System and method for providing multiple broadcasts of audio information to spectators

• US 5,513,384 A
• Filed: 11/09/1993
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Print Media, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inner Ear Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Phillips, Robert C., Kenny, Philip B., Brennan, Terence P., Brennan, Christopher J., Dvorkin, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANKS HAROLD, MARSHA DENISE
• Application Number:
  US08/149,454
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 455/42, 455/59, 455/180.1, 455/180.2, 455/188.1, 455/188.2, 455/3.2, 455/3.1, 455/41, 455/66, 455/15, 455/25, 455/18, 455/20, 455/22, 455/344, 455/350, 455/351, 455/45 , 455/6.3, 455/54, 381/74, 381/79, 381/80, 381/82
• US Class Current: 455/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing multiple broadcasts of audio information to spectators attending a sporting event. The system comprises radio receivers for picking up broadcasts of local and non-local events, a transmitter and antenna for transmitting the broadcasts within a predetermined frequency range to a limited area surrounding the local event. Radios provided to spectators attending the event are a FM narrow-band receiver for accessing the multiple broadcasts transmitted within the predetermined frequency range.

Claims

1. A system for providing individual spectators at a local event with multiple broadcasts of audio information, said system comprising:

receiving means for receiving multiple broadcasts of audio information;

transmission and antenna means for simultaneously transmitting said multiple broadcasts on audio frequency signals within a predetermined frequency range which occupies a bandwidth of approximately 3 to 6 megahertz to a limited area surrounding a local event; and

radio means provided to spectators at said local event for providing said spectators with access to a selected one of said multiple broadcasts, said radio means including a narrow-band receiving means for receiving signals within said predetermined frequency range, tuning means for selecting one of said multiple broadcasts, and speaker means for providing said selected one of said multiple broadcasts as sound to said spectator.

2. The system of claim 1 in which said multiple broadcasts include at least one audio broadcast regarding said local event and at least one audio broadcast regarding a non-local event.

3. The system of claim 1 in which said multiple broadcasts include at least one audio program that is simultaneously transmitted as a plurality of broadcasts each in a different language.

4. The system of claim 1 in which said transmission and antenna means transmit 2 to 40 broadcasts on audio frequency signals within said predetermined frequency range.

5. The system of claim 4 in which said predetermined frequency ranges lies within the television audio VHF frequency range of approximately 50 to 150 megahertz.

6. The system of claim 1 in which said receiving means includes a first reception means for receiving broadcasts of audio information regarding said local event and a second reception means for receiving broadcasts of audio information regarding non-local events.

7. The system of claim 6 in which said second reception means comprises satellite dish means for receiving audio frequency signals from satellites.

8. The system of claim 1 in which said radio means includes band selector means for limiting said narrow-band receiving means to reception of one of a plurality of sub-bands within said predetermined frequency range.

9. The system of claim 8 in which said band selector means includes a band designation for each of said sub-ranges.

10. The system of claim 8 in which said transmission and antenna means transmit 2 to 10 broadcasts on audio frequency signals within each of said sub-bands.

11. The system of claim 1 in which said system further comprises play limiting means for rendering said radio means inoperable after a predetermined amount of time.

12. A method of providing multiple broadcasts of audio information to spectators at a local event, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining audio frequency signals which carry multiple broadcasts of audio information;

simultaneously transmitting said multiple broadcasts on audio frequency signals within a predetermined frequency range which occupies a band-width of approximately 3 to 6 megahertz to a limited area surrounding a local event; and

providing radio means to spectators at said local event for providing said spectators with access to a selected one of said multiple broadcasts, each said radio means including a narrow-band receiving means for receiving signals within said predetermined frequency range, tuning means for selecting one of said broadcasts, and speaker means for providing said broadcasts as sound to the spectator.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of transmitting through a transmission and antenna means at least one audio broadcast regarding said local event and at least one other audio broadcast regarding a non-local event.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of transmitting through a transmission and antenna means at least one audio program which is simultaneously transmitted as a plurality of broadcasts each in a different language.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of obtaining 2 to 40 broadcasts from said receiver and transmitting said 2 to 40 broadcasts through a transmission and antenna means on a plurality of audio frequency signals within said predetermined frequency range.

16. The method of claim 15 in which said predetermined frequency range lies within a television audio VHF frequency range of approximately 50 to 150 megahertz.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of obtaining multiple broadcasts of audio information regarding non-local events from a satellite dish and transmitting said multiple broadcasts through a transmission and antenna means to said area surrounding said event on a plurality of audio frequency signals within said predetermined frequency range.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of providing said radio means with channel selector means for limiting said narrow-band receiving means to reception of one of a plurality of sub-ranges within said predetermined frequency range.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of transmitting through a transmission and antenna means between 5 and 10 broadcasts on audio frequency signals within each of said sub-ranges.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing said radio with a play limiting means for rendering said radio means inoperable after a predetermined amount of time.