Techniques for facilitating interoperation between a host device and a digital RF tuner accessory

• US 8,983,639 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yew, Jason J., Haughay, Allen P. Jr., Walsh, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saunders, Jr., Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/372,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20100150276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

An accessory having an RF tuner for digital radio, such as HD radio, can be in communication with a media player such as a portable media device (“PMD”). The user can be given the ability to command the accessory to provide raw digital data, the ability to scan only for stations having digital audio content (or for all available stations), the ability to provide station lists of stations having digital audio content (or all available stations), and the ability to request and store metadata beyond that for stations actually being listened to provide enhanced search capabilities. Enhanced metadata and searching can provide the listener the ability to refine station choices without having to listen at length to any particular station, and further can facilitate tagging broadcast tracks for subsequent access and/or purchase.

Claims

1. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

in response to a command specifying a given digital radio program service having digital audio, tuning to a frequency corresponding to the given digital radio program service;

extracting digital information for the given digital radio program service;

separating the digital information into the digital audio for the digital radio program service and metadata associated with the digital audio;

converting the digital audio to an analog audio format before providing the audio to a first interface, wherein the first interface is an analog audio out interface of the accessory;

providing the metadata at a second interface of the accessory, wherein the second interface is distinct from the first interface;

receiving an analog audio signal at a third interface of the accessory; and

directing the analog audio signal to a fourth interface of the accessory, wherein the accessory has a media player interface configured for communicable coupling to a complementary accessory interface on a media player.

2. The method of claim 1

wherein the accessory'"'"'s audio out interface is associated with the accessory'"'"'s media player interface.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the audio out interface is complementary with and communicably coupled to an analog audio interface on the media player.

4. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a parsed-mode command from a media player communicably coupled to the accessory, the parsed-mode command specifying that the accessory should provide parsed data to the media player; and

in response to receiving the raw mode parsed-mode command;

assembling data from received digital radio data;

parsing the data;

assembling a first data record from parsed digital radio data; and

sending the first data record to the media player using a data transmission command.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the method includes, in response to receiving a raw-mode command:

assembling a second data record from received digital radio data; and

sending the second data record to the media player using the data transmission command.

6. A method for use by a media player communicating with an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

requesting information from the accessory regarding digital radio program services having digital audio at one or more station frequencies;

requesting to be notified when information regarding the digital radio program services is available;

in response to receiving a notice that the information is available, requesting the information;

after requesting the information, receiving metadata from the accessory regarding a plurality of digital radio program services; and

storing the metadata for the plurality of digital radio program services independently of receiving audio associated with the plurality of digital radio program services.

7. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a request to be notified when information regarding a plurality of digital radio program services is available;

tuning to a frequency at which one or more of the plurality of digital radio program services are available;

storing metadata for the plurality of digital radio program services;

sending a notification that information regarding the digital radio program services is available;

in response to a request for the information, providing the metadata to a media player interface without delivering digital audio content from the one or more digital radio program services;

receiving a selection from the media player interface, the selection selecting one of the one or more digital radio program services; and

delivering digital audio content from the selected digital radio program service to the media player.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the information about the one or more digital radio program services is provided in raw form.

9. A method for use in an accessory having a digital radio receiver and an data interface, the method comprising:

receiving one or more commands from the data interface to search for all digital radio stations in a given frequency band, the one or more commands including a seek direction and a received signal strength indication (RSSI) threshold;

for each digital radio station found, receiving digital radio data from the digital radio station and assembling data from received digital radio data;

parsing the data to retrieve station identifying information; and

providing the station identifying information concerning the found digital radio station at the data interface of the accessory.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the one or more commands include a plurality of separate commands received at the data interface to search for the next digital radio station in a scan sequence.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the one or more commands received at the data interface include a single command to search for all the digital radio stations in a scan sequence.

12. The method of claim 9, and further comprising, after station identifying information has been provided for all found digital radio stations:

sequentially tuning to the found stations; and

for each found station, providing additional information representing program services available for that found station at the data interface of the accessory.

13. The method of claim 9, and further comprising, after station identifying information has been provided at the data interface of the accessory for each found digital radio station:

providing additional information representing program services available for that found station before searching for the next digital radio station.

14. The method of claim 9, and further comprising:

receiving one or more commands from the data interface to search for all digital radio stations in the given frequency band; and

for each radio station found, providing station identifying information concerning the found radio station at the data interface of the accessory.

15. An accessory device for a media player comprising:

a digital radio tuner;

an audio interface, to provide audio output;

a data interface, to provide digital radio data;

a command interface, to receive commands from the media player; and

a controller responsive to the commands, wherein the controller, in response to a command specifying a digital radio program service,

tunes to a frequency corresponding to the digital radio program service,

extracts digital information for the digital radio program service,

separates the digital information into digital audio for the digital radio program service and digital radio data including metadata associated with the digital audio,

provides an audio signal at the audio interface,

provides the digital radio data at the data interface,

wherein the controller, in response to a parsed-mode command from the media player, assembles data from the digital radio data, parses the data, assembles a parsed-data record from the parsed digital radio data, and sends the parsed-data data record to the media player using a data transmission command.

16. The accessory device as in claim 15, wherein the controller, in response to a raw-mode command from the media player, assembles a raw-data record from the digital radio data, and sends the raw-data data record to the media player using the data transmission command.

17. The accessory device as in claim 15, wherein the audio interface is to provide digital audio output, and wherein the controller, in response to a command specifying the digital radio program service, provides a digital audio signal at the audio interface.

18. The accessory device as in claim 15, wherein the audio interface is to provide analog audio output, and wherein the controller, in response to a command specifying the digital radio program service, provides an analog audio signal at the audio interface.

19. The accessory device as in claim 18, further comprising a digital to analog converter (DAC), to convert the digital audio for the digital radio program service into the analog audio signal.