FM BROADCAST SYSTEM COMPETITIVE WITH SATELLITE RADIO
First Claim
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1. A method of playing an on demand report on a playback device, the method comprising:
- generating a plurality of media content segments, at least a portion of said media content segments being on demand information segments;
storing at least a portion of said on demand information segments on said playback device;
updating at least a portion of said on demand information segments stored on said playback device to produce updated information segments;
generating a playlist;
accepting from a user an indicating at said playback device of a request for a user requested report; and
creating an output signal representative of said on demand report responsive to said playlist and responsive to said request;
wherein;
said playlist depends in part on user input information provided by said user;
said playlist depends in part on a model created by a media provider;
said user input information is related to said model;
said output signal includes a representation of at least one of said updated information segments; and
said output signal is created within a short delay of said request by said user.
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Abstract
A media broadcast and distribution system is disclosed which substitutes storage for communications, allowing more efficient use of scarce bandwidth resources. One embodiment allows a terrestrial FM broadcaster to offer a larger number of higher quality audio channels than current satellite radio services such as Sirius and XM Satellite Radio. This embodiment also has features that offer a better user experience than with personal audio devices such as Apple'"'"'s iPod™. Another embodiment allows satellite radio services to expand their video offerings.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of playing an on demand report on a playback device, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of media content segments, at least a portion of said media content segments being on demand information segments; storing at least a portion of said on demand information segments on said playback device; updating at least a portion of said on demand information segments stored on said playback device to produce updated information segments; generating a playlist; accepting from a user an indicating at said playback device of a request for a user requested report; and creating an output signal representative of said on demand report responsive to said playlist and responsive to said request; wherein; said playlist depends in part on user input information provided by said user; said playlist depends in part on a model created by a media provider; said user input information is related to said model; said output signal includes a representation of at least one of said updated information segments; and said output signal is created within a short delay of said request by said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of playing media on a playback device, the method comprising:
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generating a library of media content segments, a portion of which are a first type of content segments and a portion of which are a second type of content segments; storing a representation of said library on said playback device; categorizing at least some of said second type of content segments into a plurality of categories; associating at least some of said second type of content segments with one or more of said first type of content segments; associating at least some of said first type of content segments with two or more of said second type of content segments associated with two or more of said categories; accepting from a user an indication of a preference for one or more of said categories; and playing a program of media content segments on said playback device; wherein; said program includes representations of a plurality of media content segments selected from said library; and the selection of said media content segments selected from said library gives preference to media content segments of said second type which are associated with a category for which said user indicated a preference. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of playing media on a playback device, the method comprising:
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associating a user with an active tier selected from a plurality of user tiers; generating a library of media content segments; prior to delivery of said playback device to said user, storing at least a portion of said library on said playback device; updating, after delivery of said playback device to said user, at least a portion of said library stored on said playback device to produce an updated library of media content segments; generating a collection of playlists; storing at least a portion of said collection of playlists on said playback device; updating a playlist contained within the collection of playlists stored on said playback device to produce an updated playlist; and playing a representation of a sequence of media content segments on said playback device; wherein; at least a portion of said sequence of media content segments are selected from said updated library responsive to said updated playlist; said updated library comprises a plurality of a first type of media content segments and a plurality of a second type of media content segments; said portion of said sequence of media content segments includes a plurality of media content segments of said first type and zero or more media content segments of said second type; and the selection of said zero or more media content segments of said second type is dependent on said active tier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
wherein said sequence of media content segments includes at least one media content segment associated with said demographic group.
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17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
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said user selecting an active program channel from a plurality of program channels utilizing a user interface on said playback device wherein said updated playlist is associated with both said active program channel and said active tier.
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18. A method of playing an essentially real-time media program on a playback device, the method comprising:
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storing a library of media content segments in a memory on said playback device; communicating a playlist to said playback device in essentially real-time over one or more communication channels; and producing an output signal at said playback device; wherein; said output signal is representative of said essentially real-time media program; and said media program is at least partly determined by said playlist. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A media playback device comprising:
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a memory; and a controller; wherein; a library of media content segments is stored in said memory; said library stored in said memory is updated with update information received over an intermittent communication channel to produce an updated library; at least a portion of the update information transmitted over said intermittent channel is not received by said playback device; a playlist is stored in said memory; said playlist is associated with a sequence of preferred media content segments; at least a portion of one or more of said preferred media content segments is not present in said updated library; said controller modifies said sequence of preferred media content segments to produce a modified sequence of media content segments; each media content segment in said modified sequence of media content segments is present in said updated library; said playback device produces an output signal representative of a media program; and said media program is representative of said modified sequence of media content segments. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A media playback device comprising:
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a memory; a controller; and a user interface; wherein; a plurality of media content segments is stored in said memory; said media content segments are categorized into a plurality of categories; at least one of said categories is included in a set of special categories; an active playlist is stored in said memory; said active playlist comprises a first representation of a sequence of said media content segments; said playback device produces an output signal; said output signal comprises a second representation of said sequence of said media content segments; said user interface includes one or more accelerator functions which reduce the length of time during which at least some media content segments are represented in said output signal; said controller inhibits at least one of said one or more accelerator functions during at least portions of time periods when said output signal is representative of a media content segment whose category is included in said set of special categories; and the inhibition of an accelerator function is selected from the group consisting of requiring the payment of a fee and limiting how frequently said function can be utilized. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
wherein the information communicated on said reverse communication channel includes information selected from the group consisting of user channel use information, user skip information, user repeat information, user commercial information, user purchase information, and media provider information.
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33. The media playback device of claim 30, wherein:
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at least a portion of the media content segments stored in said memory are preloaded prior to delivery of said playback device to a user; and said active playlist is at least partly generated by a media provider.
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Specification