Systems and methods for rendering alert information for digital radio broadcast, and active digital radio broadcast receiver

• US 20090128323A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iBiquity Digital Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iBiquity Digital Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Inventors: Milbar, Marek
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/183 FM digital or hybrid

Abstract

A method for rendering an alert message on a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. A digital radio broadcast signal is received at the digital radio broadcast receiver. Data corresponding to an alert message comprising type information for identifying a type of the alert message and message information is detected. If the type information satisfies a triggering condition for a type of alert message pre-selected by a user of the digital radio broadcast receiver, the message information is rendered at the digital radio broadcast receiver. A digital radio broadcast receiver that performs the method is also described.

Claims

1. A method for rendering an alert message on a digital radio broadcast receiver, said method comprising:

receiving a digital radio broadcast signal at said digital radio broadcast receiver;

detecting data corresponding to an alert message within said digital radio broadcast signal, said data comprising type information for identifying a type of said alert message and message information;

determining whether said type information satisfies a triggering condition for a type of alert message pre-selected by a user of the digital radio broadcast receiver; and

if said triggering condition is satisfied, rendering said message information of said alert message at said digital radio broadcast receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling said digital radio broadcast receiver to maintain a power condition in which a clock function is powered on and in which tuner functions and rendering functions are powered off;

controlling said digital radio broadcast receiver to periodically power on said tuner functions to receive said digital radio broadcast signal; and

if said data corresponding to said alert message is detected, powering on said rendering functions of said digital radio broadcast receiver to render said message information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said alert message comprises information regarding time-sensitive commercial product availability or time-sensitive commercial service availability.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said alert message comprises data corresponding to an emergency alert.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said message information includes audio information and/or visual information to be rendered at said digital radio broadcast receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling an external device in response to the received alert message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said alert message comprises a primary alert information to be rendered by said digital radio broadcast receiver and secondary information that can be ignored if said digital radio broadcast receiver does not possess functionality to render said secondary information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data corresponding to an alert message comprises location information, wherein the method comprises determining whether the location information satisfies the triggering condition.

9. A digital radio broadcast receiver for rendering an alert message, said digital radio broadcast receiver comprising:

a tuner;

a processing system; and

a user interface comprising an input system for allowing said user to select which of multiple types of alert message are to be rendered,

wherein processing system configured to;

detect data corresponding to an alert message within said digital radio broadcast signal, said data comprising type information for identifying a type of said alert message and message information;

determine whether said type information satisfies a triggering condition for a type of alert message pre-selected by a user of the digital radio broadcast receiver; and

if said triggering condition is satisfied, cause said message information of said alert message to be rendered at said digital radio broadcast receiver.

10. The digital radio broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein said digital radio broadcast receiver is configured to:

maintain a power condition in which a clock is powered on and in which said tuner and said user interface are powered off;

periodically power on said tuner to receive said digital radio broadcast signal; and

if said data corresponding to said alert message is detected, powering on said user interface of said digital radio broadcast receiver to render said message information of said alert message.

11. The digital radio broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein said alert message comprises information regarding time-sensitive commercial product availability or time-sensitive commercial service availability.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said alert message comprises data corresponding to an emergency alert.

13. The digital radio broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein said message information includes audio information and/or visual information to be rendered at said digital radio broadcast receiver.

14. The digital radio broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the processing system is configured to controlling an external device in response to the received alert message.

15. The digital radio broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein said alert message comprises primary alert information to be rendered by said user interface of said digital radio broadcast receiver and secondary information that can be ignored if said user interface of said digital radio broadcast receiver does not possess functionality to render said secondary information.

16. The digital radio broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the data corresponding to an alert message comprises location information, wherein the processing system is configured to determine whether the location information satisfies the triggering condition.

17. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for rendering an alert message on a digital radio broadcast receiver, said computer readable program code adapted to cause a processing system of said digital radio broadcast receiver to:

detect data corresponding to an alert message within a digital radio broadcast signal, said data comprising type information for identifying a type of said alert message and message information;

determine whether said type information satisfies a triggering condition for a type of alert message pre-selected by a user of the digital radio broadcast receiver; and

if said triggering condition is satisfied, cause said message information of said alert message to be rendered at said digital radio broadcast receiver.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein said computer readable program code is adapted to cause a processing system of said digital radio broadcast receiver to:

control said digital radio broadcast receiver to maintain a power condition in which a clock function is powered on and in which tuner functions and rendering functions are powered off;

control said digital radio broadcast receiver to periodically power on said tuner functions to receive said digital radio broadcast signal; and

if said data corresponding to said alert message is detected, powering on said rendering functions of said digital radio broadcast receiver to render said message information.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein said alert message comprises information regarding time-sensitive commercial product availability or time-sensitive commercial service availability.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein said alert message comprises data corresponding to an emergency alert.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein said message information includes audio information and/or visual information to be rendered at said digital radio broadcast receiver.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program code is adapted to cause the processing system to control an external device in response to the received alert message.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein said alert message comprises primary alert information to be rendered by said digital radio broadcast receiver and secondary information that can be ignored if said digital radio broadcast receiver does not possess functionality to render said secondary information.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the data corresponding to an alert message comprises location information, wherein the computer readable program code is adapted to cause the processing system to determine whether the location information satisfies the triggering condition.