Method and apparatus for store and replay functions in a digital radio broadcasting receiver

• US 8,520,852 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iBiquity Digital Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iBiquity Digital Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Parimi, Nandu, Shah, Chinmay, Pahuja, Ashwini
• Primary Examiner(s): Chea, Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEDIN, SHANTO
• Application Number:
  US12/183,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189, 709/232, 709/246, 455/3.06, 370/486, 700/94, 725/25, 725/31, 726/2, 726/13, 726/14, 726/26, 726/27, 380/37, 380/270, 380/275, 380/287, 711/220, 386/200, 386/216, 386/287
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres

Abstract

A method includes: receiving a plurality of audio frames, assembling groups of the audio frames into logical recording units, storing a plurality of the logical recording units, retrieving the stored logical recording units, and decoding the retrieved logical recording units. An apparatus that performs the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input signal including compressed audio protocol data units;

storing core components of the input signal in a first buffer;

storing enhanced components of the input signal in a second buffer;

aligning core and enhanced packets retrieved from the first and second buffers; and

if a store function is enabled, retrieving a plurality of audio frames from the core and enhanced packets;

assembling groups of the audio frames into logical recording units, each including a header and a program specific data packet;

storing a plurality of the logical recording units; and

if a playback function is enabled, retrieving a file of the stored logical recording units; and

decoding the retrieved logical recording units to produce an output signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting the logical recording units prior to the storing step,

wherein the logical recording units are encrypted using a radio identification tag which identifies a particular receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

decrypting the logical recording units; and

decoding the decrypted logical recording units.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio frames comprise:

a core packet length field;

an enhanced packet length field;

a core packet field; and

an enhanced packet field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical recording unit header includes:

a logical recording unit marker field;

a logical recording unit length field;

a logical recording unit number field;

a packets/logical recording unit field;

a codec mode field;

a number of streams field;

an audio level field;

an audio processing field;

an encryption type field; and

a program specific data length field.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing the decrypted logical recording units in a playback buffer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a signal quality of the audio frames.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each logical recording unit includes five audio frames.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a radio receiver implemented using hardware including an input for receiving an input signal including compressed audio protocol data units;

a first buffer for storing core components of the input signal;

a second buffer for storing enhanced components of the input signal;

a processor for aligning core and enhanced packets retrieved from the first and second buffers; and

if a store function is enabled, retrieving a plurality of audio frames from the core and enhanced packets, and assembling groups of the audio frames into logical recording units, each including a header and a program specific data packet; and

a host system for storing a plurality of the logical recording units;

wherein if a playback function is enabled, the processor retrieves a file of the logical recording units, and decodes the retrieved logical recording units to produce an output signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor encrypts the logical recording units for delivery to the host, and decrypts the logical recording retrieved from the host.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor decodes the decrypted logical recording units and uses the decoded logical recording units to produce an output.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the audio frames comprise:

a core packet length field;

an enhanced packet length field;

a core packet field; and

an enhanced packet field.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logical recording unit header includes:

a logical recording unit marker field;

a logical recording unit length field;

a logical recording unit number field;

a packets/logical recording unit field;

a codec mode field;

a number of streams field;

an audio level field;

an audio processing field;

an encryption type field; and

a program specific data length field.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor stores the decrypted logical recording units in a playback buffer.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor calculates a signal quality of the audio frames.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each logical recording unit includes five audio frames.