Entertainment device

• US 7,386,134 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Engelsberg, Andreas, Wollborn, Michael, Kussmann, Holger, Bauer, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei; Xu
• Application Number:
  US10/474,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20040147241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/79, 381/80, 381/82, 381/86, 709217-219, 700/94
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/20 digital audio broadcasting [DAB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information

Abstract

An entertainment device has a control element with which a user may have equivalent data searched for and then played back by the entertainment device. The data currently being played back are examined for characteristic features, so that the search for equivalent data is then possible using these features. In particular, the actuation of the control element may be used to modify a user profile. In addition, it is possible for the data currently being played back to be stored in the entertainment device when the control element is actuated.

Claims

1. An entertainment device comprising:

a processor for processing content programs of broadcast data streams;

means for at least one of visual and acoustic playback of the content programs; and

a control element, an actuation of the control element causing the processor to determine at least one characteristic feature of a first content program currently being broadcast as part of a first broadcast data stream and being played back,

wherein the processor uses the at least one characteristic feature to search for a second content program that has the at least one characteristic feature and which is being broadcast in a second broadcast data stream concurrent to the broadcast of the first content program, and

wherein the means for playback plays back the second content program found by the processor.

2. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the processor uses the at least one characteristic feature to modify a user profile.

3. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the means for playback outputs the second content program as part of a list.

4. The entertainment device according to claim 2, wherein the means for playback outputs feedback about a modification of the user profile.

5. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the processor performs the search for the second content program, depending on at least one of a duration of actuation and a frequency of actuation of the control element.

6. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the entertainment device stores the first content program currently being played back when the control element is actuated.

7. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the means for playback plays back the second content program immediately after the first content program ends.

8. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the first content program is at least one of a broadcast radio song and a broadcast television program.

9. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the processor uses the at least one characteristic feature to search for a plurality of other content programs that have the at least one characteristic feature, and wherein the means for playback prioritizes and plays back the plurality of other content programs sequentially after the first content program ends.

10. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the processor updates search results for the second content program during the course of the playback of the first content program.

12. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the processor uses the at least one characteristic feature to modify a user profile.

13. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the means for playback outputs the second content program as part of a list.

14. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the means for playback outputs feedback about a modification of the user profile.

15. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the processor performs the search for the second content program depending on at least one of a duration of actuation and a frequency of actuation of the control element.

16. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the entertainment device stores the first content program currently being played back when the control element is actuated.

17. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the means for playback plays back the second content program found by the processor immediately after the first content program ends.

18. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the first content program is at least one of a song and a television program.

19. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the processor uses the at least one characteristic feature to search for a plurality of other content programs that have the at least one characteristic feature, and wherein the means for playback prioritizes and plays back the plurality of other content programs sequentially after the first content program ends.

20. The entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the processor updates search results for the second content program during the course of the playback of the first content program.

11. An entertainment device comprising:

a processor for processing content programs of data streams including at least one of a broadcast data stream and a local data stream;

means for at least one of visual and acoustic playback of the content programs; and

a control element, an actuation of the control element causing the processor to determine at least one characteristic feature of a first content program of a first data stream currently being played back,

wherein the processor uses the at least one characteristic feature to search for a second content program that has the at least one characteristic feature and which is available for playback concurrent to the playback of the first content program, and

wherein the means for playback plays back the second content program found by the processor.