RDS-TMC radio receiver for processing region-specific and supra-regional road or area indications

• US 6,018,649 A
• Filed: 08/20/1997
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Ruhl, Hans W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fuller, Greta J.
• Application Number:
  US08/916,779
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 455/186.1, 455/558, 455/432, 455/185.1
• US Class Current: 455/186.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/55 for traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95

Abstract

The invention relates to a radio receiver comprising a control circuit (7) for supplying coded messages derived from a radio signal to at least one memory arrangement (12, 28), for receiving control data derived from the coded messages which control data originate from at least one memory arrangement (12, 28), and for forming the messages from the control data in a form suitable for a visual display (13) and/or a voice output circuit (14). For providing a more flexible radio receiver, a reading device (16) for reading data of an external first memory arrangement (28), and a second memory arrangement (12) are coupled to the control circuit (7). The first memory arrangement (28) is used for storing control data for region-specific road or area categories and the second memory arrangement (12) is used for storing control data for supra-regional road or area categories which have each a respective class name.

Claims

1. A radio receiver comprising a control circuit (7)

for supplying coded messages derived from a radio signal to at least one memory arrangement (12, 28),

for receiving control data derived from the coded messages and originating from at least one memory arrangement (12, 28), and

for forming messages from the control data in a form suitable for a visual display (13) and/or a voice output circuit (14), characterized in that a reading device (16) for reading data from an external first memory arrangement (28), and a second memory arrangement (12) are coupled to the control circuit (7), and in that the first memory arrangement (28) is used for storing control data for region-specific road or area categories and the second memory arrangement (12) is used for storing control data for supra-regional road or area categories, which categories have each a respective class name.

2. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control circuit (7) for the formation of a message containing a road or area name, is used for

extracting a class name assigned to the control data of the road or area name from a memory arrangement (12, 28),

extracting control data for road or area categories from the first memory arrangement (28), if control data for road or area categories for the class name are stored in the first memory arrangement (28), and furthermore for extracting control data for road or area categories from the second memory arrangement (12).

3. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the two memory arrangements (12, 28) are provided for storing certain different control data under a respective escape code and in that the control circuit (7), once it has received the control data containing at least one escape code, is used for supplying at least one escape code to the first or second memory arrangement (12, 28) and for receiving control data stored under the escape code.

4. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that control data stored in at least one memory arrangement (12, 28) under a respective coded message or an escape code contain the derivable writing and/or phonetic notation of at least a first language and only the derivable writing and/or phonetic notation of at least a further language, if the writing and/or phonetic notation of the further language deviates from the first language.

5. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that at least one memory arrangement (12, 28) contains lists (43, 44, 45) of specific control data assigned to a respective coded message, which lists are assigned to memory areas, and an escape table (46) containing the escape codes and the respective assigned control data.

6. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the lists (43, 44, 45) not only contain control data in writing and/or phonetic notation for a coded message but also a class name if the coded message relates to a road or area name.

7. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the two memory arrangements (12, 28) have additional lists (70) containing class names and control data for the assigned road or area category, which lists are assigned to memory areas.

8. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one memory arrangement (28) forms part of a chip card (17) which is used for inserting into a card reader (16).

9. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coded messages transmitted along in the radio signal are traffic announcements and/or weather reports.

10. A module (47) for processing coded messages derived from a radio signal, comprising a control circuit (64)

for supplying coded messages derived from the radio signal to at least one memory arrangement (28, 68),

for receiving control data derived from the coded messages and originating from at least one memory arrangement (28, 68), and

for forming messages from the control data in a form suitable for the visual display and/or a voice output circuit (62),

characterized in that a reading device (66) for reading data from an external first memory arrangement (28), and a second memory arrangement (68) are coupled to the control circuit (64), and in that the first memory arrangement (28) is used for storing control data for region-specific road or area categories and the second memory arrangement (68) is used for storing control data for supra-regional road or area categories, which categories have each a respective class name.

11. A memory arrangement (28) for a radio receiver or for a module (47) for processing coded messages for storing control data for each coded message, which coded messages are derived from a radio signal, characterized in that the memory arrangement (28) is used for storing control data for region-specific road or area categories which have each a respective class name.

12. A chip card (17) for inserting into a card reader (16, 66) for a radio receiver or for a module (47) for processing coded messages derived from a radio signal, comprising a memory arrangement (28) for storing control data for each coded message, characterized in that the memory arrangement (28) is provided for storing control data for region-specific road or area categories which have each a respective class name.