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An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver includes: (a) a wireless receiver for receiving at least one local signal associated with the wireless network; (b) a coupler for coupling the satellite radio receiver with the apparatus; and (c) a controller coupled with the wireless receiver and with the coupler. The control unit cooperates with the wireless receiver to ascertain presence of a local signal. The controller cooperates with the wireless receiver and the satellite radio receiver to ascertain whether a satellite signal received by the satellite receiver has a predetermined relationship with the local signal. When the satellite signal has the predetermined relationship with the local signal, the controller and the satellite radio receiver cooperate to provide signaling to the satellite radio receiver using the local signal.

Inventor: Stephen R. Myers
Original Assignee: RadioShack Corporation
Primary Examiner: Tan Trinh
Attorney: Law Office of Donald D. Mondul
Current U.S. Classification: 455/3.02; 455/12.1; 455/557

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Citations

Cited PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US6259891Sep 4, 1997Jul 10, 2001Hughes Electronics CorporationAdapter and method for use in a portable communication signal receiver system
US6314094Oct 29, 1998Nov 6, 2001Central Coast Patent Agency IncMobile wireless internet portable radio
US6430233Aug 30, 1999Aug 6, 2002Hughes Electronics CorporationSingle-LNB satellite data receiver
US6618585Dec 14, 1999Sep 9, 2003Nortel Networks LimitedInternet-enable broadcast receiving apparatus
US20050201360Nov 30, 2004Network radio-device and system for audio listening and broadcasting using a real-time transmission
US20050213526Mar 26, 2004Broadcast retransmitter, method of retransmitting a broadcast and system employing the same
US20060063520Sep 21, 2004Remote management and analysis techniques in cellular and satellite radio networks
US20060094349Sep 1, 2005Dockable portable satellite receiver
US20080163049Dec 31, 2007ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WITH UNIFIED CONTENT SELECTION
US20080176510Mar 21, 2008System, Method And Computer Program Product For Receiving Data From A Satellite Radio Network
US20080216126Apr 18, 2008Mass storage repository for a wireless network

Claims

1. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit; the apparatus comprising:

(a) a wireless network receiver unit for receiving at least one local signal associated with said wireless network;

(b) a coupling unit for coupling said coupled satellite radio receiver unit with the apparatus; and

(c) a control unit coupled with said wireless network receiver unit and with said coupling unit;

said control unit cooperating with said wireless network receiver unit to ascertain presence of said at least one local signal; said control unit cooperating with said wireless network receiver unit and cooperating through said coupling unit with said coupled satellite radio receiver to compare said at least one local signal with at least one satellite signal received by said coupled satellite receiver unit to ascertain whether said at least one satellite signal has a predetermined relationship with said at least one local signal; when said at least one satellite signal has said predetermined relationship with said at least one local signal, said control unit and said coupled satellite radio receiver unit cooperating to provide signaling to said coupled satellite radio receiver unit using said at least one local signal.

2. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one local signal conveys local programming material substantially similar to satellite programming material conveyed by said at least one received satellite signal.

3. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 2 wherein said local programming material is broadcast substantially simultaneously with said satellite programming material.

4. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless network is coupled with a wide area network.

5. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one local signal conveys local programming material substantially similar to satellite programming material conveyed by said at least one received satellite signal.

6. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 5 wherein said local programming material is broadcast substantially simultaneously with said satellite programming material.

7. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 5 wherein said local programming material is received by said wireless network from said wide area network.

8. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 7 wherein said local programming material and said satellite programming material originate from a common source.

9. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 8 wherein said wide area network is the Internet.

10. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 9 wherein said control unit includes a memory storage unit; said memory storage unit containing at least one sign-on phrase for use by said control unit for accessing said local programming material via the Internet.

11. An apparatus for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 4 wherein said control unit includes a memory storage unit; said memory storage unit containing at least one sign-on phrase for use by said control unit for accessing said local programming material via said wide area network.

12. An apparatus for effecting communication between a coupled satellite radio receiver unit and a wireless network link to at least one wide area network; said at least one wide area network carrying information from an originator of programming for reception by said coupled satellite radio receiver; the apparatus comprising:

(a) a wireless network receiver unit for receiving said information via at least one local signal associated with said wireless network link;

(b) a coupling unit for coupling said coupled satellite radio receiver unit with the apparatus;

(c) a control unit coupled with said wireless network receiver unit and with said coupling unit;

said control unit cooperating with said wireless network receiver unit to ascertain presence of said at least one local signal; said control unit cooperating with said wireless network receiver unit and cooperating through said coupling unit with said coupled satellite radio receiver to compare said at least one local signal with at least one satellite signal received by said coupled satellite receiver unit to ascertain whether said at least one satellite signal has a predetermined relationship with said at least one local signal; when said at least one satellite signal has said predetermined relationship with said at least one local signal, said control unit and said coupled satellite radio receiver unit cooperating to provide programming signaling to said coupled satellite radio receiver unit using said at least one local signal.

13. An apparatus for effecting communication between a coupled satellite radio receiver unit and a wireless network link to at least one wide area network as recited in claim 12 wherein said local programming material is broadcast substantially simultaneously with said satellite programming material.

14. An apparatus for effecting communication between a coupled satellite radio receiver unit and a wireless network link to at least one wide area network as recited in claim 13 wherein said wide area network is the Internet.

15. An apparatus for effecting communication between a coupled satellite radio receiver unit and a wireless network link to at least one wide area network as recited in claim 14 wherein said control unit includes a memory storage unit; said memory storage unit containing at least one sign-on phrase for use by said control unit for accessing said local programming material via the Internet.

16. An apparatus for effecting communication between a coupled satellite radio receiver unit and a wireless network link to at least one wide area network as recited in claim 12 wherein said control unit includes a memory storage unit; said memory storage unit containing at least one sign-on phrase for use by said control unit for accessing said local programming material via said wide area network.

17. A method for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit; the method comprising the steps of:

(a) in no particular order:
(1) providing a wireless network receiver unit for receiving at least one local signal associated with said wireless network;
(2) providing a coupling unit for coupling said coupled satellite radio receiver unit with the apparatus; and
(3) providing a control unit coupled with said wireless network receiver unit and with said coupling unit;
(b) operating said control unit and said wireless network receiver unit to cooperate to ascertain presence of said at least one local signal;
(c) operating said control unit, said wireless network receiver unit and, through said coupling unit, said coupled satellite radio receiver to cooperate to compare said at least one local signal with at least one satellite signal received by said coupled satellite receiver unit to ascertain whether said at least one satellite signal has a predetermined relationship with said at least one local signal; and
(d) when said at least one satellite signal has said predetermined relationship with said at least one local signal, operating said control unit and said coupled satellite radio receiver unit to cooperate to provide signaling to said coupled satellite radio receiver unit using said at least one local signal.

18. A method for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 17 wherein said wireless network is coupled with a wide area network.

19. A method for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 18 wherein said at least one local signal conveys local programming material substantially similar to satellite programming material conveyed by said at least one received satellite signal; said local programming and said satellite programming occurring substantially simultaneously.

20. A method for effecting communication between a wireless network and a coupled satellite radio receiver unit as recited in claim 19 wherein said control unit includes a memory storage unit; said memory storage unit containing at least one sign-on phrase for use by said control unit for accessing said local programming material via said wide area network.

Drawings