Method for determining the validity of a radio station lookup table

• US 6,980,769 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Toporski, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/441,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 370/343, 370/329, 370/328, 370/338, 381 1- 2, 455/42, 455/93, 455/110, 455/205, 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/179.1, 455/185.1, 455/71, 455/186.1, 455/150.1
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0075 where the receiving frequencies of the stations are stored in a permanent memory, e.g. ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations

Abstract

The continuing validity of a lookup table in a radio receiver for tuning to digital audio stations is monitored. The radio receiver is tuned to a first designated frequency. A determination is made whether a station identification code is identified in a digital broadcast signal at the first designated frequency matches the designated station identification code in the table entry. The radio receiver is tuned to a next designated frequency. A determination is made whether a next station identification code identified in a next digital broadcast signal at the next designated frequency matches the next designated identification code in a next table entry. A determination is made whether an invalid table condition occurs wherein the invalid table condition is a predetermined number of non-matches from the determining steps. A message is displayed that the lookup table is invalid when the invalid table condition occurs.

Claims

1. A method of determining a validity of a lookup table in a radio receiver, said lookup table including table entries for respective digital audio broadcast stations of a broadcast band transmitting to a geographical location, each table entry containing a respective station identification code and content-related information for presentation to a listener, said respective digital audio broadcast stations broadcasting a duplicative audio broadcast signal containing both a primary and a backup signal allocated over a frequency range of each of said respective digital audio broadcast stations, said backup signal containing a data signal providing said station identification code for said respective digital audio broadcast stations, said method comprising the steps of:

tuning to a first designated frequency;

receiving the backup data signal to determine a station identification code of a received station;

if said backup data signal did not contain said station identification code, then receiving the primary data signal to determine the station identification code of said received station;

comparing said station identification code of said received station with said station identification code in a table entry corresponding to said first designated frequency;

tuning to a next designated frequency of a next received station;

receiving a next backup data signal to determine a next station identification code of said next received station;

if said next backup data signal did not contain said next station identification code, then receiving a next primary data signal to determine said next station identification code of said next received station;

comparing said next station identification code of said next received station with said next station identification code in said next table entry corresponding to said next designated frequency;

detecting an invalid table condition in response to a non-matching number of comparisons.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step further includes displaying message that said lookup table is invalid in response to said invalid table condition.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said displaying step is comprised of a text display.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said displaying step is comprised of audible message.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said displaying a message is a visual display.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying step further comprises prompting a listener to perform a function to create a new lookup table.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said invalid table condition is a predetermined number of consecutive non-matches from said determining steps.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said invalid table condition is a predetermined number of nonconsecutive non-matches from said determining steps.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said non-validation condition is a predetermined number of non-matches in relation to a predetermined number of matches from said determining steps.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving the backup data steps are performed within a first predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving the primary data steps are performed within a second predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said station identification code comprises call characters identifying said duplicative digital audio broadcast station.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said primary data signal is a digital signal.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said backup data signal is an analog signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said analog data signal is an RBDS signal.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said backup data signal is a second digital signal.