Audio broadcast sources switching by geographic location

• US 9,438,359 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Haslam, Andrew David Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US14/073,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20150124971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 381 1- 3, 381/123, 381 56- 58, 455/418, 455/419, 455/550.1, 455/3.06, 348/192, 348/180, 700/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/20 Arrangements for broadcast or distribution of identical information via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/47 specially adapted for stereophonic broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations

Abstract

The automated switching of broadcast sources of an audio content stream based on the geographic location of the physical unit that is receiving the audio content stream. For instance, while rendering a particular audio content stream from a first broadcasting source, a system may have an identity of one or more alternative possible broadcasting sources available for the same audio content stream for that relative geographic location. In response to some decision making, the system may decide to switch broadest sources for that audio content stream. Thus, the user continues to listen to the audio content stream without being subject to possible negative consequences of continuing to listen to the audio content stream as received from the original broadcast station. Data transmitted by the broadcast stations themselves need not be relied upon. Thus, the automated switching is accomplished even outside of regions in which broadcast stations transmit such data.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computer system to automatically switch rendered audio from one broadcasting source to another broadcasting source, and further to cause the computer system to perform at least the following;

receive, by a receiver of the computer system, an audio content stream from a first broadcasting source;

render the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source;

identify a current geographical location of the receiver;

identify one or more alternative broadcasting sources determined to be broadcasting an audio content stream that is substantially similar to the audio broadcasting stream received from the first broadcasting source, wherein the identification of the one or more alternative broadcasting sources is at least partially based on the current geographical location of the receiver;

verify that the audio content stream received from the one or more alternative broadcasting sources is substantially similar to the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source,

wherein the verification includes comparing an audio sample taken from the first broadcasting source with an audio sample taken from the one or more alternative broadcasting sources;

while still rendering the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source, select a second broadcasting source that is to be switched to as a source for the audio content stream, the second broadcasting source being selected from among the indentified one or more alternative broadcasting sources; and

transition from receiving the audio content stream from the first broadcasting source to receiving the audio content stream from the second broadcasting source.

2. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, the first broadcasting source being a station of a first type selected from a group consisting of an Amplitude Modulation (AM) station, a Frequency Modulation (FM) station, a digital radio station, a satellite radio station, and an Internet radio station.

3. The computer system in accordance with claim 2, the second broadcasting source being a station of a second type selected from a group consisting of an Amplitude Modulation (AM) station, a Frequency Modulation (FM) station, a digital radio station, a satellite radio station, and an Internet radio station.

4. The computer system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first type of the station of the first broadcasting source is of a different type than the second type of the station of the second broadcasting source.

5. The computer system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first type of the station of the first broadcasting source is of a same type as the second type of the station of the second broadcasting source.

6. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the identification of the one or more alternative broadcasting sources comprises:

accessing a data source that includes one or more potential broadcasting sources for each of a plurality of geographical locations.

7. The computer system in accordance with claim 6, wherein a determination of whether to include the one or more potential broadcasting sources in the data source is based on a measured signal quality for each of the one or more potential broadcasting sources.

8. The computer system in accordance with claim 6, wherein a determination of whether to include the one or more potential broadcasting sources in the data source is based on a cost field for each of the one or more potential broadcasting sources.

9. The computer system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the data source also includes a previously-estimated signal strength for at least one of the one or more potential broadcasting sources.

10. The computer system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the data source is at least partially remotely located such that the identification of the one or more alternative broadcasting sources is performed by remotely communicating with at least a portion of the data source.

11. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selection of the second broadcasting source is performed using information obtained from a remote source.

12. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selection of the second broadcasting source is also at least partially based on a function of an estimated signal strength for the second broadcasting source.

13. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selection of the second broadcasting source is also at least partially based on a function of a direction of movement of the receiver.

14. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selection of the second broadcasting source is also at least partially based on a function of a cost of using the second broadcasting source.

15. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein transitioning from receiving the audio content stream from the first broadcasting source to receiving the audio content stream from the second broadcasting source comprises:

adjusting for a difference in time delivery of the audio content stream between the first broadcasting source and the second broadcasting source.

16. The computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein transitioning from receiving the audio content stream from the first broadcasting source to receiving the audio content stream from second broadcasting source comprises:

adjusting for a difference in audio characteristics of the audio content stream between the first broadcasting source and the second broadcasting source.

17. The computer system in accordance with claim 16, wherein transitioning from receiving the audio content stream from the first broadcasting source to receiving the audio content stream from the second broadcasting source comprises:

adjusting for a difference in volume of the audio content stream between the first broadcasting source and the second broadcasting source.

18. The computer system in accordance with claim 16, wherein transitioning from receiving the audio content stream from the first broadcasting source to receiving the audio content stream from the second broadcasting source comprises:

adjusting for a difference in audio frequency balance of the audio content stream between the first broadcasting source and the second broadcasting source.

19. A method, implemented at a computer system that includes one or more processors, for automatically switching rendered audio from one broadcasting source to another broadcasting source, the method comprising:

receive, by a receiver of the computer system, an audio content stream from a first broadcasting source;

render the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source;

identify a current geographical location of the receiver;

identify one or more alternative broadcasting sources determined to be broadcasting an audio content stream that is substantially similar to the audio broadcasting stream received from the first broadcasting source, wherein the identification of the one or more alternative broadcasting sources is at least partially based on the current geographical location of the receiver;

verify that an audio content stream received from the one or more alternative broadcasting sources is substantially similar to the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source,

wherein the verification includes comparing an audio sample taken from the first broadcasting source with an audio sample taken from the one or more alternative broadcasting sources;

while still rendering the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source, select a second broadcasting source that is to be switched to as a source for the audio content stream, the second broadcasting source being selected from among the identified one or more alternative broadcasting sources; and

transition from receiving the audio content stream from the first broadcasting source to receiving the audio content stream from the second broadcasting source.

20. One or more hardware storage devices having thereon computer-executable instructions that are executable by one or more processors of a computing system to cause the computing system to automatically switch rendered audio from one broadcasting source to another broadcasting source by at least causing the computing system to do the following:

receive, by a receiver of the computing system, an audio content stream from a first broadcasting source;

render the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source;

identify a current geographical location of the receiver;

identify one or more alternative broadcasting sources determined to be broadcasting an audio content stream that is substantially similar to the audio broadcasting stream received from the first broadcasting source, wherein the identification of the one or more alternative broadcasting sources is at least partially based on the current geographical location of the receiver;

verify that an audio content stream received from the one or more alternative broadcasting sources is substantially similar to the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source,

wherein the verification includes comparing an audio sample taken from the first broadcasting source with an audio sample taken from the one or more alternative broadcasting sources;

while still rendering the audio content stream received from the first broadcasting source, select a second broadcasting source that is to be switched to as a source for the audio content stream, the second broadcasting source being selected from among the identified one or more alternative broadcasting sources; and

transition from receiving the audio content stream from the first broadcasting source to receiving the audio content stream from the second broadcasting source.