Method and apparatus for vehicular ordering of radio-based programs

• US 6,678,501 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Valeski, Judson C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Persino, Raymond B.
• Application Number:
  US09/422,131
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 455/344, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/412, 455/414, 455/418, 455/419, 455/422, 455/466, 455/345, 455/39, 455/500, 455/550, 455/556, 455/569, 455/565, 455/563, 725/110, 725/122, 725/116, 725/131, 725/123
• US Class Current: 455/3.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00

Abstract

A method of use provides an extremely efficient manner of ordering a radio program occurring at approximately the time presented, minimizing the need to remember any details. The method is embodied in a range of tactile and voice controls which people in motion need to have. Security options include voice signatures, button sequences and fingerprint identification. User feedback is embodied in both audio and visual display formats. A method of controlling a radio is claimed which provides for placing an order, querying the ordering system for additional information, initializing a user'"'"'s identifying signature, initializing a session by identifying a user, if the user is not properly identified, blocking access to ordering, and in certain embodiments, calling the police. A radio device is claimed supporting an IF signal source containing essential information on the radio program, an embedded controller, user interface as well as a radio transceiver by which the ordering transaction is carried out.

Claims

1. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system comprising:

receiving information for a radio program presentation;

selecting a radio program near the time of said radio program presentation;

accepting a radio program selection confirmation from a vehicle owner;

responding to said radio program selection confirmation;

providing a radio transceiver;

wherein said radio transceiver connects with an ordering system and initiates an order transaction session using said program selection confirmation;

providing vehicle owner identification means on said vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system for verifying said vehicle owner'"'"'s identity;

initializing an owner identifying signature sequence on said vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system;

wherein said vehicle owner identification means further comprises speaking said owner identifying signature sequence; and

wherein said vehicle owner identification means sends a stolen device report via said radio transceiver if said vehicle owner verification fails.

2. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting said radio program further comprises:

acoustic signaling selecting of said radio program.

3. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting said radio program further comprises:

pushing at least one button to signal selecting of said radio program.

4. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 1 wherein perceiving said radio program selection confirmation further comprises:

hearing a radio program selection description.

5. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 1 wherein perceiving said radio program selection confirmation further comprises:

reading a radio program selection description.

6. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 1:

wherein responding to said radio program selection confirmation further comprises at least one of the collection comprising;

ordering said radio program selection; and

canceling said radio program selection.

7. A method of using a vehicular radiobased program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 1 wherein said vehicle owner identification means further comprises:

pushing an owner identifying button sequence.

8. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 7 further comprises:

initializing said owner identifying button sequence.

9. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 1 wherein said vehicle owner identification means further comprises:

pressing a fingerprint scanner.

10. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 9 further comprises:

initially pressing said fingerprint scanner.

11. A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 9 wherein ordering said radio program selection further comprises:

pressing said fingerprint scanner.

12. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system comprising:

receiving a coded radio program data channel;

sensing a radio program;

determining selection of said sensed radio program;

displaying a radio program confirmation from said received coded radio program data channel whenever said radio program is sensed;

sensing a response to said displayed radio program confirmation and said selection of said sensed radio program;

providing a radio transceiver;

wherein sensing said response to said displayed radio program confirmation further comprises at least one of a collection comprising;

determining to order said selected radio program; and

determining to cancel said selected radio program;

wherein said radio transceiver connects with an ordering system and sends a radio program buy message for said selected radio program whenever determining to order said selected radio program is asserted;

providing user identification means on said vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system for verifying an authorized users identity;

initializing an owner identifying signature sequence on said vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering systems;

wherein said vehicle owner identification means further comprises speaking said owner identifying signature sequence; and

wherein said user identification means sends a stolen device report via said radio transceiver if said authorized user verification fails.

13. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 12

wherein receiving a coded radio program data channel further comprises

sensing an internal radio program data channel; and

processing said sensed internal radio program data channel to create a radio program data descriptor stream.

14. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 13

wherein sensing said radio program further comprises

sensing a radio program channel number to create a sensed radio channel number;

and

decoding said radio program data descriptor stream based upon said sensed radio channel number to create a radio program data descriptor for said sensed radio program.

15. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering as recited in claim 12 wherein displaying said radio program confirmation further comprises:

generating a radio program confirmation text; and

displaying said radio program confirmation text.

16. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 12 further comprising:

sensing a vehicle internal audio feedback channel to create a sensed vehicle audio feedback stream; and

processing said sensed vehicle audio feedback to create a processed vehicle audio feedback; and

wherein determining selection of said sensed radio program further comprises

determining said processed vehicle audio feedback to create said determined selection of said sensed radio program.

17. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 16,

wherein determining to order said selected radio program further comprises

determining said processed vehicle audio feedback to create said determined

ordering of said selected radio program.

18. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 12, wherein displaying said radio program confirmation text further comprises:

audio processing said radio program confirmation text to create an audio radio program confirmation script; and

sending said audio radio program confirmation script to an audio output device.

19. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 12 wherein displaying said radio program confirmation text further comprises:

sending a buy query for said selected radio program to said ordering system via said radio transceiver;

receiving a response to said selected radio program buy query via said radio transceiver; and

generating said radio program confirmation text from said selected radio program buy query response.

20. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 12 wherein displaying said radio program confirmation text further comprises:

presenting said radio program confirmation text to a visual output device.

21. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 12 further comprising at least one of the collection comprising:

initializing use for an authorized user to create a signature for said specific user; and

initializing a usage session for a first user utilizing said signature for said authorized user.

22. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 21 wherein initializing a usage session for said first user further comprises:

sampling said first user response to create a first user signature;

comparing said first user signature with said signature of said authorized user to

create a signature comparison;

blocking access by said first user whenever said comparison is non-matching.

23. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 12 implemented as a computer program residing in computer readable memory.

24. A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in claim 23 wherein said computer readable memory resides in a removable storage device which when engaged by a removable storage interface may be accessed by a computer.

25. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions comprising:

an embedded controller further comprising a computer readable memory containing a writeable non-volatile memory component;

a receiver of said radio program data channel coupled to said embedded controller generating a radio program data channel stream readably accessible by said embedded controller;

a radio transceiver coupled to said embedded controller receiving from said embedded controller transaction output messages and sending said transaction output messages to an ordering system;

a user interface circuit coupled to said embedded controller generating user selection data readably accessible by said embedded controller;

wherein said radio transceiver receives a transaction input stream from said ordering system readably accessible by said embedded controller;

wherein said user Interface circuit receives from said embedded controller user output data;

wherein said embedded controller initializes an owner identifying signature sequence;

wherein said user interface circuit receives user input data from a user;

wherein said user interface circuit receives a user speaking said owner identifying signature sequence; and

wherein said user interface circuit sends a stolen device report via said radio transceiver if an unauthorized user accesses said user interface circuit.

26. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 25 further comprising:

an external IF signal Input port; and

wherein said radio program data channel receiver includes a radio program data channel isolator containing an input port coupled to said external IF input signal and further containing a digital output port coupled to said embedded controller providing said radio program data channel stream.

27. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 26 further comprising:

wherein said external IF signal input port supports an analog signal protocol; and

wherein said radio program data channel isolator further comprises;

an analog isolation circuit including

a first analog Input port coupled to said external IF input port;

a first digital output port coupled to said radio program data channel isolator digital output; and

an A/D converter further comprising;

a second analog input port coupled to said first analog input port; and

a second digital output port coupled to said first digital output port.

28. A radio for recording a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 27 wherein said analog isolation circuit further comprises:

a bandpass filter containing an input port coupled to said external IF input signal and further containing a output port coupled to said AND converter input port.

29. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 25 wherein said user interface circuit further comprises:

a user interface audio output interface providing audio output of said user output data.

30. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 25 wherein said user interface circuit further comprises;

a user interface audio input sensor providing an user audio input data stream to said embedded controller.

31. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 25 wherein said user interface circuit further comprises:

a visual output device providing visual output of said user output data.

32. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 25 wherein said user interface circuit further comprises:

a user interface tactile input sensor providing an user tactile input data stream.

33. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 32 wherein said user interface tactile input sensor further comprises:

a button sensor.

34. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 32 wherein said user Interface tactile input sensor further comprises:

a fingerprint scanner.

35. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 25 wherein said radio transceiver comprises:

a cellular telephone.

36. A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in claim 25 wherein said radio transceiver comprises:

a bi-directional pager.