Sirius Xm Radio Inc.

Xm Satellite Radio Inc.

Richard Andrew Michalski

Paul D Marko

Mark Rindsberg

Stuart Anderson Cox

Craig P Wadin

Greg A Nease

Glenn Peffers

Ashok Vadekar

Joan S DeLuca

Anh Xuan Nguyen

Joseph Michael Smallcomb

George David Mantel

Stelios J Patsiokas

G David Mantel

Jeffrey Malinsky

Charles Kittiver

Paul D Cox

Jeffrey David Hayes

Thomas O'Brien

Patricia Kesling

Jeffery David Hayes

David G Mantel

Marko D Paul

Paul Marko

Craig Wadin

Stuart Cox

Stelios Patsiokas

Joan Deluca

A method and apparatus are provided for generating a personalized radio channel playlist by simultaneously buffering multiple received channels from one or more source streams, and then selecting songs or tracks to playback from the buffered channels. Users can specify favorite channels for building their personal playlists, or multiple default playlist channels can be provided by genre or channels related in some other way. Navigation tools permit users to skip ahead and backward in the playback stream. A personalized radio channel playlist can be implemented as (1) content selected from buffered channels based on user preferences for artists, songs and the like, or (2) as a Mix Channel in which content from selected buffered channels is automatically mixed for playback in response to selection of a preset button assigned to the Mix Channel.

Method and apparatus for using selected content tracks from two or more program channels to automatically generate a blended mix channel for playback to a user upon selection of a corresponding preset button on a user interface

Various applications, systems and methods for using, and enhancing V2V communications for various purposes are described. These systems and methods leverage various aspects of satellite radio broadcasts in combination with V2V communications. In some embodiments, V2V-enabled vehicles can receive advertisements or offers from RSEs, or even other V2V enabled vehicles, in a defined Target Region, which may then be played to a user in-vehicle once a given Trigger Region has been entered. By logging all advertisements or offers played to a user and sending the log to an RSE, for example, and from there to a content provider (e.g., an SDARS service operator), verified delivery of advertisements is achieved, which allows the content provider to obtain significant revenues from advertisers. In return for uploading the playback record from the vehicle to the RSE, a variety of incentives may be offered, such as (i) free or discounted satellite radio subscription; (ii) download credits for music or videos from an online store; (iii) reduced or free tolls on toll roads (e.g., RSE embedded in a toll collection plaza); (iv) premium audio or video content, (v) credit at an online store; and (vi) a special coupon code redeemable for merchandise.

Systems, methods and applications for using and enhancing vehicle to vehicle communications, including synergies and interoperation with satellite radio

Various multiple methods of data transport, and combinations thereof, may be used to initialize or update conditional access information on various devices. In an integrated device having both a broadcast receiver, such as an SDARS receiver, and a two-way communications transceiver, such as an LTE, 3G, 4G or 5G modem, or the like, conditional access information for the broadcast receiver may be sent to the transceiver, and then passed to the broadcast receiver, or vice versa. Additionally, for example, the broadcast receiver may be sent, over the broadcast communications channel, a 'wake-up' message for the two-way transceiver, which message may then be passed to the two-way transceiver, so as to make it ready to receive conditional access information over the two-way communications channel, or vice versa. Moreover, because of the presence of a two-way communications path, various acknowledgements of conditional access status updates received and processed by the broadcast receiver may be sent&#x2014;thus realizing a significant improvement over the current practice of sending multiple periodic messages over the broadcast channel, to insure (but never have confirmation of) receipt.

Systems and methods for transmitting conditional access information

Hybrid file delivery systems and methods divide one or more files into parts for transmission to plural user devices during a first transmission phase employing one or more one-to-many communication paths (e.g., broadcast or multicast), and then transmit missing file parts to designated user devices during a second transmission phase employing respective one-to-one communication paths. User devices are configured with specified criteria for when and how to report file delivery status to a file delivery center that maintains a database of target user devices, file delivery campaigns, and statuses of file delivery completion at the user devices. The file delivery center can employ the database information to determine cost benefit for delivery of a file using two different transmission modalities and control when to switchover to or commence the second transmission phase after the first transmission phase.

Systems and methods for cost effective distribution of files to user devices using combination of broadcast and two-way communication paths

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a V2V unit in a vehicle (OBE) can, for example, store a plurality of years of encrypted certificates. The certificates can, for example, be programmed at an OBE factory using a secure server, and access to all certificates can be locked until an unlock key is computed for a given window (certificate validity period). An in-vehicle satellite receiver can then receive, over, for example, a dedicated satellite control channel, unlock codes for a current time window and a next time window, and provide them to the V2V device. Using those unlock codes, the V2V device (OBE) can compute an unlock key from an unlock code provided by the satellite receiver. In this manner an in-vehicle device may be directly messaged, but only to unlock one or more certificates at a controlled time. Without the received lock codes, the stored certificates are not useable.

Satellite receiver option for certificate distribution

A system for and method of implementing mobile commerce in a satellite radio broadcasting system. A unique program identifier is associated with each program segment of a broadcast. When a listener hears a program segment of interest, the listener causes the associated program identifier to be captured and thereafter to be transferred to a central location or hub. The transferring operation can be accomplished manually, via a media link or via a wireless network. Upon receipt of the program identifier at the central hub, the program identifier is used to determine information about the listener, obtain additional information regarding the program segment associated with the program identifier for the listener and/or initiate an e-commerce transaction involving the listener and/or other parties including merchandisers and advertisers.

System and method for mobile commerce

Methods and apparatuses provide personalized radio by outputting selected songs from multiple channels from one or more source streams. Users can specify favorite channels for building their personal playlists, or multiple default playlist channels can be provided by genre or other criteria. User like/dislike inputs via the radio receiver generate filter data used to search all channels for matches or block songs from playback. Filter data can also be based on virtual DJ recommendations. Channel searching for matches involves monitoring real-time song and artist labels or other metadata for all channels carried in a separate data channel. Personalization can also be provided by using filter data to select content from a mixed channel comprising content from a selected group of channels. Connectivity options and web interfaces are provided to facilitate transfer and sharing of customization parameters for personalized radio configuration.

Method and apparatus for multiplexing audio program channels from one or more received broadcast streams to provide a playlist style listening experience to users

A receiver unit () capable of determining its approximate location using a first and a second satellite transmission source (&) and, a first terrestrial transmission source () includes a receiver () and decoder () for receiving and decoding a first synchronization pulse from the first satellite, a second synchronization pulse from the satellite signal, and a third synchronization pulse from the terrestrial source. The receiver unit further includes a counter () for measuring a first delay between the first synchronization pulse and the second synchronization pulse and for measuring a second delay between one of the first synchronization pulse or the second synchronization pulse and the third synchronization pulse. The receiver unit further includes a processor () for determining an east-west constant delay line based on the first delay and for determining a north-south constant delay line based on the second delay.

Method and apparatus for determining location in a satellite communication system

A method of disabling at least a portion of one of a plurality of channels in a digital audio radio system includes the steps of receiving () a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels and decoding () a selected channel among the plurality of channels. The method further comprises the steps of selectively tagging () an undesired type of content on the selected channel, analyzing () for an indication of content of the undesired type among the plurality of channels, and selectively disabling () at least the portion of the selected channel containing the undesired type of content.

Method and apparatus for content blocking

A system for and method of providing optimizing the antenna patterns on a first satellite and a second satellite that operate in conjunction to deliver content to a single radio receiver. The process begins by first selecting an objective predictive model for predicting link margin at a first location and a link margin at a second location. The model is used further to determine an initial required transmit power flux densities to achieve the first and second link margins. Then the power flux density is adjusted for the first location by decreasing the power flux density for the first satellite and simultaneously increasing the power flux density for the second satellite. The predicted joint availability for the first location is then predicted. In the event the required power flux density cannot be achieved to achieve a desired joint availability across an entire geographical region, the power flux density for both the first and second satellites for the first location are decreased.

System for and method of jointly optimizing the transmit antenna patterns of two geostationary satellites in a satellite broadcasting system

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Coral Springs, FL, United States of America

Richard Andrew Michalski