System for insertion of locally cached information into a received broadcast stream
First Claim
1. A method of inserting content into a received broadcast stream for playback comprising:
- receiving a broadcast stream comprising at least one program channel for playback and processing the received broadcast stream for playback at a user'"'"'s receiver in a playback stream;
determining changes between program channel content segments in the program channel;
receiving indexed content segments that can be inserted into the playback stream at selected content index pointers corresponding to potential insertion points between selected ones of the program channel content segments;
receiving control data indicating which of the indexed content segments to store at the receiver and insert into the playback stream;
storing selected ones of the received indexed content segments at the receiver in accordance with the received control data;
generating the playback stream using the program channel;
determining which of the stored indexed content segments are to be inserted into the playback stream;
buffering the program channel, pausing the buffered program channel at a selected one of the content index pointers during playback of the playback stream, and inserting a selected one of the stored indexed content segments into the playback stream in accordance with the control data; and
resuming playback of the buffered program channel by determining at the receiver which of the buffered program content segments to playback when resuming the playback of the buffered program channel, the buffered program channel being time delayed relative to the received broadcast stream during playback due to the inserted indexed content segment.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for receiving a broadcast comprising a plurality of program channels and generating a playback stream using at least one of a buffered program channel and stored indexed content (e.g., commercials, programs, songs) for insertion. Control data controls which receivers insert which indexed content and when the indexed content is inserted into a received program channel, allowing for playback of songs from playlists, tiered subscription services, and sponsorship of broadcast program channels to provide market-directed content to selected receivers and listeners. Buffer management operations prevent uncontrolled buffer growth and commercial content avoidance through rapid channel changes.
31 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of inserting content into a received broadcast stream for playback comprising:
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receiving a broadcast stream comprising at least one program channel for playback and processing the received broadcast stream for playback at a user'"'"'s receiver in a playback stream; determining changes between program channel content segments in the program channel; receiving indexed content segments that can be inserted into the playback stream at selected content index pointers corresponding to potential insertion points between selected ones of the program channel content segments; receiving control data indicating which of the indexed content segments to store at the receiver and insert into the playback stream; storing selected ones of the received indexed content segments at the receiver in accordance with the received control data; generating the playback stream using the program channel; determining which of the stored indexed content segments are to be inserted into the playback stream; buffering the program channel, pausing the buffered program channel at a selected one of the content index pointers during playback of the playback stream, and inserting a selected one of the stored indexed content segments into the playback stream in accordance with the control data; and resuming playback of the buffered program channel by determining at the receiver which of the buffered program content segments to playback when resuming the playback of the buffered program channel, the buffered program channel being time delayed relative to the received broadcast stream during playback due to the inserted indexed content segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. One or more non-transitory, processor-readable storage devices having processor-readable code embodied on the processor-readable storage devices for programming a processing device in a digital audio broadcast radio receiver to perform a method of generating a playback stream from a received broadcast program channel having selectively inserted content, the method comprising:
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receiving a broadcast stream comprising at least one program channel for playback and processing the received broadcast stream for playback at a user'"'"'s receiver in a playback stream; determining changes between program channel content segments in the at least one program channel; receiving indexed content segments that can be inserted into the playback stream at selected content index pointers corresponding to potential insertion points between selected ones of the program channel content segments; receiving control data indicating which of the indexed content segments to store at the receiver, and at least one of the frequency and when to insert selected ones of the indexed content segments into the playback stream; storing selected ones of the received indexed content segments at the receiver in accordance with the received control data; generating the playback stream using the program channel; determining which of the stored indexed content segments are to be inserted into the playback stream; buffering the program channel, pausing the buffered program channel at a selected one of the content index pointers during playback of the playback stream, and inserting a selected one of the stored indexed content segments into the playback stream in accordance with the control data; and resuming playback of the buffered program channel by determining at the receiver which of the buffered program content segments to playback when resuming the playback of the buffered program channel, the buffered program channel being time delayed relative to the received broadcast stream during playback due to the inserted indexed content segment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification