemporary with processing performed by the radio receiver, the enhanced set of metadata comprising a song title and artist having been received by the radio receiver over the broadcast radio link.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enhanced set of metadata is more strongly encrypted than the reduced set of metadata, and the method further comprises:

determining a decryption code, the decryption code being derived from the device identifier in accordance with a decryption code determination algorithm defined within the radio receiver; and

decrypting the enhanced set of metadata based upon the decryption code.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control device displays the reduced metadata and the enhanced metadata that are received from the radio receiver.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device identifier is a unique device identifier that uniquely identifies the radio receiver within a plurality of radio receivers that are each controllable by the control device and further wherein the device identifier indicates reception of at least one of a broadcast activation signal and a broadcast deactivation signal by the plurality of radio receivers, wherein the broadcast activation signal selectively activates the radio receiver and the broadcast deactivation signal selectively deactivates the radio receiver.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the establishing a connection comprises connecting a cable with a first connector to a second connector that is affixed to the radio receiver, the first connector communicatively coupled to the control device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the establishing a connection comprises establishing a short range wireless communications link with the radio receiver, wherein the connection comprises the short range wireless communications link.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radio receiver comprises a broadcast receiver able to receive and process a wide area broadcast radio signal to produce a selected audio component contained within the wide area broadcast radio signal, wherein the set of reduced metadata comprises data indicative of at least one of a channel name, channel number and channel category associated with the selected audio component, and wherein the song title and the artist describe the selected audio component.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting, to the radio receiver, a request for the device identifier, and wherein the receiving the device identifier is performed in response to the transmitting the request for the device identifier.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the radio receiver, a specification of a time window, the time window defining a time period in which to transmit a second authentication code;

transmitting, within the specified time window, the second authentication code to the radio receiver, the second authentication code being derived from the device identifier;

continuing to receive, in response to the transmitting the second authentication code, the enhanced set of metadata over the connection.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, to the radio receiver, a request for the specification of the time window; and

receiving, in response to transmitting the request for the specification of the time window, the specification of the time window.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, to the radio receiver, a request for an elapsed time signal, the request comprising a specification of time to delay prior to sending the elapsed time signal and the delay based upon the specification of the time window; and

receiving, from the radio receiver, the elapsed time signal,

wherein the transmitting the second authentication code to the radio receiver is performed in response to receiving the elapsed time signal.

12. An automated method on a radio receiver for authenticating a control device, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast radio signal, the broadcast radio signal carrying data comprising at least one radio channel, a reduced set of metadata and an enhanced set of metadata, the reduced set of metadata and the enhanced set of metadata pertaining to and contemporary with processing performed by the radio receiver, the reduced set of metadata comprising a tuned channel indicator of a received radio channel being received by the radio receiver and the enhanced set of metadata comprising a song title and artist having been received by the radio receiver over the broadcast radio link;

establishing a connection from a radio receiver to a control device, the connection communicating the reduced set of metadata from the radio receiver to the control device;

receiving, over the connection, a control command from the control device;

providing, over the connection, a device identifier from the radio receiver;

determining, based upon the device identifier, a valid authentication code;

receiving, over the connection, a received authentication code;

validating the received authentication code based upon the valid authentication code; and

transmitting, in response to validating the received authentication code, the enhanced set of metadata over the connection.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the enhanced set of metadata is more strongly encrypted than the reduced set of metadata, and the method further comprises:

determining a decryption code, the decryption code being derived from the device identifier in accordance with a decryption code determination algorithm defined within the radio receiver; and

decrypting the enhanced set of metadata based upon the decryption code.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device identifier is a unique device identifier that uniquely identifies the radio receiver within a plurality of radio receivers that are each controllable by the control device and further wherein the device identifier indicates reception of at least one of a broadcast activation signal and a broadcast deactivation signal by the plurality of radio receivers, wherein the broadcast activation signal selectively activates the radio receiver and the broadcast deactivation signal selectively deactivates the radio receiver.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the radio receiver comprises a broadcast receiver able to receive and process a wide area broadcast radio signal to produce a selected audio component contained within the wide area broadcast radio signal, wherein the tuned channel indicator is indicative of at least one of a channel name, channel number and channel category associated with the selected audio component, and wherein the song title and the artist are related to the selected audio component.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the establishing a connection comprises connecting a cable with a first connector to a second connector affixed to the radio receiver, the first connector communicatively coupled to the control device.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the control device is physically detachably coupled to the radio receiver.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising receiving, from the control device, a request for the device identifier, and wherein the providing a device identifier is performed in response to the receiving the request for the device identifier.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

accepting a request for an elapsed time signal, the request comprising a specification of time to delay prior to sending the elapsed time signal;

delaying for the time to delay; and

transmitting, after the time to delay has elapsed, the elapsed time signal.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the transmitting the elapsed time signal is performed over the connection.

21. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining a time window that defines a time period in which to receive a second authentication code;

transmitting a specification of the time window over the connection to the control device;

determining a receipt within the time window of a second authentication code, the second authentication code being derived from the device identifier;

determining, based upon the device identifier, a second valid authentication code;

determining that the received second authentication code equals the second valid authentication code; and

continuing to transmit, in response determining the receipt and to determining that the received second authentication code equals the second valid authentication code, an enhanced set of metadata over the connection.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the radio receiver comprises a receiver able to receive and process a wide area broadcast radio signal to produce a selected audio component contained within the wide area broadcast radio signal, wherein the time window is based upon a time period of content within the selected audio component.

23. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining a time window that defines a time period in which to receive a second authentication code;

transmitting, a specification of the time window over the connection to the control device;

determining a receipt within the time window of a second authentication code, the second authentication code being derived from the device identifier;

determining that the received second authentication code equals the valid authentication code; and

continuing to transmit, in response to determining the receipt and to determining that the received second authentication code equals the valid authentication code, the enhanced set of metadata over the connection.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

determining a second time window that defines a second time period in which to receive a third authentication code;

transmitting, in response to determining the receipt within the time window of a second authentication code and to determining that the received second authentication code equals the valid authentication code, a specification of the second time window over the connection to the control device;

determining a receipt within the second time window of a third authentication code, the third authentication code being derived from the device identifier;

determining that the received third second authentication code equals the valid authentication code; and

continuing to transmit, in response to determining the receipt within the second time window and to determining that the received third authentication code equals the valid authentication code, the enhanced set of metadata over the connection.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the radio receiver comprises a broadcast receiver able to receive and process a wide area broadcast radio signal to produce a selected audio component contained within the wide area broadcast radio signal, wherein the time window and the second time window are independently based upon at least one time period of content within the selected audio component.

26. An automated method for authenticating a control device for a radio receiver being controlled, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast radio signal on a radio receiver, the broadcast radio signal carrying data comprising at least one radio channel, a reduced set of metadata, and an enhanced set of metadata, the reduced set of metadata and the enhanced set of metadata pertaining to and contemporary with processing performed by the radio receiver, the reduced set of metadata comprising a tuned channel indicator of a received radio channel being received by the radio receiver and the enhanced set of metadata comprising a song title and artist having been received by the radio receiver over the broadcast radio link;

establishing a connection from a control device to a radio receiver, the connection communicating commands from the control device to the radio receiver and the connection communicating the reduced set of metadata from the radio receiver to the control device;

providing, over the connection, a device identifier from the radio receiver to the control device;

receiving, at the control device, the device identifier from the radio receiver;

determining, at the radio receiver, a valid authentication code, the valid authentication code being derived from the device identifier in accordance with a predetermined algorithm;

determining, at the control device, a calculated authentication code;

transmitting, over the connection, the calculated authentication code from the control device to the radio receiver;

receiving, at the radio receiver, the calculated authentication code;

validating the calculated authentication code based upon the valid authentication code; and

transmitting from the radio receiver, in response to the validating, the enhanced set of metadata over the connection to the control device.

27. An automated method performed in a tunable radio receiving set having a tunable receiver for receiving broadcast audio content and for receiving broadcast metadata on one of a multiplicity of channels, the tunable receiving set independently controllable by a first type of control device and a second type of control device, the method comprising:

determining that a control device coupled to the tunable receiving set is of a first type or of a second type;

configuring, in response to the determining, the tunable receiver set as follows;

performing, in response to determining that the control device is of the first type, the following;

enabling channel selection of the tunable receiver in response to control command signals received from the control unit;

reproducing broadcast audio content received by the tunable receiver;

reproducing a reduced set of broadcast metadata received by the tunable receiver that is descriptive of the selected channel; and

reproducing an enhanced set of broadcast metadata received by the radio receiver that is descriptive of the audio content received by radio; and

performing, in response to determining that the control device is of the second type, the following;

enabling channel selection of the tunable receiver in response to control command signals received from the control unit;

reproducing broadcast audio content received by the tunable receiver; and

enabling reproduction of the reduced set of broadcast metadata received by the radio receiver that is descriptive of the selected channel and disabling reproduction of the enhanced set of broadcast metadata received by the radio receiver that is descriptive of the audio content received by radio.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the determining:

determines that the control device is of the first type in response to receiving an authentication signal generated at the control device, and

determines that the control device is of the second type in response to not receiving the authentication signal.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of generating a time window at the tunable radio receiving set, and wherein said step of determining:

determines that the control device is of the first type in response to receiving, within the time window, an authentication signal generated by the control device, and

determines that the control device is of the second type in response to not receiving, within the time window, the authentication signal.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of generating, at the tunable radio receiving set, an identification signal uniquely indicative of the tunable radio receiving set, and wherein said step of determining:

determines that the control device is of the first type in response to receiving, from the control device, an authentication signal that is indicative of the identification signal, and

determines that the control device is of the second type in response to not receiving the authentication signal that is indicative of the identification signal.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

generating, at the tunable radio receiving set, a specification of a time window; and

generating, at the tunable radio receiving set, an identification signal uniquely indicative of the tunable radio receiving set, and wherein said step of determining;

determines that the control device is of the first type in response to receiving, from the control device within the time window, an authentication signal that is responsive to identification signal, and

determines that the control device is of the second type in response to not receiving, from the control device within the time window, the authentication signal that is responsive to identification signal within the window by the control device.

32. A machine implemented method in a control device connected to a tunable radio receiving set having a tunable receiver for receiving broadcast audio content and broadcast metadata on one of a multiplicity of channels, the tunable receiver controllable by a control device, the machine implemented method in the control device comprising:

transmitting command signals to the tunable radio receiving set to select one tuned channel for the tunable receiver, the command signals further enabling the tunable receiver to reproduce broadcast audio content received by the tunable receiver;

receiving, from the tunable receiving set, a device identifier uniquely identifying the tunable receiving set;

determining, based upon the device identifier, an authentication code in accordance with a predefined algorithm;

transmitting the authentication code to the tunable receiving set in order to enable the tunable receiving set to communicate broadcast metadata that is received by the tunable receiver and that is descriptive of the audio content received by tunable receiver;

determining, based upon the device identifier, a decryption code in accordance with a predefined algorithm;

receiving, from the tunable receiving set, reduced broadcast metadata that is descriptive of the selected channel being received by the tunable receiver;

reproducing, without using the decryption code, the reduced broadcast metadata received by the tunable receiver and descriptive of the selected channel;

receiving, from the tunable receiving set, broadcast metadata that is received by the tunable receiver and that is descriptive of the audio content received by the-tunable receiver;

decrypting, based upon the decryption code, broadcast metadata received by the tunable receiver that is descriptive of the audio content received by tunable receiver; and

reproducing the decrypted broadcast metadata received by the tunable receiver that is descriptive of the audio content received by tunable receiver.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the audio content received by the tunable receiver is reproduced using at least one audio speaker and further wherein the reproducing broadcast metadata comprises fixation of at least part of the broadcast metadata upon a tangible media of expression.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the tangible media of expression includes at least one of a digital memory and a visual display.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the reproducing broadcast metadata comprises reproducing, in response to the authentication code not being transmitted, only metadata that is not descriptive of the audio content.