Method and system for presenting media content in a mobile vehicle communication system

• US 20060128301A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Reeser, Brad T., Patenaude, Russell A., Dorfstatter, Walter A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.40
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/49 for identifying locations

Abstract

A method of presenting channels to the user of a multi-channel wireless media service is provided. A user input is received in a mobile unit, wherein the user input has an associated category. At least one channel of the multi-channel wireless media service responsive to the user input is determined based upon a relationship of the channel to the associated category. Access to the channel is provided to the user. Alternative methods as well as systems and programs for accomplishing the method are provided.

Claims

1. A method of presenting channels to a user of a multi-channel wireless media service comprising:

receiving a user input in a mobile unit, wherein the user input has an associated category;

determining at least one channel of the multi-channel wireless media service responsive to the user input based upon a relationship of the channel to the associated category; and

providing access to the channel to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises one of:

(i) a channel selection and

(ii) a response to a request from the in-vehicle unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically pre-setting a media player with the channel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a list, wherein the list comprises the determined channels.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing the list to the user.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting determined channels from the list and automatically pre-setting a media player with the determined channels.

7. A method of presenting channels to a user of a satellite digital audio radio service comprising:

receiving a user input in an in-vehicle unit;

determining at least one channel of the satellite digital audio radio service responsive to the user input, wherein the at least one channel is representative of categories related to a category of the user input; and

providing access to the channel to the user.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the user input comprises one of:

(i) a channel selection and

(ii) a response to a request from the in-vehicle unit.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

automatically pre-setting a media player with the channel.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a list, wherein the list comprises the determined channels;

providing the list to the user;

selecting determined channels from the list; and

automatically pre-setting a media player with the determined channels.

11. A system of presenting channels to the user of a multi-channel wireless media service comprising:

means for receiving a user input in a mobile unit, wherein the user input has an associated category;

means for determining at least one channel of the multi-channel wireless media service responsive to the user input based upon a relationship of the channel to the associated category; and

means for providing access to the channel to the user.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for automatically pre-setting a media player with the channel.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

means for generating a list, wherein the list comprises the determined channels.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for providing the list to the user.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for selecting determined channels from the list; and

means for automatically pre-setting a media player with the determined channels.

16. A computer usable medium including a program to present channels to the user of a multi-channel wireless media service comprising:

computer program code that receives a user input in a mobile unit, wherein the user input has an associated category;

computer program code that determines at least one channel of the multi-channel wireless media service responsive to the user input based upon a relationship of the channel to the associated category; and

computer program code that provides access to the channel to the user.

17. The program of claim 16, further comprising:

computer program code that automatically pre-sets a media player with the channel.

18. The program of claim 16, further comprising:

computer program code that generates a list, wherein the list comprises the determined channels.

19. The program of claim 18, further comprising:

computer program code that provides the list to the user.

20. The program of claim 19, further comprising:

computer program code that selects determined channels from the list; and

computer program code that automatically pre-sets a media player with the determined channels.