METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTENT NAVIGATION IN DIGITAL BROADCAST RADIO

• US 20120028567A1
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Marko
• Original Assignee: Paul Marko
• Inventors: MARKO, PAUL
• Granted Patent: US 9,998,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/18 in band on channel [IBOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A low cost DAB multichannel receiver comprising a simplified buffering method for buffering content segments from multiple streams contained within the DAB channel, where the receiver enables the listener to navigate buffered content segments from multiple streams within the DAB channel while enabling the broadcaster to control the timeshift of commercial content to the receiver output stream. The receiver'"'"'s buffered content grows over time and is cleared when tuning away from the channel, thus encouraging listeners desiring to tune in to new content to instead navigate to new buffered segments. Broadcaster control of the listener experience may be enabled by setting content control fields which are observed in the broadcast by the multichannel receivers. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A multichannel receiver, comprising:

a receiver for receiving content from a multichannel signal that is broadcast containing commercial content and non-commercial content on multiple broadcast streams contained within a single channel and wherein one or more of the broadcast streams among the multiple broadcast streams contains supplemental content;

at least one circular buffer for storing at least portions of a Layer 1 service data stream containing the commercial content, non-commercial content, and the supplemental content; and

a processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is operable to;

selectively navigate among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content without changing a channel; and

time shift triggers for commercial content play based on the selective navigation.

2. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the non-commercial content and the supplemental content comprises a plurality of songs.

3. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the multichannel receiver unit further comprises a demodulator and a decoder that that decodes a received multichannel signal into one or more receiver streams that can be output in any combination of streams faster than real time.

4. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the multichannel receiver unit comprises a Layer 1 service stream circular buffer for storing and selective extraction of segments of the commercial content, non-commercial content, and supplemental content based on navigation instructions.

5. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the multichannel receiver unit comprises a service stream circular buffer and a pause/replay circular buffer for storing and selective extraction of segments of the commercial content, non-commercial content, and supplemental content based on navigation instructions and a memory manager controlling the ability to bypass commercial content according to a broadcast configuration has a bit set-enabled for bypass.

6. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 5, comprising a indicator for indicating a current circular buffer storage capacity remaining by providing a fuel gauge or a segment count already stored in the pause/replay circular buffer.

7. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the multichannel receiver unit is a hybrid digital audio broadcast receiver for receiving a combination of frequency modulated signals, analog modulated signals, and a plurality of digital subcarriers.

8. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 5, wherein the changing of the channel by changing the frequency causes the service stream circular buffer and the pause/replay circular buffer to clear.

9. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the multichannel receiver can navigate for content in an interactive mode and can decode legacy hybrid transmissions in a legacy hybrid mode enabling receipt of a main analog channel and a main digital stream and to separately tune to digital audio secondary channels.

10. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the multichannel receiver receives, demodulates and decodes an IBOC waveform.

11. A multichannel receiver unit, comprising:

a receiver for receiving content from a multichannel signal, wherein the multichannel signal is broadcast containing commercial content and non-commercial content on multiple broadcast streams for a single channel and wherein one or more of the broadcast streams among the multiple broadcast streams contains supplemental content; and

a processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is operable to;

navigate among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content without changing a channel; and

time shift the play of commercial content based on the navigation among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content.

12. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the multichannel receiver unit further comprises a decoder that that decodes a received multichannel signal into one or more receiver streams that can be output in any combination of streams faster than real time.

13. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the multichannel receiver unit further comprises a decoder that that decodes a received multichannel signal into one or more high speed receiver streams that can be output faster than real time.

14. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the multichannel receiver unit further comprises a decoder that that decodes a received multichannel signal into two or more low speed receiver streams that can be output faster than real time.

15. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the multichannel receiver unit further comprises a decoder that that decodes a received multichannel signal into at least one low speed receiver stream and at least one high speed receiver stream that can be output in combination faster than real time.

16. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the multichannel receiver unit comprises a Layer 1 service stream circular buffer for storing and selective extraction of segments of the commercial content, non-commercial content, and supplemental content based on navigation instructions.

17. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the multichannel receiver unit comprises a service stream circular buffer and a navigation circular buffer for storing and selective extraction of segments of the commercial content, non-commercial content, and supplemental content based on navigation instructions and a memory manager controlling the ability to bypass commercial content based on pre-set rules.

18. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 17, comprising a indicator for indicating a current circular buffer storage capacity remaining by providing a fuel gauge or a segment count already stored in the navigation circular buffer.

19. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the multichannel receiver unit is a hybrid digital audio broadcast receiver for receiving a combination of frequency modulated signals, analog modulated signals, and a plurality of digital subcarriers.

20. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 17, wherein the changing of the channel by changing the frequency causes the service stream circular buffer and the navigation circular buffer to clear.

21. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the processor is programmed to enable the bypass of commercial content when navigating upon detection of a commercial repeat.

22. The multichannel receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the processor is programmed to enable the bypass of commercial content when navigating upon detection of a commercial repeat within a predetermined time interval.

23. A multichannel broadcast system, comprising:

a transmitter;

at least one encoder coupled to the transmitter, wherein commercial audio, non-commercial audio, supplemental content and control information are multiplexed on each in-band on-channel (IBOC) channel of a multichannel digital audio broadcast (DAB); and

wherein the multichannel broadcast once demodulated and decoded enables selective navigation among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content without changing an IBOC channel and uses the control information to control the time shift playing of commercial content based on the selective navigation.

24. The multichannel broadcast system of claim 23, wherein control information controls the navigation capability during the play of commercial content.

25. The multichannel broadcast system of claim 23, wherein the control information selects one of a pre-set number of content selection algorithms used for navigation.

26. The multichannel broadcast system of claim 23, wherein the transmitter broadcasts secure messages in a separate authorization data stream to individually address and enable additional navigation controls that ignore navigation restrictions in a content control field in exchange for a service fee.

27. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium at a multichannel receiver unit comprising computer instructions to:

selectively navigate among commercial content, non-commercial content and supplemental content without changing a channel after receiving and decoding content from a multichannel signal that is broadcast containing the commercial content and the non-commercial content on multiple broadcast streams contained within a single channel and wherein one of the broadcast streams among the multiple broadcast streams contains the supplemental content; and

time shift triggers for commercial content play based on the selective navigation.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the multichannel receiver is individually addressable with secure messages in a separate authorization data stream to disable navigation restrictions in a content control field.

29. A method of content navigation in a digital audio broadcast radio, comprising:

receiving content from a multichannel signal that is broadcast containing commercial content and non-commercial content on multiple broadcast streams contained within a single channel and wherein one or more of the broadcast streams among the multiple broadcast streams contains supplemental content;

buffering in a circular buffer at least portions of a Layer 1 service data stream containing the commercial content, non-commercial content, and the supplemental content;

selectively navigating among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content without changing a channel; and

time shifting triggers for commercial content play based on the selective navigation.

30. A method of content navigation in a digital audio broadcast radio, comprising:

receiving content from a multichannel signal, wherein the multichannel signal is broadcast containing commercial content and non-commercial content on multiple broadcast streams for a single channel and wherein one or more of the broadcast streams among the multiple broadcast streams contains supplemental content; and

navigating among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content without changing a channel; and

time shifting the play of commercial content based on the navigation among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content.

31. A method of broadcasting a digital audio broadcast, comprising:

encoding and multiplexing on each in-band on-channel (IBOC) channel of a multichannel digital audio broadcast (DAB) commercial audio, non-commercial audio, supplemental content and control information; and

wherein the multichannel broadcast once demodulated and decoded enables selective navigation among the commercial content, the non-commercial content and the supplemental content without changing an IBOC channel and uses the control information to control the time shift playing of commercial content based on the selective navigation and a pre-set number of content selection algorithms used for navigation selected by the control information.