Automated digital broadcast system

• US 5,168,481 A
• Filed: 12/29/1989
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur C. Holly, Charles R. Culbertson, David L. Ham
• Original Assignee: Arthur C. Holly, Charles R. Culbertson, David L. Ham
• Inventors: Ham, David L., Holly, Arthur C., Culbertson, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Application Number:
  US07/458,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 369/2, 369/3, 369/4, 369/6, 369/35, 369/33, 369/34, 369/36, 369/30, 369/32, 360/12, 455/3, 381/1, 381/80, 381/81, 381/85, 381/123
• US Class Current: 369/2
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/00 Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function ; Driving both disc and head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/06 by counting or timing of machine operations
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/913 Digital audio tape [DAT] format
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver

Abstract

An automated digital broadcast system which is capable of reliable operation for long periods of time without human assistance. The system comprises a plurality of compact disc players or other audio devices which are controlled by computer to sequentially play a predetermined list of musical selections and commercial or informational messages.

Claims

1. An automated digital broadcast system, comprising:

a playlist of desired music and information selections, said playlist containing information relating to the play time of each music selection in said playlist, said playlist further comprising a plurality of time gaps, of predetermined length, between each of said selections;

a plurality of means for playing selections contained in said playlist;

programmable means for controlling the operation of said plurality of means for playing said selections;

a plurality of means for monitoring the operation of said means for playing selections to detect and correct errors in cueing, starting and stopping selections;

means for recording errors detected by said means for monitoring said players, said means for recording being operable to notify a system operator of the need for system maintenance;

timing means for maintaining operation of said system in accordance with a time schedule to allow unattended operation of said system for long periods of time, said timing means being operable to compare the actual play time of each music selection with the corresponding anticipated play time for said selection, said timing means being operable to alter the length of said time gaps between said selections in said playlist, as needed, to maintain operation of said system in accordance with said schedule.

2. The automated digital broadcast system according to claim 1, said plurality of means for playing music selections comprising a plurality of optical disc players.