Broadcast audio program guide
First Claim
1. A method of using an audio program guide to facilitate recording of broadcast audio content, the method comprising:
- assembling timing information for a stream of broadcast audio programs, the timing information identifying the beginning and ending of one or more programs in the stream;
electronically disseminating an audio program guide comprising the timing information to a user'"'"'s automated audio recording apparatus, wherein the audio recording apparatus is configured to use the timing information to extract and record the one or more programs from the stream; and
disseminating an update to the audio program guide comprising updated timing information for the one or more programs, wherein the apparatus is further configured to use the updated timing information to adjust how the programs are extracted and recorded.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An audio programming guide provides identification and timing information (i.e., beginning and/or ending times) for broadcast audio programs. The information may be gathered from the broadcasters, producers, developers or creators of the programs, and from third parties having such information. Guide information may also be generated by human or automated operators, perhaps by reviewing a past broadcast and then identifying individual programs. An audio programming guide may be distributed or made available for retrieval before, during or after the broadcast of the programs described in the guide. Therefore, the guide may be useful for facilitating the automated recording of programs, and/or the parsing of a recorded stream of audio programs into individual programs.
327 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of using an audio program guide to facilitate recording of broadcast audio content, the method comprising:
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assembling timing information for a stream of broadcast audio programs, the timing information identifying the beginning and ending of one or more programs in the stream; electronically disseminating an audio program guide comprising the timing information to a user'"'"'s automated audio recording apparatus, wherein the audio recording apparatus is configured to use the timing information to extract and record the one or more programs from the stream; and disseminating an update to the audio program guide comprising updated timing information for the one or more programs, wherein the apparatus is further configured to use the updated timing information to adjust how the programs are extracted and recorded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of using an audio program guide to facilitate recording of broadcast audio content, the method comprising:
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assembling timing information for a stream of broadcast audio programs, the timing information identifying the beginning and ending of one or more programs in the stream; electronically disseminating an audio program guide comprising the timing information to a user'"'"'s automated audio recording apparatus, wherein the audio recording apparatus is configured to use the timing information to extract and record the one or more programs from the stream; and disseminating an update to the audio program guide comprising updated timing information for the one or more programs, wherein the apparatus is further configured to use the updated timing information to adjust how the programs are extracted and recorded.
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14. An apparatus for providing a user with broadcast audio programming information, comprising:
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a communication link coupling the apparatus to an audio program guide server comprising a collection of scheduling information for broadcast audio programs; selection means for selecting audio programming information from the collection of scheduling information; receiving means for receiving the selected audio programming information from the audio program guide server; memory means for storing the received audio programming information; a recording device configured to record a stream of broadcast audio programs; and a parser configured to parse the stream of broadcast audio programs into multiple separate programs based on the selected audio programming information; wherein said apparatus is further configured to receive an update to the selected audio programming information; and wherein the parser is further configured to adjust said parsing based on the updated audio programming information. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification