Digital radio feedback apparatuses, system, and methods

• US 7,756,465 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hong, Roberts, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US11/860,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/12.1, 455/427, 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

An apparatus, system, and method for establishing a two-way communication feedback path between a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver includes an input portion, a processor, a user interface, a control module, and a network interface. The input portion is configured to receive a signal transmitted by a transmitter and to convert the signal to an audio signal. The user interface is configured to receive an input command and to convey the input command to the processor. The processor executes a control module for processing the input command and generating a query in accordance with the input command. The network interface is configured for facilitating communication between the receiver and the transmitter via the network and the query is transmitted from the receiver to the transmitter via the network. The system includes a digital radio broadcast transmitter, a receiver in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter, and a network in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter and the receiver. The receiver is configured to establish a two-way communication path with the digital radio broadcast transmitter via the network. The method includes steps for requesting information, formulating a query, transmitting the query, and receiving a response to the query.

Claims

1. A digital radio broadcast receiver, comprising:

an input portion configured to receive a first signal transmitted by a first transmitter over a first network that facilitates communication via a satellite;

a processor in communication with the input portion for converting the first signal to an audio signal;

a user interface in communication with the processor, wherein the user interface is configured to receive an input command and to convey the input command to the processor;

a control module executed by the processor for processing the input command and generating a query in accordance with the input command; and

a network interface in communication with the processor configured for facilitating communication between the receiver and the first transmitter via a second network, disparate from the first network wherein a response to the query is communicated directly to the receiver from the first transmitter via the second network.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is a digital radio broadcast station.

3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the input portion is configured to receive a second signal from a second transmitter.

4. The receiver of claim 3, wherein the second transmitter is a satellite.

5. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the input portion is configured to receive a third signal from a third transmitter.

6. The receiver of claim 5, wherein the third transmitter is a repeater.

7. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for establishing a two-way communication path between the receiver and the first transmitter.

8. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor generates a packet according to the input command and transmits the packet to the first transmitter via the second network.

9. The receiver of claim 8, wherein the packet comprises an identification address of the receiver.

10. A digital radio broadcast system, comprising:

a digital radio broadcast transmitter;

a receiver in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter via a first network that employs satellite communication; and

a second network in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter and the receiver, the second network is disparate from the first network;

wherein the receiver is configured to establish a two-way communication path with the digital radio broadcast transmitter via the second network, the receiver comprises a network interface in communication with a processor configured to facilitate communication of a query from the receiver to the digital radio broadcast transmitter via the second network;

wherein the two-way communication path comprises at least a direct communication path between the receiver and the transmitter that does not require intervening devices.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a server and a database in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter, wherein the database includes information related to a digital radio broadcast.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the receiver further comprises:

an input portion configured to receive a first signal transmitted by the digital radio broadcast transmitter;

the processor in communication with the input portion for converting the first signal to an audio signal, the processor further comprising a control module for processing an input command;

a user interface in communication with the processor, wherein the user interface is configured to receive the input command and to convey the input command to the processor; and

a control module executed by the processor for processing the input command and generating the query in accordance with the input command.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the input portion of the receiver is configured to receive a second signal from a second transmitter, and wherein the second transmitter is a satellite.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the input portion of the receiver is configured to receive a third signal from a third transmitter, and wherein the third transmitter is a repeater.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured for establishing a two-way communication path between the receiver and the digital radio broadcast transmitter.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor generates a packet according to the input command and transmits the packet to the first transmitter via the second network.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the second network comprises a packet switched network.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second network comprises the Internet.

19. A computer-implemented method of establishing a feedback loop in a digital audio service system, the method comprising:

requesting information from a digital radio broadcast station via a user interface portion of a satellite digital audio service receiver;

formulating a query for the information based on an input signal from the user interface;

transmitting the query from the receiver to the digital radio broadcast station directly via a network without intervening devices, the transmitting comprises utilizing a network interface that facilitates communication between the satellite digital audio receiver and the digital radio broadcast station via the network; and

in response to the query, receiving a response to the query from the digital radio broadcast station at the receiver.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising executing a database look up at the digital radio broadcast station based on the contents of the query and retrieving the requested information form the database.