System and method for radio station preference translational mapping

• US 20070037534A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Steven, Galli, Doreen, Doudnikoff, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/185.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0075 where the receiving frequencies of the stations are stored in a permanent memory, e.g. ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/20 Radio receiver with possibility to choose a station with a certain program style

Abstract

A user'"'"'s media preferences can be obtained and stored for later use in setting up a currently-available media device. The media device inputs are programmed based on the media device'"'"'s capabilities and the available media sources for the particular geographic area in which the user is currently located. Media device inputs may be set by the media device itself or by a computer attached to the media device, either directly or via a network. Device data, including information such as the number of media device inputs to be programmed, and whether or not the media device inputs can be toggled between several stations, is obtained. Station data, including available media sources, is obtained for the current geographic area. A user profile, including information such as input preference settings and genre preferences, is also obtained. The media device inputs are then programmed based on the user profile, the station data for the geographic area, and the media device capabilities.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for setting media device inputs, said method comprising:

acquiring a geographic location of a media device having the media device inputs;

obtaining station data corresponding to the acquired geographic location;

retrieving a user profile corresponding to a user of the media device; and

programming the media device inputs based on the obtained station data and the retrieved user profile.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving media device data corresponding to the media device, wherein the media device data includes a number of media device inputs to be programmed.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of a single station per media device input.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining that the retrieved user profile includes a single genre preference; and

in response to the determining, using the obtained station data to set each of the media device inputs to a media station of the single genre preference, wherein the media device inputs are set in order of popularity.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining that the retrieved user profile includes more than one genre preference;

in response to the determining;

a) reading a first genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

b) obtaining a most popular media station of the first genre preference from the obtained station data;

c) setting a first media device input to the most popular media station of the first genre; and

d) repeating steps a, b, and c for each of the media device inputs.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of multiple stations per device input.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining, based on the received media device data, that the media device inputs are toggle-enabled;

in response to the determining;

reading a first genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

obtaining a first list of media stations of the first genre preference; and

setting a first media device input to toggle through the first list of obtained media stations.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

reading a second genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

obtaining a second list of media stations of the second genre preference; and

setting a second media device input to toggle through the second list of obtained media stations.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the obtained first list of media stations is in order of popularity.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtained station data includes a list of radio stations available in the geographic location, and wherein the obtained station data includes genre and popularity information for each radio station.

11. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory accessible by the processors;

a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors; and

a media device input tool for setting media device inputs, the media device input tool being effective to;

acquire a geographic location of a media device having the media device inputs;

obtain station data corresponding to the acquired geographic location;

retrieve a user profile corresponding to a user of the media device; and

program the media device inputs based on the obtained station data and the retrieved user profile.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the media device input tool is further effective to:

receive media device data corresponding to the media device, wherein the media device data includes a number of media device inputs to be programmed.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of a single station per media device input, and wherein the media device input tool is further effective to:

determine that the retrieved user profile includes a single genre preference; and

in response to the determining, use the obtained station data to set each of the media device inputs to a media station of the single genre preference, wherein the media device inputs are set in order of popularity.

14. The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of a single station per media device input, and wherein the media device input tool is further effective to:

determine that the retrieved user profile includes more than one genre preference;

in response to the determining;

a) read a first genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

b) obtain a most popular media station of the first genre preference from the obtained station data;

c) set a first media device input to the most popular media station of the first genre; and

d) repeat steps a, b, and c for each of the media device inputs.

15. The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of multiple stations per media device input, and wherein the media device input tool is further effective to:

determine, based on the received media device data, that the media device inputs are toggle-enabled;

in response to the determining;

read a first genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

obtain a first list of media stations of the first genre preference;

set a first media device input to toggle through the first list of obtained media stations;

read a second genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

obtain a second list of media stations of the second genre preference; and

set a second media device input to toggle through the second list of obtained media statins.

16. A computer program product stored on a computer operable media, the computer operable media containing instructions for execution by a computer, which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to implement a method for setting media device inputs, the method comprising:

acquiring a geographic location of a media device having the media device inputs;

obtaining station data corresponding to the acquired geographic location;

retrieving a user profile corresponding to a user of the media device; and

programming the media device inputs based on the obtained station data and the retrieved user profile.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving media device data corresponding to the media device, wherein the media device data includes a number of media device inputs to be programmed.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of a single station per media device input, further comprising:

determining that the retrieved user profile includes a single genre preference; and

in response to the determining, using the obtained station data to set each of the media device inputs to a media station of the single genre preference, wherein the media device inputs are set in order of popularity.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of a single station per media device input, further comprising:

determining that the retrieved user profile includes more than one genre preference;

in response to the determining;

a) reading a first genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

b) obtaining a most popular media station of the first genre preference from the obtained station data;

c) setting a first media device input to the most popular media station of the first genre; and

d) repeat steps a, b, and c for each of the media device inputs.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the retrieved user profile includes an input preference setting of multiple stations per media device input, further comprising:

determining, based on the received media device data, that the media device inputs are toggle-enabled;

in response to the determining;

reading a first genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

obtaining a first list of media stations of the first genre preference;

setting a first media device input to toggle through the first list of obtained media stations;

reading a second genre preference from the retrieved user profile;

obtaining a second list of media stations of the second genre preference; and

setting a second media device input to toggle through the second list of obtained media stations.