Digital radio feedback systems

• US 7,634,224 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hong, Roberts, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US11/860,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/66.1, 455/344
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/37 via a different channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information

Abstract

A system including a digital radio broadcast station, a receiver, and a network. The digital radio broadcast station includes a transmitter and a server. The receiver is in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter and also includes a user interface for receiving user input commands comprising a request for information from the digital radio broadcast station. The receiver is configured to establish a two-way communication path between the receiver and the digital radio broadcast transmitter. The network is in communication with the server and the receiver for exchanging information therebetween. The request for information is provided to the server via the network and the server is configured to receive the request and transmit a response message to the receiver in accordance with the request.

Claims

1. A digital radio broadcast system, comprising:

a digital radio broadcast station, comprising a transmitter that transmits an audio signal and a server; and

a receiver in two-way communication with the transmitter and the server, comprising a user interface, wherein the receiver;

receives the audio signal from the transmitter,

receives an input via the user interface in response to the audio signal,

generates a packet according to the input, wherein the packet comprises at least two of an identification address of the receiver, a location of the receiver, the current time, the current date, a channel identification number, or a radio station identification number,

generates a request for information, wherein the request for information includes the packet,

sends the request for information to the server via a network, and

receives a response message from the server, wherein the server generates the response message in accordance with the request for information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer in communication with the receiver, the computer configured to receive and display the response message.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a telephone in communication with the receiver, the telephone configured to receive and display the response message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the response message is provided to an e-mail address.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database in communication with the server containing information related to a digital radio program.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for information comprises a request for specific information relating to content currently being broadcast by the digital radio broadcast station.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the specific information further comprises information relating to a radio channel.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the response message comprises specific information relating to the content currently being broadcast by the digital radio broadcast station.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for information comprises a request for specific information relating to content previously broadcast by the digital radio broadcast station.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the specific information further comprises information relating to a radio channel.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the response message comprises specific information relating to the content previously broadcast by the digital radio broadcast station.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one device in communication with the receiver for displaying the response message.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the device comprises a broadcast directory.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an online purchase device in communication with the receiver, wherein the online purchase device allows the purchase of broadcast materials currently being broadcast by the digital radio broadcast station from a third-party vendor.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a recorder in communication with the receiver for recording audio broadcast by the digital radio broadcast station.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a broadcast guide related to specific audio channels at specific times.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the broadcast guide is deliverable to a device in communication with the receiver.

18. A method for digital radio feedback, comprising:

establishing two-way communication with a digital radio broadcast station, wherein the digital radio broadcast station comprises a transmitter that transmits an audio signal and a server that generates a response message;

receiving an audio signal from the transmitter;

receiving an input via a user interface in response to the audio signal;

generating a request for information according to the input, wherein the request for information includes a packet comprising at least two of an identification address of a receiver, a location of the receiver, the current time, the current date, a channel identification number, or a radio station identification number;

delivering the request for information to the server via a network; and

receiving a response message from the server in response to the request for information, wherein the response message includes information in accordance with the request for information.