In May, Interoperable Technologies filed a patent application detailing a the separation of a radio controller from the receiver, all the while using periodic authentication.

What the heck that does mean? Essentially its the componentization of the control head from the receiver section - but they throw in authentication into the mix. Doesn't help? Think of a detachable faceplate from your car stereo. That faceplate is pretty much the control head - where you press the buttons - and where the info about what you're listening to is displayed.

Now with satellite radio, which requires a subscription, you need to periodically authenticate with the system to determine that you're actually a subscriber.

An example used in the patent app is pretty much the faceplate analogy. The actual receiver is installed somewhere in the car, so the controller can be much smaller and mounted pretty much anywhere in the car.

Another example described is a wireless controller than can be passed along from person to person while in wireless range of the receiver. (Very cool!)

It's an important step towards interoperability between Sirius and XM. With a small, portable control head (faceplate) you can then allow the receiver side to be much large, with the ability to receive both Sirius/XM signals.

The question is, has Interoperable Technologies already created such a device? If so, that surely would rub the NAB the wrong way.

[View Patent Application (PDF) via Satellite Radio TechWorld]