System and method for local modulation and distribution of stored audio content

• US 20030194968A1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Young, Steven Jay
• Application Number:
  US10/123,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20030194968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42661 for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A system for locally broadcasting audio content is described, comprising: a multimedia recording apparatus having a mass storage device for storing audio content; a content selection module to select specific audio content from the mass storage device responsive to a user input; a decoder to decode the specific audio content using a specified decoding algorithm; a frequency modulation (“FM”) and/or amplitude modulation (“AM”) modulator to frequency-modulate and/or amplitude-modulate, respectively, the specific audio content; and a transmitter to broadcast the modulated specific audio content below a threshold broadcast power level and at a specified carrier frequency.

Claims

1. A system for locally broadcasting audio content comprising:

a multimedia recording apparatus having a mass storage device for storing audio content;

a content selection module to select specific audio content from said mass storage device responsive to a user input;

a decoder to decode said specific audio content using a specified decoding algorithm;

a frequency modulation (“

FM”

) and/or amplitude modulation (“

AM”

) modulator to frequency-modulate and/or amplitude-modulate, respectively, said specific audio content; and

a transmitter to broadcast said modulated specific audio content below a threshold broadcast power level and at a specified carrier frequency.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said specific audio content comprises an audio jukebox containing a plurality of audio tracks copied from compact disks (“

CDs”

) and/or downloaded from the Internet.

3. The system as in claim 1 wherein said specific audio content comprises a public AM/FM radio broadcast.

4. The system as in claim 1 wherein said content selection module comprises broadcast timer logic configured to broadcast said specific audio content at a specific time and date responsive to a user input.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein said date is every day.

6. The system as in claim 4 further comprising:

an alarm clock having an AM and/or FM radio tuned to said specified carrier frequency and programmed to activate said radio at said specific time.

7. The system as in claim 1 wherein said modulator receives said decoded audio content from said decoder via a communications port configured on said multimedia recording apparatus, said communications port communicatively coupled between said decoder and said modulator.

8. The system as in claim 7 wherein said communications port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

9. The system as in claim 7 wherein said communications port is a Firewire™

port.

10. The system as in claim 1 wherein said decoder is an MP3 decoder.

11. The system as in claim 1 wherein said decoder is an MPEG Advanced Audio Coding decoder.

12. A method comprising:

communicatively coupling an AM and/or FM modulator and transmitter to a multimedia recording apparatus, said multimedia recording apparatus having a mass storage device with audio content stored thereon, said AM and/or FM modulator to frequency-modulate and/or amplitude modulate, respectively, and said transmitter to transmit said audio content read from said mass storage device at a specified carrier frequency.

13. The method as in claim 12 further comprising:

storing an audio jukebox on said mass storage device containing audio content copied from compact disks (“

CDs”

) and/or downloaded from the Internet, and

modulating and transmitting specified audio content from said audio jukebox using said modulator and transmitter, respectively.

14. The method as in claim 12 further comprising:

recording AM/FM radio content broadcast at a specified time and at a specified radio frequency on said mass storage device; and

modulating and transmitting said AM/FM radio content using said modulator and transmitter, respectively.

15. The method as in claim 12 wherein communicatively coupling comprises communicatively coupling said modulator and transmitter to said multimedia recording apparatus via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

16. The method as in claim 12 wherein communicatively coupling comprises communicatively coupling said modulator and transmitter to said multimedia recording apparatus via a Firewire™

port.

17. The method as in claim 12 wherein said specified carrier frequency is selected based on said carrier frequency being unused by any local radio stations.

18. The method as in claim 12 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting below a threshold power level.

19. A system for locally broadcasting audio content comprising:

audio storage and playback means including a mass storage device for storing audio content;

content selection means for selecting specific audio content from said mass storage device responsive to a user input;

decoding means for decoding said specific audio content using a specified decoding algorithm;

modulation means for frequency-modulating and/or amplitude-modulating said specific audio content; and

transmission means for broadcasting said frequency-modulated specific audio content below a threshold broadcast power level and at a specified carrier frequency.

20. The system as in claim 19 wherein said specific audio content comprises an audio jukebox containing a plurality of audio tracks copied from compact disks (“

CDs”

) and/or downloaded from the Internet.

21. The system as in claim 19 wherein said specific audio content comprises a public AM/FM radio broadcast.

22. The system as in claim 19 wherein said content selection means further comprises broadcast timing means configured to broadcast said specific audio content at a specific time and date responsive to a user input.

23. The system as in claim 22 wherein said date is every day.

24. The system as in claim 22 further comprising:

an alarm clock having an AM and/or FM radio tuned to said specified carrier frequency and programmed to activate said radio at said specific time.

25. The system as in claim 19 wherein said a modulation means receives said decoded audio content from said decoder communication means configured on said multimedia recording apparatus, said communication means communicatively coupled between said decoder and said modulator.

26. The system as in claim 25 wherein said communication means comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

27. The system as in claim 25 wherein said communication means comprises a Firewire™

port.

28. The system as in claim 19 wherein said decoding means comprises an MP3 decoder.

29. The system as in claim 19 wherein said decoding means comprises an MPEG Advanced Audio Coding decoder.