Enhanced radio systems and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal;
(b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers while the apparatus is turned on and while the apparatus is turned off for later output by selection of a user wherein the storage module is configured to be connected to a power source to receive power while the apparatus is turned on and also while the apparatus is turned off; and
(c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof;
wherein the control module is configured to allow the user to select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for the output while the apparatus is turned on, said stored radio signal having been continuously received by the radio receiver module, and simultaneously stored into the buffer while said apparatus was turned off.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced radio system is disclosed that provides for the capture and playback of one or more radio stations. A user may tune to a station, scan through stations, rewind through missed content (even while the system is off), and fast-forward through undesired content, while downloading and uploading audio content, and sending content to another user. A user may rate content, and be notified when that content is played on any station, with undesirable content skipped and desirable content saved, or station recommendations made. Support for multiple sets of configuration information to allow use by multiple listeners and in multiple locations may be provided. Optionally provided are security features to prevent the unauthorized downloading, uploading, and saving of copies of content, other radio related and content related information, a karaoke mode, integration with a telephone with the radio, or reporting of usage information to a collection facility.
85 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal; (b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers while the apparatus is turned on and while the apparatus is turned off for later output by selection of a user wherein the storage module is configured to be connected to a power source to receive power while the apparatus is turned on and also while the apparatus is turned off; and (c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof;
wherein the control module is configured to allow the user to select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for the output while the apparatus is turned on, said stored radio signal having been continuously received by the radio receiver module, and simultaneously stored into the buffer while said apparatus was turned off. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal, wherein the receiving continues while the apparatus is turned off; (b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers for later output by selection of a user, wherein the simultaneously storing continues while the apparatus is turned off; (c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof; and (d) a communication module configured to receive audio content; wherein a user can select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for the output and wherein the storage module is configured to store in a separate buffer audio content received by the communication module for later output by selection of the user. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal, wherein the receiving continues while the apparatus is turned off; (b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers for later output by selection of a user, wherein the simultaneously storing continues while the apparatus is turned off; (c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof; and (d) a communication module configured to send radio content;
wherein the user can select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for output using the communication module. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes radio signals, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal, wherein the receiving continues while the apparatus is turned off; (b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers for later output by selection of a user, wherein the simultaneously storing continues while the apparatus is turned off; (c) a processing module configured to recognize an item of audio content based on information representative of the item wherein the information representative of the item comprises an item signature; and (d) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof; wherein the processing module is additionally configured to take an action when an item of audio content is recognized based on a setting configured by the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes radio signals, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal, wherein the receiving continues while the apparatus is turned off; (b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers for later output by selection of a user, wherein the simultaneously storing continues while the apparatus is turned off; (c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof; (d) a memory used for storing a user setting of one or more favorite radio stations, wherein the control module uses the user setting of the one or more favorite radio stations to control the received radio signals; and
wherein content of a radio station defined by the user as a favorite station is automatically accessed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal and the two radio receivers configured to receive radio signals from different types of radio sources, wherein the receiving continues while the apparatus is turned off; (b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers for later output by selection of a user, wherein the simultaneously storing continues while the apparatus is turned off; and (c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof;
wherein the user can select a stored radio signal from the buffer in the storage module for the output. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes multiple radio signals simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least two radio receivers, each receiver configured for continuously receiving a separate unrelated radio program signal, wherein the receiving continues while the apparatus is turned off; (b) a storage module configured to simultaneously store in a buffer at least an audio portion of every radio signal received by the two radio receivers for later output by selection of a user, wherein the simultaneously storing continues while the apparatus is turned off; (c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof; (d) a user input device configured to allow a user to specify a preference for an item of radio content; (e) memory for storing the user preference; wherein the control module is configured to automatically output radio signals retrieved from different buffers associated with different receivers within the radio receiver module based on stored user preferences associated with content identified to be similar to that stored in the different buffers associated with the different receivers.
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24. An apparatus configured for radio programming that processes radio signals, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a radio receiver module having at least one radio receiver configured for continuously receiving a radio program signal, wherein the receiving continues while the apparatus is turned off; (b) a storage module configured to store in a buffer at least an audio portion of the radio signal received by the radio receiver for later output by selection of a user, wherein simultaneously storing continues while the apparatus is turned off; (c) a control module having a programmable selection scheme to control functions including received radio signals, stored radio signals and portions thereof, and an output of the stored radio signals and portions thereof; (d) a user interface configured to allow a user to enter a command to the apparatus; wherein a particular user command received by the user interface causes the control module to identify a current song and perform an action related to the current song. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification