Enhanced radio systems and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus for processing multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver capable of continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to simultaneously store in a buffer each radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user; and
(c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof;
wherein the user can select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for the output, said stored radio signal having been received while said apparatus was in an off state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced radio system is disclosed that provides for the capture and playback of one or more radio stations. The user may tune to a station, or scan through stations, rewind to hear what was missed (even while the system is turned off), and fast-forward through undesired content. The system allows a user to rate content, and to be notified when that content is being played on any station. The system may recognize content as it is broadcast and may jump to desirable content, save a copy of desirable content, or skip over undesirable content. The system may make radio station recommendations. The system may support multiple sets of configuration information to allow its use by multiple listeners and in multiple locations. The system allows the user to respond easily to radio content, download and upload audio content, and send radio content to another user. The system may allow a user to download information about content that the user wishes to record a copy of. The system may include security features to prevent the unauthorized downloading, uploading, and saving of copies of the radio content. The system may provide other radio related and radio content related information. The system may provide a karaoke mode. The system may also allow the user to integrate a telephone with the radio. The system may report usage information to a collection facility.
392 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver capable of continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to simultaneously store in a buffer each radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user; and
(c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof;
wherein the user can select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for the output, said stored radio signal having been received while said apparatus was in an off state.
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2. An apparatus for processing multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver capable of continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio signal; and
(b) a storage module having a capacity to simultaneously store in a buffer each radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user;
wherein the amount of memory allocated to the buffer for each radio signal may vary based on a dynamic priority scheme.
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3. An apparatus for processing multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver capable of continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to simultaneously store in a buffer each radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user; and
(c) a communication module;
wherein the storage module has the capacity to store in a separate buffer radio content received by the communication module for later output by selection of the user. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for processing multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver capable of continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to simultaneously store in a buffer each radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user; and
(c) a communication module;
wherein the user can select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for output to the communication module. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for processing radio signals, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least one radio receiver capable of continuously receiving a radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to store in a buffer the radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user;
(c) a communication module configured to receive information representative of an item of audio content;
(d) a processing module configured to recognize an item of audio content based on the received information representative of the item; and
wherein the storage module is additionally configured to automatically save a copy of the item of audio content when it is recognized based on the received information. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An apparatus for processing radio signals, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least one radio receiver capable of continuously receiving a radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to store in a buffer the radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user;
(c) a processing module configured to recognize an item of audio content based on information representative of the item; and
wherein the processing module is additionally configured to take an action when an item of audio content is recognized based on a setting configured by the user. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An apparatus for processing radio signals, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least one radio receiver capable of continuously receiving a radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to store in a buffer the radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user; and
wherein the radio receiver is additionally configured to access a radio station defined by the user as a favorite station. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An apparatus for processing multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver capable of continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio signal;
(b) a storage module having a capacity to simultaneously store in a buffer each radio signal received by the radio receiver module for later output by selection of a user; and
(c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof;
wherein the programmable selection scheme is further configured to allow a user to select content to have a copy saved, wherein the content is in progress.
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Specification