Method and system for converting streaming digital data to FM modulated data

• US 20060160486A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Morera, Daniel, Smallcomb, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/035,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/08 among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter

Abstract

A system (10) for converting streaming digital data to frequency modulated data includes a digital decoder (12) providing content and associated data, a system controller (14) for formatting the associated data into frequency modulated sub-carrier data, and a frequency modulator (20) for modulating (24) the content and combining (25) the modulated content with a buffered version of the frequency modulated sub-carrier data. The streaming digital data can come from a satellite digital audio radio system receiver and the associated data can include at least one among a channel name, a channel number, an artist name, a song title, and traffic information. The system controller can format the associated data into an RDS Message format. The frequency modulator can include an RDS physical layer (32) and an RDS data link layer (30) that can generate a checksum. The frequency modulator can also include a register or buffer (28).

Claims

1. A system for converting streaming digital data to frequency modulated data, comprising:

a digital decoder providing content and associated data;

a system controller for formatting the associated data into frequency modulated sub-carrier data;

a frequency modulator for modulating the content and combining the modulated content with a buffered version of the frequency modulated sub-carrier data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the streaming digital data comes from a satellite digital audio radio system receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the associated data includes at least one among a channel name, a channel number, an artist name, a song title, and traffic information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system controller formats the associated data into an RDS Message format.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency modulator further comprises a buffer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency modulator generates a check sum.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the checksum is generated in a RDS data link layer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency modulator is an FM frequency modulator further including a RDS physical layer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system controller controls the operation of the RDS physical layer.

10. A method of converting digital data to FM modulated data, comprising the steps of:

decoding a digital data source into content data and associated data;

formatting the associated data for FM subcarrier transmission;

frequency modulating the content data;

combining the frequency modulated content data with the frequency modulated sub-carrier formatted data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of formatting the associated data comprises formatting the associated data into an RDS messaging format.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of buffering the associated data in the RDS messaging format.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of generating a checksum.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of performing RDS physical layer functions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the RDS physical layer receives an 19 kHz input and provides a RDS modulated output.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of enabling the RDS processing of the associated data.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of generating an interrupt for formatting RDS formatted associated data to an FM modulator.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of applying an offset word to the checksum.

19. A receiver system, comprising:

a receiver having a decoder for decoding a digital stream into content data and associated data;

a processor coupled to the receiver for processing the associated data to provide processed associated data;

a frequency modulator coupled to the decoder and the processor, wherein the frequency modulator combines the content data with the processed associated data on a sub-carrier.

20. The receiver system of claim 19, wherein the system further comprises an antenna from transmitting the combined content data and processed associated data.

21. The receiver system of claim 19, wherein the receiver comprises a satellite receiver further having a satellite antenna for receiving the digital stream.