Channel mapping for mobile media content transmission
First Claim
1. A preferred channel determination system, comprising:
- a data source containing data indicative of the geographic range of channels broadcast in at least one selected region and route information that indicates a user'"'"'s expected travel route; and
a channel determination module in communication with the data source, the channel determination module operable to use the data indicative of the geographic range of channels broadcast in at least one selected region to determine a preferred channel for use in transmission at a given location and configured to use the route information to determine preferred channels for certain portions of a user'"'"'s trip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A channel mapping system has a data source containing data indicative of the geographic range of channels broadcast in at least one selected region and a channel determination module that uses data indicative of a location in conjunction with the data source to determine a preferred channel. The preferred channel may be an FM channel. A transmitter is used with a portable media player to broadcast audio data contained on or received by the portable media player over the preferred channel. The media can be received by a corresponding receiver set to the same preferred channel. Adjustments to the channel settings can be determined repeatedly so that, as a preferred channel changes with location, an automated process or a user facilitated process can be used to change the channel settings on each of the transmitter and the receive. A location identification system such as GPS can be used to identify the location.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A preferred channel determination system, comprising:
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a data source containing data indicative of the geographic range of channels broadcast in at least one selected region and route information that indicates a user'"'"'s expected travel route; and a channel determination module in communication with the data source, the channel determination module operable to use the data indicative of the geographic range of channels broadcast in at least one selected region to determine a preferred channel for use in transmission at a given location and configured to use the route information to determine preferred channels for certain portions of a user'"'"'s trip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for facilitating the transmission of media between an FM transmitter and an automotive radio, comprising:
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providing a portable media player, the portable media player having or being operable to receive selected media content; providing a transmitter in communication with or integrated with the portable media player, the transmitter operable to broadcast media received from the portable media player over a range of channels; at a channel determination module, upon receiving data indicative of the location of the transmitter and route information indicative of a user'"'"'s expected travel route, accessing a database to identify data related to the channel and broadcast range of area stations and using the route information to thereby determine a preferred channel for use in transmission at the indicated location and for certain portions of a user'"'"'s trip; and directing the adjustment of the transmitter and a corresponding receiver to the preferred channel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a computer system that is adapted for use in conjunction with a transmitter, a computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions for performing a method for determining a preferred channel for use in local transmission, the method comprising:
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receiving data indicative of the actual location of a transmitter; accessing a data source to identify data related to stations which broadcast in the actual location of the transmitter and locations adjacent to the actual location of the transmitter; using the data indicative of the actual location of a transmitter and the data related to stations which broadcast in the actual location of the transmitter and locations adjacent to the actual location of the transmitter, determining a preferred channel for use in local transmission by selecting a channel that is clear in both the actual location of the transmitter and locations adjacent to the actual location of the transmitter; and directing the adjustment of the transmitter and a corresponding receiver to the preferred channel.
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Specification