System and method for receiving user-specific information over digital radio

• US 8,559,922 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Hardin, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/922,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20090116584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,015 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 304, 455/3.06, 455410-4141, 725 10- 11, 725/25, 725/34, 725135-136, 725/139, 725/151
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method for permitting users to receive desired/user-specific data or information, e.g., electronic mail or other user-subscribed services, e.g., for textual information, over the airwaves via a receiver, e.g., a digital receiver. In one embodiment, an authorization process is provided wherein the receiver includes a hard-coded user ID stored thereon for comparison with an input user ID encoded with user-specific data signals. A splitter permits simultaneous processing of e.g., radio frequency signals including user-specific information via an authorization path, as well as radio frequency signals having standard audio and/or audio/video information. The authorization path includes an out-of-band tuner and an authorizing means for authorizing user-specific data transmissions for retrieval by an authorized receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving user-specific data via radio frequency signals comprising:

a broadband input and a wireless input to be selectively routed through a main tuner;

a splitter configured to split one of the broadband input and the wireless input into a main channel signal routed to the main tuner and a sub-channel signal routed to an out-of-band tuner, the sub-channel signal comprising user-specific data and an input user ID that associates the user-specific data with a specific receiver device;

a filter for permitting throughput of the sub-channel signal to the out-of-band tuner configured to process the user-specific data in the sub-channel signal;

a decoding circuit having a hard-coded user ID for authorizing the user-specific data to be rendered by checking for a match between the hard-coded user ID and the transmitted input user ID; and

a storage device configured to capture the user-specific data, to store said captured user-specific data, and to delay a user-configurable amount of time before retrieving the user-specific data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-specific data comprises e-mail data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor operably connected to the decoding circuit, wherein the processor includes a hard-coded user ID.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a text-to-speech converter for audibly rendering the user-specific data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to communicate a preferred content of the user-specific data to a service provider.

6. A system for receiving user-specific data via radio frequency signals comprising:

a receiver having an authorization path including a hard-coded user ID and an out-of-band tuner which processes a signal including the user-specific data transmitted with an input user ID, wherein the user-specific data is retrievable only by a single authorized receiver having the hard-coded user ID if the hard-coded user ID matches the input user ID in the signal; and

a storage device configured to capture said user-specific data, to store said user-specific data until a user retrieves the captured data, and to delay a user-configurable amount of time before retrieving the user-specific data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user-specific data comprises e-mail data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the authorization path includes a decoding circuit for authorizing the user-specific data.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the receiver includes a hard-coded user ID for comparing with the input user ID.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the authorized receiver comprises a receiver having a hard-coded user ID which matches the input user ID.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the receiver comprises a digital radio device.

12. A method for receiving user-specific data:

receiving a radio broadcast signal on a designated channel, said radio broadcast signal including the user-specific data and an input user ID, wherein said user-specific data is received only by a single user having the user ID hard-coded;

comparing the transmitted input user ID with a hard-coded user ID in a decoding circuit at a receiver, wherein if a match exists, the receiver is authorized;

authorizing the user-specific data;

obtaining from the designated channel the user-specific data by the authorized receiver;

capturing the user-specific data;

storing said the user-specific data until a user retrieves the captured data; and

delaying a user-configurable amount of time before retrieving the user-specific data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user-specific data comprises e-mail data.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a service provider for sending user-specific data and the input user ID to the transmitter.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of contacting the service provider, by a user, for providing the input user ID of the user to the service provider.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiver comprises a digital receiver device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the user-specific data comprises user-subscribed textual data.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiver comprises a digital radio device.