Communication service subscription management
First Claim
1. A method to enable a secondary communication device to receive communication services, the method comprising:
- determining whether the secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device;
setting an authorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and
setting an unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
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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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determining whether the secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device; setting an authorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and setting an unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a 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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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; 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 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 a 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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determining whether a secondary communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device; setting an authorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is within the threshold proximity to the primary communication device; and setting an unauthorized operational mode when the secondary communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a 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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receiving, in a communication device in a satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) system, 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; 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 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 a 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, when the primary communication device status is assigned, set an authorized operational mode, and when the secondary communication device status is assigned, set the authorized operational mode when the communication device is within a threshold proximity to a primary communication device and set an unauthorized operational mode when the communication device is outside the threshold proximity to the primary communication device for a threshold duration. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification