METHOD FOR PROVIDING SATELLITE RADIO SERVICE IN A VEHICLE

• US 20070298737A1
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Reynolds, Lisa, Luk, Francis, Hider, Mounir, Wadhwa, Sukhwinder
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/152.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information

Abstract

An aspect of the invention provides a method for providing satellite radio service in a vehicle. A satellite radio may be activated before a customer purchases the vehicle. The satellite radio may remain active until it receives a deactivation signal.

Claims

1. A method for providing satellite radio service in a vehicle comprising:

arranging a satellite radio module in communication with a satellite radio activation circuit;

transferring satellite radio activation information from the circuit to the module;

storing the activation information in memory within the module;

enabling the module to play at least a subset of signals the module receives from a satellite broadcast for the vehicle'"'"'s useful life, the subset being defined by the activation information; and

configuring the module to deactivate in the event it receives a deactivation signal from the satellite broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the activation information includes a module identification number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the satellite radio module is arranged in communication with the satellite radio activation circuit via a physical data link.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the satellite radio module is arranged in communication with the satellite radio activation circuit via a wireless data link.

5. A method for providing satellite radio service in a vehicle comprising:

installing a satellite radio module in the vehicle, the module being

(i) enabled to play at least a subset of signals the module receives from a satellite broadcast for the vehicle'"'"'s useful life, the subset being defined by activation information, and

(ii) configured to deactivate in the event the module receives a deactivation signal from the satellite broadcast;

collecting transaction information including a transaction date associated with the vehicle;

storing at least a subset of the transaction information in memory; and

transmitting a message including the transaction date to a satellite radio service provider such that a determination can be made regarding a preactivation duration.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle identification number, and wherein the transaction information includes the vehicle identification number.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the module includes a module identification number, and wherein the transaction information includes the module identification number.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the transaction date is a module installation date.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the transaction date is a shipping date.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving a message including information about a sales event associated with the vehicle including a sales date.

11. The method of claim 5 further comprising, after the step of installing the module in the vehicle, selling the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the transaction date is a sales date.

13. A method for providing satellite radio service for a satellite radio module in a vehicle comprising:

receiving a message including a transaction date associated with the vehicle, the transaction date used to determine a preactivation duration;

determining whether the preactivation duration exceeds a predetermined period of time;

transmitting a signal containing deactivation information for the module if the preactivation duration exceeds the predetermined period of time; and

disabling the module from playing at least a subset of signals the module receives from a satellite broadcast based on the deactivation information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the preactivation duration begins after the module is installed in the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the message includes a module identification number or a vehicle identification number, and wherein the transaction date indicates the date on which the module was installed in the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the preactivation duration begins after the vehicle is shipped.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the message includes a module identification number or a vehicle identification number, and wherein the transaction date indicates a date on which the vehicle was shipped.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the preactivation duration begins after the vehicle is sold.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the message includes a module identification number or a vehicle identification number, and wherein the transaction date indicates a date on which the vehicle was sold.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the message comes from a vehicle manufacturer.