Gary T Mitchell

US Patent:

20040187011, Sep 23, 2004

Filed:

Mar 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/391108

Inventors:

Long Lee - Brookfield WI, US
Hung Thai - Carmel IN, US
Gary Mitchell - Kokomo IN, US

International Classification:

H04L009/00

US Classification:

713/193000

Abstract:

Royalty and other fee collection for software upgrades and updates is facilitated by generating a software package that is unique to the system on which it is to be installed. As a result, when a consumer purchases a software upgrade, the upgrade can only be used on one particular system. In one implementation, distribution of upgrades and updates for a vehicle audio system is controlled by encrypting the vehicle identification number (VIN) of a vehicle into the software package used for the upgrade or update. The software package can only be used to upgrade software residing on the vehicle corresponding to the VIN. As a result, unauthorized distribution of the software package is prevented.

US Patent:

20040202335, Oct 14, 2004

Filed:

Apr 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/409725

Inventors:

Long Lee - Brookfield WI, US
Hung Thai - Carmel IN, US
Gary Mitchell - Kokomo IN, US
Mona Toms - Carmel IN, US
Kathryn McComas - Kokomo IN, US

International Classification:

H04H005/00
H04B001/00

US Classification:

381/086000, 381/002000

Abstract:

A vehicle audio system is provided that includes an audio receiver having a radio tuner and random access media reader capable of accessing audio data files such as those stored on a compact disc. The audio system includes a switch selectively operable in at least two modes, the switch operable in a first mode for tuning the radio tuner, and operable in a second mode for fast track searching and selecting for playback one of the audio data files. The audio system also includes software enabling a processor to read the filenames of the audio data files stored on a compact disc, sort the filenames into an alphabetical index, and display and access the audio data files in the order of the alphabetical index.