Mitigating media station interruptions
First Claim
1. A method of mitigating media station interruptions, the method comprising:
- identifying first content attributes of a first media station to which a media receiver is currently tuned;
monitoring at least one signal-quality parameter of a signal being received from the first media station;
determining that the at least one signal-quality parameter has dropped below a first threshold level;
identifying an alternate media station having at least a second threshold level of second content attributes that match the first content attributes of the first media station, wherein the second threshold level requires less than an exact match to the first content attributes;
in response to the at least one signal-quality parameter having dropped below the first threshold level, tuning the media receiver to the alternate media station;
continuing to monitor the at least one signal-quality parameter of the signal;
determining that the at least one signal-quality parameter has risen above a re-tune value; and
in response to the at least one signal parameter having risen above the re-tune value, re-tuning the media receiver to the first media station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station'"'"'s content will be buffered with the expectation that a station'"'"'s signal will drop below the quality threshold.
61 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of mitigating media station interruptions, the method comprising:
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identifying first content attributes of a first media station to which a media receiver is currently tuned; monitoring at least one signal-quality parameter of a signal being received from the first media station; determining that the at least one signal-quality parameter has dropped below a first threshold level; identifying an alternate media station having at least a second threshold level of second content attributes that match the first content attributes of the first media station, wherein the second threshold level requires less than an exact match to the first content attributes; in response to the at least one signal-quality parameter having dropped below the first threshold level, tuning the media receiver to the alternate media station; continuing to monitor the at least one signal-quality parameter of the signal; determining that the at least one signal-quality parameter has risen above a re-tune value; and in response to the at least one signal parameter having risen above the re-tune value, re-tuning the media receiver to the first media station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of mitigating media station interruptions, the method comprising:
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monitoring station-switching patterns associated with a media receiver; tuning to a first media station upon initialization of a media receiver, wherein the first media station is associated with first content attributes; determining that a station switch is to be performed without user intervention; in response to the determining; selecting an alternate media station associated with second content attributes, the alternate media station selected based at least in part on the station-switching patterns, and having at least a first threshold level of second content attributes that match the first content attributes; and tuning the media receiver to the alternate media station. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A radio receiver comprising:
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a processor; memory operably associated with the processor; and a non-transitory program of instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to implement a method including the following; identifying first content attributes of a terrestrial media station to which a media receiver is currently tuned; monitoring at least one signal-quality parameter of a signal being received from the terrestrial media station; determining that the at least one signal-quality parameter has dropped below a first threshold level; identifying a streaming media station having at least a second threshold level of second content attributes that match the first content attributes of the terrestrial media station; in response to the at least one signal-quality parameter having dropped below the first threshold level, tuning the media receiver to the streaming media station; continuing to monitor the at least one signal-quality parameter of the signal; determining that the at least one signal-quality parameter has risen above a re-tune value; and in response to the at least one signal parameter having risen above the re-tune value, re-tuning the media receiver to the terrestrial media station. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of mitigating media station interruptions, the method comprising:
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tuning to a first media station upon initialization of a media receiver, wherein the first media station is associated with first content attributes; making a first determination that a station switch is to be performed without user intervention, and in response to the determining; selecting an alternate media station associated with second content attributes having at least a first threshold level of second content attributes that match the first content attributes; tuning the media receiver to the alternate media station; making a second determination that at least one signal quality parameter of a signal associated with the first media station is expected to drop below a second threshold level during a current listening session, and in response to the second determination; monitoring at least one signal-quality parameter of a signal being received from the first media station; storing at least a portion of a media stream as a cached media stream; and playing out at least a portion of the cached media stream in response to the at least one signal-quality parameter dropping below the second threshold level.
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Specification