System and method for sending and receiving images via wireless audio channels

• US 20080125030A1
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Barton, Michael A., Marko, Paul David, Mantel, George David, Rindsberg, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter

Abstract

A system and method for adding images to a wireless audio service. The invention is adapted for use in a system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving an audio data stream and includes an arrangement for providing an image and a mechanism for inserting the image into the data stream prior to transmission thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, a third arrangement is provided for receiving and decoding the data stream to extract and a fourth arrangement is included for displaying the image while the audio signal is output. The fourth arrangement may be a digital radio, i.e., a radio adapted to process digital signals, such as a satellite radio, high definition radio, digital AM or other suitable primarily audio wireless communication system. In a specific embodiment, the invention includes an arrangement for automatically inserting a selected image in the stream. In the illustrative embodiment, this arrangement includes a source selector, an image editor coupled to the source selector, an image resizer, an image compressor, and an arrangement for allowing a user to add text, color, style and/or other information to an image output by the compressor. The invention further includes an arrangement for adding images from an archive to the stream and a graphical picture show composer for providing an image queue. An image server is included for feeding the image queue to the output data stream provided by a system server such as an XM or Sirius satellite radio server.

Claims

1. In a system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving a primarily audio data stream, an improvement wherein said improvement comprises:

first means for providing an image and

second means for inserting said image into said data stream prior to transmission thereof.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said image is a video image.

3. The invention of claim 1 further including third means for receiving and decoding said data stream to extract said image.

4. The invention of claim 3 further including fourth means for displaying said image.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said fourth means is a digital radio.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said fourth means is a satellite radio.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said fourth means is an XM satellite radio.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said fourth means is a Sirius satellite radio.

9. The invention of claim 5 wherein said fourth means is a high definition radio.

10. The invention of claim 5 wherein said fourth means is a digital AM radio.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first means includes means for automatically inserting a selected image in said stream.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said means for automatically inserting includes a source selector.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said means for automatically inserting includes an image editor coupled to said source selector.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said means for automatically inserting includes an image resizer.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said means for automatically inserting includes an image compressor.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said means for automatically inserting includes means for allowing a user to add text, color, style and/or other information to an image output by said compressor.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said means for automatically inserting includes means for adding images from an archive to said stream.

18. The invention of claim 11 wherein said means for automatically inserting includes a real time graphical picture show composer for providing an image queue.

19. The invention of claim 1 further including an image server.

20. The invention of claim 19 further including a satellite radio server coupled to said image server.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein said satellite radio server is an XM satellite radio server.

22. The invention of claim 20 wherein said satellite radio server is a Sirius satellite radio server.

23. A system for providing images in a wireless radio broadcast system comprising:

means for composing a data stream having an audio data component and a control data component;

means for inserting image data in said control data component;

means for transmitting said data stream;

means for receiving said data stream; and

means for extracting and displaying said image data.

24. The invention of claim 23 wherein said image is a video image.

25. In a system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving an audio data stream, an improvement wherein said improvement comprises the steps of:

providing an image and

inserting said image into said data stream prior to transmission thereof.

26. The invention of claim 25 wherein said image is a video image.

27. A method for providing images in a wireless radio broadcast system including the steps of:

composing a data stream having an audio data component and a control data component;

inserting image data in said control data component;

transmitting said data stream;

receiving said data stream; and

extracting and displaying said image data.

28. The invention of claim 27 wherein said image is a video image.