Electronic device and method therefor

• US 20070238427A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nielsen, Peter, Kraft, Christian, Kristiansen, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/184.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/17 on recording information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/372 Programme
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter

Abstract

An electronic device includes a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations; a user communication interface configured for receiving from a user a list of desired broadcast media contents; a memory; and a processor. According to the invention the processor is responsible for accessing the list of desired broadcast media contents stored in the memory; the radio tuner is controlled to detect the radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are currently being, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from the radio stations; the retrieved information is compared with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and the user is alerted via the user communication interface if the comparison reveals that a broadcast media content that is currently being, or are in the near future to be, broadcast is comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor configured to

access a list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory;

control said radio tuner to detect said radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

compare said retrieved information with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and

alert the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that a broadcast media content that is being, or is in the near future to be, broadcast is comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is a hand-portable telephone.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said radio tuner is an RDS or RBDS radio tuner.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said broadcast media contents are desired music tracks.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said information about each of the music tracks comprises a title of the music track, a name of an artist or artist group on the music track, and/or a name of a music album, to which the music track belongs.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said desired music tracks are defined as desired music track titles, as music tracks performed by any of a set of desired artists or artist groups, and/or as music tracks belonging to any of a set of desired music albums.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said user communication interface comprises a display unit, and said processor is provided for alerting the user visually through said display unit.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the visual alert comprises the title of the music track, which is comprised in the list of desired music tracks, the name of the artist or artist group on the music track, and/or the name of the music album, to which the music track belongs.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein

the visual alert is accompanied by input means for the user to select to listen to the music track, which is comprised in the list of desired music tracks;

and

the processor is provided for activating the radio tuner, if not already being activated, and for controlling the radio tuner to tune to the radio station broadcasting the music track, which is comprised in the list of desired music tracks, in response to an activation of said input means.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the visual alert is accompanied by input means for the user to remove the visual alert and to select to not listen to the music track, which is comprised in the list of desired music tracks.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said device is provided for removing the visual alert automatically.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein said processor is provided for activating the radio tuner, if not already being activated, and for controlling the radio tuner to tune to the radio station broadcasting the music track, which is comprised in the list of desired music tracks, automatically.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said radio stations are all radio stations that are being capable of being received by said radio tuner.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein

said user communication interface is configured to receive from a user a list of desired radio stations;

and

said radio stations, which said radio tuner is controlled to detect, are those of said list of desired radio stations.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to access, control, compare, and alerting while the device is used for receiving a broadcast media content from a radio station.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to access, control, compare, and alert while the device is used for other activities than receiving a broadcast media content received from a radio station.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said user communication interface is configured to receive from the user the list of desired broadcast media contents.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to automatically determining the list of desired broadcast media contents from data stored in said memory.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein

said desired broadcast media contents are desired music tracks;

and

said processor is configured to automatically determine the desired broadcast media contents as music tracks performed by artists or artist groups which are comprised among names of artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory, or as music tracks belonging to music albums which are comprised among music albums to which music tracks stored in said memory belong.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein

said desired broadcast media contents are desired music tracks;

and

said processor is configured to automatically log information about music tracks that are received from the radio stations by said radio tuner; and

automatically determine said desired music tracks as music tracks performed by artists or artist groups, or as music tracks belonging to music albums, which are comprised in the logged information.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to

activate the radio tuner, if not already being activated;

control the radio tuner to tune to the radio station broadcasting the broadcast media content that is comprised in the list of desired music tracks; and

recording automatically at least part of the broadcast media content that is comprised in the list of desired music tracks in said memory.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to display a list of radio stations when the radio tuner is activated, the radio stations of the list being automatically determined based on said list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory and on said information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from the radio stations.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein, if a music track is received by said radio tuner, said processor is configured to

retrieve the name of the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner;

compare the name of the artist or artist group with names of artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory; and

alert the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner is comprised among the names of the artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory.

24. The device of claim 1 further comprising a music player for playing music tracks stored in said memory, wherein, if a music track is played back on said music player, said processor is provided for

retrieving the name of the artist or artist group on the music track that is played back;

controlling said radio tuner to detect said radio stations to retrieve artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

comparing the name of the artist or artist group on the music track that is played back with the artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations; and

alerting the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track that is played back is comprised in the artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein, if a music track is received by said radio tuner, said processor is provided for

retrieving the name of the artist or artist group on the music track or the title of the music track;

comparing the name of the artist or artist group with a blacklist of artists or artist groups stored in said memory, or the title of the music track with a blacklist of music track titles stored in said memory; and

alerting the user via said user communication interface or automatically tuning said radio tuner to another radio station if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track is comprised in said blacklist of artists or artist groups, or that the title of the music track is comprised in said blacklist of music track titles.

26. A method for alerting a user of an electronic device comprising a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor, the method comprising;

accessing a list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory;

detecting said radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

comparing said retrieved information with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and

alerting the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that a broadcast media content that is being, or is in the near future to be, broadcast is comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents.

27. An electronic device comprising:

a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor configured to

access a list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory;

control said radio tuner to detect said radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

compare said retrieved information with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and

if said comparison reveals that a broadcast media content that is being, or is in the near future to be, broadcast is comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents, recording at least part of the broadcast media content in said memory.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein if said comparison reveals that a broadcast media content that is being, or is in the near future to be, broadcast is comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents, for checking whether the broadcast media content comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents is stored in said memory, and for recording at least part of the broadcast media content in said memory only if the broadcast media content is not stored in the memory.

29. The device of claim 27 wherein said user communication interface is configured to receive from the user the list of desired broadcast media contents.

30. The device of claim 27 wherein said processor is configured to automatically determine the list of desired broadcast media contents from data stored in said memory.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein

said desired broadcast media contents are desired music tracks;

and

said processor is configured to automatically determine the desired broadcast media contents as music tracks performed by artists or artist groups which are comprised among artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory, or as music tracks belonging to music albums which are comprised among music albums to which music tracks stored in said memory belong.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein

said desired broadcast media contents are desired music tracks;

and

said processor is configured to automatically log information about music tracks that are received from the radio stations by said radio tuner; and

automatically determine said desired music tracks as music tracks performed by artists or artist groups, or as music tracks belonging to music albums, which are comprised in the logged information.

33. A method for recording a broadcast media content in an electronic device comprising a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor, said method comprising;

accessing a list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory;

detecting said radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

comparing said retrieved information with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and

if said comparison reveals that a broadcast media content that is being, or is in the near future to be, broadcast is comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents, recording at least part of the broadcast media content in said memory.

34. An electronic device comprising:

a radio tuner configured to receive broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor configured to

access a list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory;

control said radio tuner to detect said radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

compare said retrieved information with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and

display a list of radio stations wherein the list of radio stations is automatically determined based on said list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory and on said information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from the radio stations.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein

said desired broadcast media contents are desired music tracks;

and

said processor is provided for automatically determining the desired broadcast media contents as music tracks performed by artists or artist groups which are comprised among artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory, or as music tracks belonging to music albums which are comprised among music albums to which music tracks stored in said memory belong.

36. The device of claim 34 wherein said processor is provided for displaying radio stations in the list of radio stations in a prioritized order.

37. The device of claim 34 wherein said processor is configured to access, control, compare, and display the list of radio stations in dependence on an activation or a tuning of the radio tuner.

38. A method for displaying a list of radio stations in an electronic device comprising a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor, said method comprising;

accessing a list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory;

controlling said radio tuner to detect said radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

comparing said retrieved information with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and

displaying a list of radio stations wherein the list of radio stations is automatically determined based on said list of desired broadcast media contents stored in said memory and on said information of the broadcast media contents that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from the radio stations.

39. An electronic device comprising:

a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor, wherein, if a music track is received by said radio tuner, said processor is configured to;

retrieve the name of the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner;

compare the name of the artist or artist group with names of artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory; and

alert the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner is comprised among the names of the artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory.

40. The device of claim 39 further comprising a music player for playing music tracks stored in said memory, wherein

the visual alert is accompanied by input means for the user to select to listen to a music track that is performed by the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner;

and

the processor is configured to activate the music player, if not already being activated, and for playing back the music track that is performed by the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner.

41. The device of claim 39 wherein the visual alert is accompanied by input means for the user to remove the visual alert and to select to not listen to a music track stored in the memory.

42. A method for alerting a user of an electronic device comprising a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor, wherein, if a music track is received by said radio tuner, said method comprises;

retrieving the name of the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner;

comparing the name of the artist or artist group with names of artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory; and

alerting the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track received by the radio tuner is comprised among the names of the artists or artist groups of music tracks stored in said memory.

43. An electronic device comprising:

a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory configured to store music tracks;

a music player configured to play music tracks stored in said memory; and

a processor, wherein, if a music track is played back on said music player, said processor is configured to

retrieve the name of the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player;

control said radio tuner to detect said radio stations to retrieve artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

compare the name of the artist or artist group with artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations; and

alert the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player is comprised in the artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein

the visual alert is accompanied by input means for the user to select to listen to a music track that is performed by the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player;

and

the processor is configured to activate the radio tuner, if not already being activated, and for tuning the radio tuner to a radio station that broadcasts, or is to broadcast, a music track that is performed by the artist or artist group which performs the music track played back on said music player.

45. The device of claim 43 wherein the visual alert is accompanied by input means for the user to remove the visual alert and to select to not listen to a music track broadcast from said radio stations.

46. A method for alerting a user of an electronic device comprising a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory for storing music tracks;

a music player for playing music tracks stored in said memory; and

a processor, wherein, if a music track is played back on said music player, said method comprises;

retrieving the name of the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player;

controlling said radio tuner to detect said radio stations to retrieve artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations;

comparing the name of the artist or artist group with artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations; and

alerting the user via said user communication interface if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player is comprised in the artist name information of music tracks that are, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from said radio stations.

47. An electronic device comprising:

a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory for storing music tracks; and

a processor, wherein, if a music track is received by said radio tuner, said processor is configured to;

retrieve the name of the artist or artist group on the music track, the title of the music track, or the genre to which the music track belongs;

compare the name of the artist or artist group with a blacklist of artists or artist groups stored in said memory, the title of the music track with a blacklist of music track titles stored in said memory, or the genre to which the music track belongs with a blacklist of genres stored in said memory; and

alert the user via said user communication interface or automatically tuning said radio tuner to another radio station if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track is comprised in said blacklist of artists or artist groups, that the title of the music track is comprised in said blacklist of music track titles, or that the genre to which the music track belongs is comprised in said blacklist of genres.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein, if a music track is received by said radio tuner, where the name of the artist or artist group on the music track is not comprised in said blacklist of artists or artist groups, the title of the music track is not comprised in said blacklist of music track titles, or that the genre to which the music track belongs is not comprised in said blacklist of genres, said processor is configured to provide means for the user to select to add the name of the artist or artist group on the music track to said blacklist of artists or artist groups, to add the title of the music track to said blacklist of music track titles, and/or to add the genre to which the music track belongs to said blacklist of genres.

49. The device of claim 47, further comprising a music player for playing music tracks stored in said memory, wherein, if a music track is played back on said music player, said processor is configured to:

retrieve the name of the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player, the title of the music track played back on said music player, or the genre to which the music track played back on said music player belongs;

compare the name of the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player with said blacklist of artists or artist groups, the title of the music track played back on said music player with said blacklist of music track titles, or the genre to which the music track played back on said music player belongs with said blacklist of genres; and

alert the user via said user communication interface or automatically termination to play back the music track played back on said music player if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track played back on said music player is comprised in said blacklist of artists or artist groups, that the title of the music track played back on said music player is comprised in said blacklist of music track titles, or that the genre to which the music track played back on said music player belongs is comprised in said blacklist of genres.

50. A method in an electronic device comprising a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

a memory for storing music tracks; and

a processor, wherein, if a music track is received by said radio tuner, said method comprises;

—

retrieving the name of the artist or artist group on the music track, the title of the music track, or the genre to which the music track belongs;

comparing the name of the artist or artist group with a blacklist of artists or artist groups stored in said memory, the title of the music track with a blacklist of music track titles stored in said memory, or the genre to which the music track belongs with a blacklist of genres stored in said memory; and

alerting the user via said user communication interface or automatically tuning said radio tuner to another radio station if said comparison reveals that the name of the artist or artist group on the music track is comprised in said blacklist of artists or artist groups, that the title of the music track is comprised in said blacklist of music track titles, or that the genre to which the music track belongs is comprised in said blacklist of genres.

51. An electronic device comprising:

a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media, contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations;

a user communication interface;

memory; and

a processor configured for;

reading a list of members;

detecting members on the list from a stream;

initiating a predefined action depending on said detection of members on the list from said stream.