Radio frequency selection method and system for audio channel output

• US 7,062,238 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Glaza, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, LANA N
• Application Number:
  US10/324,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20040121748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/161.1, 455/179.1, 455/186.1, 455/184.1, 455/345, 455/99, 455/66.1, 455/187.1
• US Class Current: 455/161.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for connecting an in-vehicle radio to a wireless device. A user selection input is provided to the in-vehicle radio. A local broadcast frequency is determined based on the user selection input. A broadcast request message including the local broadcast frequency is sent to the wireless device, and the radio is tuned to the local broadcast frequency.

Claims

1. A method of connecting an in-vehicle radio to a wireless device, comprising:

providing a user selection input to the in-vehicle radio;

determining a local broadcast frequency based on the user selection input;

sending a broadcast request message including the local broadcast frequency wherein the broadcast request message is sent via a wireless communication protocol; and

tuning the radio to the local broadcast frequency.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is selected from the group consisting of a compact disc player, a digital video disc player, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a video game, an audio player, a video player, an entertainment system, a satellite radio receiver, a telemanes unit, a handheld wireless unit, and a portable communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user selection input comprises an in-vehicle radio power-on detection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user selection input is selected from the group consisting of a button depression indication, a switch input, a voice message, a menu selection, a keypad entry, a touch screen input, a wireless remote input, and a wireless device activation input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the local broadcast frequency comprises accessing a stored broadcast frequency.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the local broadcast frequency comprises receiving a pre-set broadcast frequency from the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the local broadcast frequency comprises:

scanning a band of FM frequencies;

monitoring at least one frequency in the FM band for an FM broadcast signal; and

selecting an FM broadcast frequency free from an FM broadcast signal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth protocol, an IEEE 802.11 protocol, and a short-range wireless protocol.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a broadcast acknowledgment message.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a broadcast at the local broadcast frequency from the wireless device; and

sending the received broadcast to at least one audio channel of the in-vehicle radio.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a pre-set broadcast frequency from the wireless device; and

storing the pre-set broadcast frequency in an in-vehicle radio memory.

12. A system for connecting an in-vehicle radio to a wireless device, comprising:

means for providing a user selection input to the in-vehicle radio;

means for determining a local broadcast frequency based on the user selection input;

means for sending a broadcast request message including the local broadcast frequency wherein the broadcast request message is sent via a wireless communication protocol; and

means for tuning the radio to the local broadcast frequency.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for scanning a band of FM frequencies;

means for monitoring at least one frequency in the FM band for an FM broadcast signal; and

means for selecting an FM broadcast frequency free from an FM broadcast signal.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for receiving a broadcast acknowledgment message.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for receiving a broadcast at the local broadcast frequency from the vehicles device; and

means for sending the received broadcast to at least one audio channel of the in-vehicle radio.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for receiving a pre-set broadcast frequency from the wireless device; and

means for storing the pre-set broadcast frequency in an in-vehicle radio memory.

17. A computer usable medium including a program to connect an in-vehicle radio to a wireless device, comprising:

computer program code to provide a user selection input to the in-vehicle radio;

computer program code to determine a local broadcast frequency based on the user selection input;

computer program code to send a broadcast request message including the local broadcast frequency wherein the broadcast request message is sent via a wireless communication protocol; and

computer program code to tune the radio to the local broadcast frequency.

18. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to scan a band of FM frequencies;

computer program code to monitor at least one frequency in the FM band for an FM broadcast signal; and

computer program code to select an FM broadcast frequency free from an FM broadcast signal.

19. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to receive a broadcast acknowledgment message.

20. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to receive a broadcast at the local broadcast frequency from the wireless device, and

computer program code to send the received broadcast to at least one audio channel of the in-vehicle radio.

21. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to receive a pro-set broadcast frequency from the wireless device; and

computer program code to store the pre-set broadcast frequency in an in-vehicle radio memory.