METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY TUNING RADIO STATIONS WITH USER-DEFINED PLAY LISTS

• US 20080133371A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merle Douglas Sterling, Robert Bryant Chumbley
• Original Assignee: Merle Douglas Sterling, Robert Bryant Chumbley
• Inventors: Sterling, Merle Douglas, Chumbley, Robert Bryant
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/20 Radio receiver with possibility to choose a station with a certain program style
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/09 Arrangements for receiving desired information automatically according to timetables
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for dynamic radio station tuning in a data processing system. A play list is identified. The play list is a user-defined list and includes an identification of a number of songs. Music information is obtained from a plurality of radio stations. This music information is compared to the play list to generate a schedule. Dynamic tuning to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations is performed using the schedule to present songs from the number of songs to a listener.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A data processing for dynamic radio station tuning, the data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to generate a play list, wherein the play list includes an identification of a number of song, and wherein the step of generating the play list includes gathering user input through the use of a touch screen display or through voice input;

obtain music information from a plurality of radio stations;

compare the music information to the play list to generate a schedule, wherein the schedule contains a listing of all songs matching the play list and the music information arranged in chronological order based on a time the songs are to be played on the plurality of radio stations, and wherein a data structure is generated to store the schedule;

dynamically tune to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations using the schedule in which songs from the number of songs are presented to a user; and

playing songs stored locally during a time when no music information matches the play list.

12. A data processing system for dynamic radio station tuning, the data processing system comprising:

identifying means for generating a play list, wherein the play list includes an identification of a number of song, and wherein the step of generating the play list includes gathering user input through the use of a touch screen display or through voice input;

obtaining means for obtaining music information from a plurality of radio stations;

comparing means for comparing the music information to the play list to generate a schedule, wherein the schedule contains a listing of all songs matching the play list and the music information arranged in chronological order based on a time the songs are to be played on the plurality of radio stations, and wherein a data structure is generated to store the schedule;

tuning means for dynamically tuning to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations using the schedule, wherein songs from the number of songs are presented to a user; and

playing songs stored locally during a time when no music information matches the play list.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the dynamically tuning means connects to an Internet Protocol address for the radio station.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of radio stations includes at least one of an Internet radio station, a satellite radio station, and a broadcast radio station.

15. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the music information includes a name.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the music information further includes at least one of an artist name, a track number, a track length, and a time of broadcast.

17. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the data processing system is selected from one of a personal computer, an audio system, or an automotive computing platform.

18. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the generating means comprises:

prompting means for prompting the user to input the identification of the number of songs; and

generating means for generating the play list from input from the user.

19. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the dynamically tuning means includes:

storing means for storing a song if the song overlaps with another song in the schedule.

20. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the music information includes at least one of a start time for a song that includes a commercial.

21. The data processing system of claim 12 further comprising:

presenting means for presenting a commercial identified from the music information only during a period of time when no songs are to be presented to the user.

22. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for dynamic radio station tuning, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for generating a play list, wherein the play list includes an identification of a number of song, and wherein the step of generating the play list includes gathering user input through the use of a touch screen display or through voice input;

second instructions for obtaining music information from a plurality of radio stations;

third instructions for comparing the music information to the play list to generate a schedule, wherein the schedule contains a listing of all songs matching the play list and the music information arranged in chronological order based on a time the songs are to be played on the plurality of radio stations, and wherein a data structure is generated to store the schedule;

fourth instructions for dynamically tuning to a radio station within the plurality of radio stations using the schedule, wherein songs from the number of songs are presented to a user; and

fifth instructions playing songs stored locally during a time when no music information matches the play list.