COMMON INTERFACE PROTOCOL FOR SENDING FR-RDS MESSAGES IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20090239557A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mittal, Vaneet, Rajan, Rajeev D., Kadakia, Jatin
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content

Abstract

Radio Data System (RDS) Interactive Services (IS) combines data feeds and interactivity with programs broadcast on FM channels. An RDS-IS client application on user equipment (e.g., handset) extracts RDS information from the RDS enabled FM receiver, and presents content on a mobile screen in a user-friendly format. Broadcasted RDS message can include special strings or “anchors” for special treatment by receivers. Receivers replace text with visuals to enhance user experience, such as cartoons or photographic icons based on names in RadioText fields. The RDS-IS client application generates specific prompts and composes interactive screens, enables hot keys and decides actions (e.g., voice calls, SMS) on key press, triggers contextual e-commerce by invoking data calls to given URLs, and sends statistics to the operator of a two-way data channel that provides enhanced content (e.g., CDMA reverse link, SMS, wireless access network, etc.) based upon “anchors” or “tags” included with the RDS-IS message.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing interactive services at a population of user devices, comprising:

incorporating an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

receiving an analog radio signal comprising an audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

receiving delivery of requested available content via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analog audio radio broadcast comprises a frequency modulated (FM) broadcast and wherein the intermittent digital data signal comprises Radio Data System (RDS) or Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating the interactive services client by a wired connection to computer-readable storage medium.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating the interactive services client by downloading over the two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a plurality of encryption components each suitable for one of a plurality of wireless carriers of data packet services to receive RDS interactive services.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the available content via a selected one of a group consisting of a two-way data channel comprising a mobile switching network, a wireless access network, and a personal access network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising interpreting a graphic association with the tagged data message and accessing a graphic for display to the user in response to the graphic association.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising interpreting the tagged data message as a shopping opportunity associated with currently broadcast audio portion.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a selected one of a group consisting of interpreting the tagged data message as an available graphical user interface (GUI) wallpaper graphic, interpreting the tagged data message as an available mobile phone ringtone, interpreting the tagged data message as an available song download, and interpreting the tagged data message with an available video download.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the analog radio signal on one of a plurality of geographically separated broadcast stations.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a selected one of a group consisting of interpreting the data message with geographically-specific navigation data, interpreting the data message to contain geographically-specific alert data, and interpreting the tagged data message to contain a news item.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a user-perceptible alert while displaying the data message.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of a group consisting of hot key shortcut, a send short message service (SMS) utility, speed dial a number containing in the tagged data message, a data packet communication modality supported by the user device;

and graphical user interface (GUI) icon selection navigation.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically accessing advertising content via the two-way data channel in response to interpreting the tagged data message.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying application content locally accessed in response to user selection of a displayed portion of the tagged data message.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying a selected one of a group consisting of a voting application content, a rating application content, and a contest application content.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a level of interactive services, wherein a displayed prompt communicates the selected level of interactive services.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising responding to user device constraints to select a level of interactive services.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising responding to a carrier subscription for two-way data packet services to select a level of interactive services.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising responding to user selections to select a level of RDS interactive services.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising dynamically selecting a level of interactive services responsive to user settings, two-way data channel available throughput, and user device constraints.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a level of interactive services based in part upon a priority setting.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting content by identifying a time stamp and a broadcast station in order to identify content associated with tagged data message.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising retaining and displaying in response to user input a plurality of data messages.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) to avoid erroneous interactive services.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a dynamically-sized data segment of tagged data message comprising a binary indication that a parameter is present and a binary indication that the parameter if variable length.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising detecting an additional data segment of a dynamically-sized data segment having a binary indication of whether the additional data segment concludes the dynamically-sized data segment.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising decoding an inserted dynamic sized integer sub-message in the tagged data message.

29. At least one processor for utilizing interactive services at a population of user devices, comprising:

a first module for incorporating an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

a second module for receiving an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

a third module for receiving delivery of requested available content via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

30. A computer program product for utilizing interactive services at a population of user devices, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium comprising,

a first set of codes for causing a computer to incorporate an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to receive an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

a third set of codes for causing the computer to receive delivery of requested available content via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

31. An apparatus for utilizing interactive services at a population of user devices, comprising:

means for incorporating an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

means for receiving an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

means for receiving delivery of requested available content via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

32. A user apparatus for utilizing interactive services at a population of user devices, comprising:

an interactive services client;

a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

an analog receiver for receiving an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

a wireless transceiver for receiving delivery of the available content requested by a selected one of the plurality of user devices via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

33. The user apparatus of claim 32, wherein the analog audio radio broadcast comprises a frequency modulated (FM) broadcast and wherein the intermittent digital data signal comprises Radio Data System (RDS) or Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) protocol.

34. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client incorporated by a wired connection to computer-readable storage medium.

35. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client incorporated by downloading over the two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

36. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a plurality of encryption components each suitable for one of a plurality of wireless carriers of data packet services to receive RDS interactive services.

37. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the wireless transceiver for receiving the available content via a two-way data channel comprising a mobile switching network.

38. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the wireless transceiver for receiving the available content via a two-way data channel comprising a wireless access network.

39. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the wireless transceiver for receiving the available content via a two-way data channel comprising a personal access network.

40. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for interpreting a graphic association with the tagged data message and accessing a graphic for display to the user in response to the graphic association.

41. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for interpreting the tagged data message as a shopping opportunity associated with currently broadcast audio portion.

42. The user apparatus of claim 41, further comprising the interactive services client for interpreting the tagged data message as a selecting one of a group consisting of an available graphical user interface (GUI) wallpaper graphic, an available mobile phone ringtone, an available song download, and an available video download.

43. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the analog receiver for receiving the analog radio signal on one of a plurality of geographically separated broadcast stations.

44. The user apparatus of claim 43, further comprising the interactive services client for interpreting the data message with a selected one of a group consisting of geographically-specific navigation data, geographically-specific alert data, and a news item.

45. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for generating a user-perceptible alert while displaying the data message.

46. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for selecting one of a group consisting of hot key shortcut, a send short message service (SMS) utility, speed dial a number containing in the tagged data message, a data packet communication modality supported by the user device, and graphical user interface (GUI) icon selection navigation.

47. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for automatically accessing advertising content via the two-way data channel in response to interpreting the tagged data message.

48. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for displaying application content locally accessed in response to user selection of a displayed portion of the tagged data message.

49. The user apparatus of claim 48, further comprising the interactive services client for displaying a selected one of a group consisting of a voting application content, a rating application content, and a contest application content.

50. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for selecting a level of interactive services, wherein a displayed prompt communicates the selected level of interactive services.

51. The user apparatus of claim 50, further comprising the interactive services client for responding to user device constraints to select a level of interactive services.

52. The user apparatus of claim 50, further comprising the interactive services client for responding to a carrier subscription for two-way data packet services to select a level of interactive services.

53. The user apparatus of claim 50, further comprising the interactive services client for responding to user selections to select a level of interactive services.

54. The user apparatus of claim 50, further comprising the interactive services client for dynamically selecting a level of interactive services responsive to user settings, two-way data channel available throughput, and user device constraints.

55. The user apparatus of claim 50, further comprising the interactive services client for selecting a level of interactive services based in part upon a priority setting.

56. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for requesting content by identifying a time stamp and a broadcast station in order to identify content associated with tagged data message.

57. The user apparatus of claim 56, further comprising the interactive services client for retaining and displaying in response to user input a plurality of data messages.

58. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for checking an inserted cyclic redundancy code (CRC) to avoid erroneous interactive services.

59. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive service client for detecting a dynamically-sized data segment of tagged data message comprising a binary indication that a parameter is present and a binary indication that the parameter if variable length.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, further comprising the interactive service client for detecting an additional data segment of a dynamically-sized data segment having a binary indication of whether the additional data segment concludes the dynamically-sized data segment.

61. The user apparatus of claim 32, further comprising the interactive services client for decoding a dynamic sized integer sub-message in the tagged data message.

62. A method for providing interactive services to a population of user devices, comprising:

provisioning a plurality of user devices with an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

broadcasting an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

facilitating delivery of the available content requested by a selected one of the plurality of user devices via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising provisioning the plurality of user devices with the interactive services client and the configuration component suitable for one of a plurality of wireless carriers of data packet services.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

creating a dynamically-sized data segment of tagged data message comprising a binary indication that a parameter is present and a binary indication that the parameter if variable length; and

creating an additional data segment of a dynamically-sized data segment having a binary indication of whether the additional data segment concludes the dynamically-sized data segment.

65. At least one processor for providing interactive services to a population of user devices, comprising:

a first module for provisioning a plurality of user devices with an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

a second module for broadcasting an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

a third module for facilitating delivery of the available content requested by a selected one of the plurality of user devices via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

66. A computer program product for providing interactive services to a population of user devices, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium comprising,

a first set of codes for causing a computer to provision a plurality of user devices with an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to broadcast an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

a third set of codes for causing the computer to facilitate delivery of the available content requested by a selected one of the plurality of user devices via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

67. An apparatus for providing interactive services to a population of user devices, comprising:

means for provisioning a plurality of user devices with an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

means for broadcasting an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

means for facilitating delivery of the available content requested by a selected one of the plurality of user devices via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

68. A network apparatus for providing interactive services to a population of user devices, comprising:

a distribution component for provisioning a plurality of user devices with an interactive services client and a configuration component that identifies a request location accessible via a wireless communication channel provided by a wireless carrier of data packet services;

an analog radio broadcaster for broadcasting an analog radio signal containing audio portion and a tagged data message referencing available content that can be interpreted by the interactive services client; and

a data packet network for facilitating delivery of the available content requested by a selected one of the plurality of user devices via a two-way data channel via the wireless carrier.

69. The network apparatus of claim 68, further comprising the distribution component for provisioning the plurality of user devices with the interactive services client and the configuration component suitable for one of a plurality of wireless carriers of data packet services.

70. The method of claim 68, further comprising the radio broadcaster for creating a dynamically-sized data segment of tagged data message comprising a binary indication that a parameter is present and a binary indication that the parameter if variable length, and for creating an additional data segment of a dynamically-sized data segment having a binary indication of whether the additional data segment concludes the dynamically-sized data segment.