Satellite radio warning system and method

• US 8,073,422 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions Connectivity Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cassidian Communications Incorporated (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Weinrich, Nathan, McCarthy, Kevin, Langsenkamp, Al
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US11/041,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20050272368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,507 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/426.1, 455/410, 455/3.02, 455427-429, 455/404.1, 455/12.1, 340/998, 340/539
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06

Abstract

A system and method for distributing messages to a plurality of satellite receivers comprising sending a message with geographic target area coding or information via satellite or a ground repeater to at least one satellite receiving device equipped with geographic-aware information. The satellite receiving device thereafter utilizes its geographic aware information to compare with the geographic target area coding in the transmitted message to determine whether the satellite receiving device should present the message to the user of the satellite receiving device.

Claims

1. A method of distributing a message to at least one message device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the message device, a message having a defined geographic area of transmission and having information indicative of the boundaries of a defined geographic delivery area in which the message is to be delivered to a recipient;

determining the geographic location of the message device;

projecting, in the message device, at least one future location of the message device based at least in part on at least one past location of the message device, without knowledge of the recipient'"'"'s final destination; and

automatically communicating the message to a recipient when the projection indicates that the message device will be within the boundaries of the defined geographic delivery area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic location of the message device is determined by a global positioning system chip, and wherein the method further comprises the step of providing mapping software.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of preventing communication of a subsequent message having an identical identifying code.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the message comprises communicating the message to the recipient if the location of the message device is projected to be in the geographic area during a portion of a defined time.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the message includes an indication of the defined time.

6. A method of distributing messages to at least one satellite receiving device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a satellite at a message device a message comprising a substantive message and a message distribution area coding defining a geographic area of message delivery;

self-determining at the message device the geographic location of the message device;

projecting, in the message device at least one future location of the message device based at least in part on at least one past location of the message device, without knowledge of the final destination of the message device;

communicating the substantive message from the satellite message device to a recipient if the substantive message is associated with a message distribution area coding that defines the boundaries of a geographic area of message delivery which corresponds to a projected at least one future location of the message device; and

identifying at least one alternate route with the satellite message device in response to contents of the substantive message.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying the alternate route to a user.

8. A device for receiving satellite messages, the device comprising:

a satellite receiver;

a global positioning system;

at least one processing chip in communication with the global positioning system, wherein the at least one processing chip is configured to present a message to a person operating the receiver if the global positioning system indicates that the device is within the boundaries of a defined geographic message distribution area that is coded in a satellite transmission;

at least one of the at least one processing chip is configured to compare the message distribution area coding with current coordinates displayed by the global positioning system; and

software configured to record the past locations of the device and project the future location of the device based at least in part upon at least one past location and without knowledge of the device'"'"'s final destination, such that a message may be presented to the person operating the device if it is projected that the device will be within the boundaries of the defined message distribution area during a portion of a defined time.

9. A device for receiving satellite messages, the device comprising:

a satellite receiver configured to receive transmissions from at least one satellite;

a global positioning system configured to identify the geographic location of the device;

at least one processing chip in communication with the satellite receiver and global positioning system, configured to compare a message distribution area code defining a geographic area of message delivery which is transmitted in a satellite transmission, with the current geographic location of the device and to automatically initiate communication of the message to a recipient if the device is projected to be within the message distribution area;

wherein projecting if the device is to be within the message distribution area comprises projecting, in the device, at least one future location of the device based at least in part on at least one past location of the device, without knowledge of the recipient'"'"'s final destination;

a display or audible transmitter for communicating a message to a recipient; and

software configured to project a future geographic position of the device based at least in part on at least one past geographic position of the device.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the software is further configured to display a message to a person operating the device if the device is projected to be within the message distribution area during a portion of a defined time.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the software is further configured to prevent displaying a message to a person operating the device if the device is projected to leave the message distribution area within a defined time period.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the satellite receiver is further configured to receive transmissions from at least one ground repeater.

13. A device for preventing piracy of satellite transmissions comprising:

a database of fixed geographic locations of specified satellite service subscribers;

a global positioning system;

software configured to record the past locations of the device and project the future location of the device based at least in part upon at least one past location and without knowledge of the device'"'"'s final destination; and

a satellite receiver associated with a specified satellite service subscriber, the receiver having at least one processing chip, the receiver configured to compare current global positioning system coordinates with the geographic location information of subscribers included in a satellite transmission to the receiver, and further configured to descramble a substantive transmission included in a satellite transmission to the receiver in the event that the current global positioning system coordinates correspond with at least one of the fixed geographic locations of the associated satellite service subscriber.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a telephone connection configured to contact a satellite service provider if the global positioning system coordinates do not fall within at least one geographic location of satellite service subscribers.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the geographic information of subscribers is included in the satellite transmission to the server.