interopeable satrad device, another patent shows up

[tankedsecondchance]

this ones worth reading note what it states "tunable" and its wireless

http://v3.espacenet.com/textdes?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2007111709&F=0&QPN=US2007111709


Abstract of US2007111709

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.




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.

 

[tankedsecondchance]

from what im hearing some units on the market currently will support dual services. with a simple software update..the fcc has been given supporting information and asked to issue a ruling on interoperal devices and to supply the same to the doj and ftc prior to them issuing any ruling on the merger..

all parties the fcc sirius and xmsr need to come clean on this issue now.

this is from the last section in a sirius patent, which mentions at least two antenna paths and tuners.the last line says it all, below is a link to the patent

While the present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, diverse antenna combining can be extended to any number of receiving antennas. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.


http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph...F&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f= G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=20070142009&OS=20070142009&RS=20070142009

Systems and methods for antenna diversity combining for satellite radio signals


Abstract
Systems and methods are presented for digital antenna diversity combining. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, at least two antenna signal paths can be communicably connected to a receiver. Each antenna signal path can be provided with an RF tuner communicably connected to a demodulator, which can estimate the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and time of arrival of its respective antenna signal. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a time alignment circuit can be communicably connected to each antenna signal path, and a maximum ratio combiner can be communicably connected to the time alignment circuit. In operation, the time alignment circuit can use the time of arrival estimate to align the multiple signals and the maximum ratio combiner can use the SNR estimate obtained for each antenna signal to respectively weight each signal and thereby generate a combined output signal. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a switch diversity combiner can be further provided, and can quickly detect when an antenna signal is entering a fade, allowing the maximum ratio combiner to set that signal's weight to zero. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a digital diversity combiner can be provided in a stand alone integrated circuit, or can be integrated in a larger integrated circuit, such as, for example, a satellite radio overlay processor.

 

[CTListener]

It's going to be tough to interest manufacturers in putting an interoperable device into production if sat radio continues to lose momentum every quarter -- second-quarter sales of both Sirius and XM products were down nearly 25 percent each from last year's second quarter, I believe. I love sat radio, but the medium seems to have lost whatever buzz it once had to the iPod and similar devices.

 

[AZJoe]

I didn't know that 07- 2nd QTR results were out yet???

 

[Tom Wells]

I can't cite the specific section of patent law, but I do seem to have recalled learning in study for my own patents,
that you cannot be granted a patent for something for an illegal use. Sat interoperability is currently illegal by monopoly law.
Notice the specific application for sat is not mentioned. Only the method.

The time-alignment ability combined with diversity-weighting in a digital system seems to be the "novel" feature.
They will have this ready, whether or not the law will change to accomodate its use.
I suspect the law will change.

 

[tankedsecondchance]

joe i think the numbers he may be speaking about may be the nab data which is reported for may,it has been running lower then what sirius reports by as much as five percent on a monthly basic that info is now out through may.

tom

quite a few patents showed up in euorpe first even a signal to signal converter for sirius to xm or vice versa

another one for the satellites which combine features of orbital paths and as a minimum states the use of four birds was filed by xm around a year ago it was a sirius document and said so clearly in the text

the patent above mentions dual tuners controlers mutiple antenna systems etc. the whole system in other words and interoperal devices were mandated by the fcc..but for some reason, they have failed to enforce any public action.with either satrad. wonder if its do to just what you mention

its the same as a tv receiving all channels or a radio which is legal...

 

[tankedsecondchance]

This application is based upon and claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/674,474 entitled "Wireless SDARS Head Unit with Portable Subscription and Cell Phone Abilities," filed on Apr. 25, 2005 the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This invention generally relates to controlling and activating satellite media service receivers and more specifically to controllers combining wireless control of satellite media service receivers with transmission of service activation requests for the controlled satellite media service receiver.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Advances in technology have caused advances in subscription radio services that provide radio services to radio receivers, referred to herein as a subscription receivers, that require activation prior to operation. An example of such a subscription radio service is Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS), including system operated by Sirius Satellite Radio, Incorporated and XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Incorporated. In the example of SDARS, a specialized subscription receiver is purchased and the user pays a monthly subscription fee to maintain activation of the subscription receiver and to thereby be able to receive the programming available through the subscription radio service. These radios are commonly mounted in motor vehicles, homes, offices and other places where audio entertainment is desired.

[0028] FIG. 2 is an overall system communications interface diagram 200 of a satellite media service with a wireless communication service in accordance with an exemplary embodiment in the present invention. An exemplary subscription receiver 202 is shown to be receiving downlink broadcast signals 224 from either or both of two satellites 102. The exemplary embodiment illustrated for the overall system communications interface diagram 200, shows two satellites 102 that are each operated by a separate subscription radio service provider. The two subscription radio service providers of this exemplary embodiment correspond, for example, to Sirius Satellite Radio, Incorporated and XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Incorporated.

 

[tankedsecondchance]

The terrestrial repeater 16 is implemented as shown in FIG. 2. The output of the repeater 16 is an intermediate frequency (IF) signal in the defined XM radio terrestrial broadcast MCM format. This MCM reformatted signal is transported at the terrestrial IF frequency via a network 25 to multiple points within a desired service area. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the distribution network 25 may be wireless, cable, fiber-optic, etc.

At each reception point, a receiver 20' is provided. As discussed more fully below, each receiver 20' is a modified SDARS receiver which provides a separate user interface to allow for channel selection and audio processing. Consequently, each receiver may be tuned to a separate channel to provide audio and/or visual output.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an illustrative implementation of the multipoint SDARS receiver 20' constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. With the exceptions of the modifications disclosed herein, in the preferred embodiment, the receiver 20' is an XM satellite receiver such as that disclosed and claimed in copending U.S. patent applications entitled LOW COST INTEROPERABLE SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICE (SDARS) RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE, filed May 25, 1999 by P. Marko et al., Ser. No. 09/318,296, (Atty. Docket No. XM 0006) and SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICE RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE FOR RECEPTION OF SATELLITE AND TERRESTRIAL SIGNALS, filed Nov. 4, 1999 by P. Marko et al., Ser. No. 09/435,317, (Atty. Docket No. XM 0003) the teachings of both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.


THIS LINK WILL GET YOU TO THE PATENTS for the low cost interoperable device

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=0&f=S &l=50&TERM1=&FIELD1=&co1=AND&TERM2=low+cost+interoperable&FIELD2=&d=PTXT