METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING CONTINUITY OF RADIO TRANSMISSIONS

• US 20100062759A1
• Filed: 11/23/2006
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ghafoor, Ahmar, Sinton, Lee Corey, Briffett, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for maintaining continuity of radio transmissions, particularly unlicensed low-power FM transmissions, comprising transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency, interrupting the transmission of the media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency, transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption, and continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal. The invention also provides an electronic device for radio transmission of media data with maintained link continuity, comprising a radio transmitter, a controller adapted for transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency, interrupting the transmission of said media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency, transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption, and continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal.

Claims

1. Method, comprising:

transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency;

interrupting the transmission of the media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency;

transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption; and

continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said substitute signal is repeatedly transmitted with a pre-determined duration and a pre-determined repetition rate.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said media data comprises audio data, and wherein transmitting said substitute signal comprises continuing transmitting said audio data with a reduced volume.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said transmission of said substitute signal is started after expiration of a pre-determined initial time offset starting at the beginning of said interruption.

5. Method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a pre-determined condition;

wherein said interruption is performed upon occurrence of said condition and said continuation is performed upon termination of said condition.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein said condition is one of:

an ongoing phone call;

a user-operated interruption.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein said substitute signal is one of:

a pre-defined melody;

a pre-defined sound;

a synthesized sound;

a random sound.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein information according to the Radio Data System is transmitted along with said media data, and wherein at least part of said information is transmitted along with said substitute signal.

9. Computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

code for transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency;

code for interrupting the transmission of the media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency;

code for transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption; and

code for continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal.

10. Apparatus, comprising:

a radio transmitter;

a controller adapted for transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency, interrupting the transmission of said media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency, transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption, and continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controller is adapted for repeatedly transmitting said substitute signal with a pre-determined duration and a pre-determined repetition rate.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said media data comprises audio data, and wherein said controller is adapted for reducing the volume of said audio data and transmitting said audio data with reduced volume as said substitute signal.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controller is adapted for starting said transmission of said substitute signal after expiration of a pre-determined time offset starting at the begin of said interruption.

14. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controller is adapted for monitoring a pre-determined condition, and for performing said interruption upon occurrence of said condition and said continuation upon termination of said condition.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said condition is one of:

an ongoing phone call;

a user-operated interruption.

16. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising

a memory for storing substitute data.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said substitute data are one of:

a pre-defined melody;

a pre-defined sound;

a synthesized sound;

a random sound.

18. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controller is adapted for transmitting information according to the Radio Data System along with said media data and transmitting at least part of said information along with said substitute signal, using said transmitter.

19. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a mobile electronic device.

26. Apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a user interface;

wherein said controller is adapted for performing said interrupting, said transmitting of said substitute signal, and said continuing of the transmission responsive to respective user commands received via said user interface.

27. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is an accessory device for a mobile electronic device, and further comprises:

a media data interface for receiving said media data to be transmitted;

wherein said controller is adapted for detecting an interruption in the reception of media data, and for performing said interrupting of the transmission of said media data during a detected interruption.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said media data interface is an analogue interface, and wherein an interruption is detected when the received signal level on said media data interface is below a pre-determined threshold.

29. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is an accessory device for a mobile electronic device, and further comprises:

a control interface for receiving control commands from said mobile electronic device;

wherein said controller is adapted for performing said interrupting, said transmitting of said substitute signal, and said continuing of the transmission responsive to respective control commands received via said control interface.

20-25. -25. (canceled)