SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SIGNALS FROM AN AUXILIARY AUDIO SOURCE TO A RADIO RECEIVER USING A WIRELESS LINK

• US 20020058475A1
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: PATSIOKAS, STELIOS
• Granted Patent: US 6,493,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/207 with an audio or audio/video bus for signal distribution H04B1/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting audio signals from an auxiliary source such as a satellite broadcast receiver or a CD or cassette player to a radio receiver located, for example, in a vehicle, using a wireless link. The apparatus comprises a scanning device for locating open radio frequencies in the RF spectrum of the radio receiver. The apparatus displays plural RF channel options on a display device and provides a selection device with which a user selects an RF channel. The apparatus modulates the audio signals using the selected radio frequency, and the user tunes the vehicle radio receiver to the selected RF channel. The scanning device continuously scans for open RF channels and monitors the quality of the RF channel already selected for use as the wireless link. The apparatus provides the user with an indication to select another open channel when the RF channel in use degrades.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a satellite broadcast signal to a radio receiver operating in a different radio frequency spectrum than the satellite, the apparatus comprising:

a satellite broadcast receiver configured to receive said satellite broadcast signal; and

a transmitting device connected to said receiver and operable to convert said satellite broadcast signal to a frequency in said different radio frequency spectrum for wireless transmission as a retransmitted signal to said radio receiver.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting device comprises a scanning receiver for automatically scanning said different radio frequency spectrum and determining a radio frequency channel therein for said wireless transmission.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver comprises a de-emphasis circuit for high frequencies in said satellite broadcast signal, said transmitting device comprising a pre-emphasis circuit for reducing the effect of said de-emphasis circuit on said retransmitted signal when received at said radio receiver.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver is operable to receive a radio broadcast in at least one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum, and said transmitting device is operable to convert said satellite broadcast signal to one of said frequencies in said at least one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum for said wireless transmission.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display device for displaying at least one of said frequency for wireless transmission, channel identification data corresponding to said satellite broadcast signal, satellite broadcast program data comprising at least one of an artist name, a program title and ancillary data relating to said satellite broadcast program, output level data corresponding to said satellite broadcast receiver, and received signal strength indication data corresponding to said satellite broadcast signal.

6. A system for providing audio signals to a radio receiver from an auxiliary audio source comprising:

an input for receiving said audio signals from said auxiliary audio source;

a processing device connected to said input and operable to automatically select at least one radio frequency at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver via a wireless link, and to modulate said audio signals on said selected radio frequency; and

an antenna connected to said processing device and operable to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver using said at least one radio frequency.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one radio frequency is selected from one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said processing device further comprises an output device for indicating said at least one radio frequency to a user to allow said user to tune said radio receiver to said at least one radio frequency.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary audio source is a satellite broadcast receiver and said output device also indicates at least one of channel identification data corresponding to a satellite broadcast signal received via said satellite broadcast receiver, satellite broadcast program data comprising at least one of an artist name, a program title, and ancillary data relating to said satellite broadcast program, output level data corresponding to said satellite broadcast receiver, and received signal strength indicator data corresponding to said satellite broadcast signal.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said processing device is operable to monitor the quality of said at least one radio frequency, to select another radio frequency when said at least one radio frequency degrades, and to generate a second indication signal to instruct said user to tune said radio receiver to said another radio frequency.

11. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said processing device is operable to monitor a selected radio frequency spectrum and to randomly select at least one radio frequency therefrom which satisfies predetermined open channel criteria.

12. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said radio receiver operates in a predetermined radio frequency spectrum, and processing device comprises a scanning receiver for automatically scanning said predetermined radio frequency spectrum and selecting a radio frequency therein for said wireless link.

13. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said processing device is operable to automatically and dynamically select a plurality of radio frequencies at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said processing device further comprises a display device for displaying said plurality of radio frequencies and a selection device to allow a user to select one of said plurality of radio frequencies.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said processing device modulates said audio signals using said selected one of said plurality of radio frequencies in response to said selection device.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of indicating said at least one radio frequency to a user on an output device to allow said user to tune said radio receiver to said at least one radio frequency.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the quality of said at least one radio frequency;

selecting another radio frequency when said at least one radio frequency degrades; and

generating a signal to instruct said user to tune said radio receiver to said another radio frequency.

19. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said radio receiver operates in a predetermined radio frequency spectrum, and further comprising the steps of:

scanning said predetermined radio frequency spectrum; and

selecting a radio frequency therein for said wireless link.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said predetermined radio frequency spectrum is one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum.

21. A system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of automatically and dynamically selecting a plurality of radio frequencies at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

displaying said plurality of radio frequencies; and

providing a selection device to allow a user to select one of said plurality of radio frequencies.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the step of modulating said audio signals using said selected one of said plurality of radio frequencies in response to said input device.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said converting step comprises the steps of:

scanning said different radio frequency spectrum; and

determining a radio frequency channel therein for said wireless transmission.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said different radio frequency spectrum is one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum, said converting step comprising the step of converting said satellite broadcast signal to a frequency in the corresponding one of said amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and said frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum.

27. A method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising the step of displaying at least one of said frequency for wireless transmission, channel identification data corresponding to said satellite broadcast signal, satellite broadcast program data comprising at least one of an artist name, a program title and ancillary data relating to said satellite broadcast program, output level data corresponding to said satellite broadcast receiver, and received signal strength indication data corresponding to said satellite broadcast signal.

16. A method of providing a audio signals to a radio receiver from an auxiliary audio source comprising the steps of:

receiving said audio signals from said auxiliary audio source;

automatically selecting at least one radio frequency at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver via a wireless link;

modulating said audio signals to said selected radio frequency; and

transmitting said audio signals on said radio receiver using said at least one radio frequency.

24. A method of providing a satellite broadcast signal to a radio receiver operating in a different radio frequency spectrum than the satellite comprising the steps of:

receiving said satellite broadcast signal; and

converting said satellite broadcast signal to a frequency in said different radio frequency spectrum for wireless transmission as a retransmitted signal to said radio receiver.