Systems and methods for providing messages to devices using a carrier signal

• US 9,917,605 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-Radio USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: e-Radio USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jackson Kit
• Primary Examiner(s): PHU, SANH D
• Application Number:
  US15/220,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 4551582
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/18 in band on channel [IBOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/15 on receiving information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution

Abstract

A method is provided that comprises tuning a radio system to a frequency band that contains a locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal. The locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal comprising a main signal component and a side data component is thereby received. In response to receiving the locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal a determination is made as to a permissible time for processing the side data component using a time slot schedule. The side data component is processed at the permissible time. A message corresponding to the side data component is outputted to an output device. In some instances, the side data component includes the message. In other instances, the method further includes searching a message lookup list using a code included in the side data component. When a stored code is found that matches the code, the message corresponding to the matching stored code is outputted.

Claims

1. A method of providing customer relationship management at a device, the method comprising:

tuning the device to a frequency band containing a locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal;

receiving said locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal comprising a main signal component and a side data component wherein said side data component comprises a message;

parsing said message to obtain a key;

comparing said key to a present location of the device;

when said key matches the present location, at least a portion of the message is outputted to an output component of the device; and

when said key does not match the present location, the message is not outputted to the output component of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

said locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal is an IBOC or an RDS radio signal, and

said frequency band is within the FM frequency spectrum.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

said locally broadcast terrestrial radio signal is an IBOC-radio signal, and

said frequency band is within the AM frequency spectrum.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said message is a display text, an audio segment, or a video segment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said output component is a speaker.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said output component is a video display configured to display alphanumeric characters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said message further comprises a received code, and wherein said method further comprises searching a message lookup list, the lookup list comprising a plurality of stored codes, for a stored code that matches said received code, wherein,

when a stored code is found in said plurality of codes that matches said received code, a data structure associated with said matching stored code is outputted to said output component as the least the portion of the message.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said received code has a size of 8 bits, 16 bits, or 32 bits.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein

said message is encrypted, and

the method further comprises decrypting said message prior to said parsing.

10. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising reading a time slot schedule to identify a permitted time, and wherein said receiving, parsing, and comparing are only performed during said permitted time.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said permitted time is a specified time interval occurring in a time period.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the present location of the device is provided by a global positioning feed.

13. A device comprising:

a global positioning feed component for receiving a global positioning feed corresponding to a present location of the device;

an output component;

a tuner unit for tuning into and receiving a locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal comprising a main signal component and a side data component wherein said side data component comprises a message;

a decoded digital data controller in electrical communication with (i) said global positioning feed, (ii) said output component, and (iii) said tuner unit, said decoded digital data controller comprising;

instructions for parsing said message to obtain a key, and

instructions for comparing said key to the global positioning feed;

wherein

when said key matches the global positioning feed, at least a portion of the message is outputted to the output component of the device; and

when said key does not match the global positioning feed, the message is not outputted to the output component of the device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal is an IBOC or an RDS radio signal and wherein said locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal is within the FM frequency spectrum.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein

said locally broadcast terrestrial radio signal is an IBOC radio signal, and

said locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal is within the AM frequency spectrum.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said message is a display text, an audio segment, or a video segment.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein said output component is a speaker.

18. The device of claim 13, the device further comprising:

a message lookup list, the lookup list comprising a plurality of stored codes; and

wherein said message further comprises a received code, and wherein

said decoded digital data controller further comprises instructions for searching said message lookup list for a stored code that matches said received code,

wherein,

when a stored code is found in said plurality of stored codes that matches said received code, a data structure associated with said matching stored code is outputted to said output component as the least the portion of the message.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said received code has a size of 8 bits, 16 bits, orbits.

20. The device of claim 13,

wherein said message is encrypted, and

the decoded digital data controller further comprises instructions for decrypting said message prior to said parsing.

21. The device of claim 13, the device further comprising:

a time slot schedule;

wherein

said decoded digital data controller further comprises instructions for reading said time slot schedule to identify a permitted time, and wherein said instructions for parsing, and said instructions for comparing are only performed during said permitted time.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said permitted time is a specified time interval occurring in a time period.

23. The device of claim 13, the device further comprising a time slot schedule, and wherein said decoded digital data controller further comprises instructions for polling said time slot schedule, wherein said instructions for parsing and said instructions for comparing are not performed during a time not permitted by said time slot schedule.

24. A device comprising:

an output component;

a tuner unit for tuning into and receiving a locally-broadcast terrestrial radio signal comprising a main signal component and a side data component wherein said side data component comprises a message;

a decoded digital data controller in electrical communication with (i) said output component, and (ii) said tuner unit, said decoded digital data controller comprising;

instructions for parsing said message to obtain a key, and

instructions for comparing said key to a digital representation of the present location of the device;

wherein

when said key matches the digital representation of the present location of the device, at least a portion of the message is outputted to the output component of the device; and

when said key does not match the digital representation of the present location, the message is not outputted to the output component of the device.