Computer-based RDS/MBS receiver system for use with radio broadcast signal

• US 6,463,469 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yavitz LLC
• Original Assignee: Edward Q. Yavitz, Lory Suby
• Inventors: Yavitz, Edward Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/484,334
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 455/557
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1646 adapted for the reception of stereophonic signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/40 characterised in that additional data relating to the broadcast data are available via a different channel than the broadcast channel

Abstract

A radio reception system is combined with a computer system. The radio reception system includes a radio receiver that is integrated with a personal computer system. The radio receiver is configured to receive analog FM signals and linked data transmitted according to at least one of the RDS and MBS standards. The data serves as a data trigger to provide the user with a prompt on the computer system. The prompt may be utilized to access information related to the primary radio broadcast and previously stored at a memory location, such as a computer disk drive, CD or floppy disk. This permits a user to quickly and easily access large amounts of information relevant to the current programming of a given radio station or to purchase music, goods and services as they are featured in the FM broadcast.

Claims

1. A radio reception system, comprising:

an interactive computer based system that may be coupled to the Internet for the transfer and receipt of information over the Internet;

a radio receiver operatively coupled to the interactive computer based system, the radio receiver being capable of receiving a data trigger related to programming broadcast by a radio station; and

a data storage location accessible to the interactive computer based system, wherein the data trigger provides a user direct access to information stored at the data storage location related to the radio broadcast programming, wherein the data storage location is on a hard drive of the interactive computer based system.

2. The radio reception system as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is configured to receive a broadcast FM signal.

3. The radio reception system as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is mounted on a printed circuit board configured to be plugged into the interactive computer based system.

4. The radio reception system as recited in claim 1, wherein the data trigger comprises a unique identification code to allow a listener to initiate a commercial transaction over a network as it is being described on an audible FM broadcast.

5. A radio reception system, comprising:

an interactive computer based system that may be coupled to the Internet for the transfer and receipt of information over the Internet;

a radio receiver operatively coupled to the interactive computer based system, the radio receiver being capable of receiving a data trigger related to programming broadcast by a radio station; and

a data storage location accessible to the interactive computer based system, wherein the data trigger provides a user direct access to information stored at the data storage location related to the radio broadcast programming, wherein the data storage location is on a removable storage device.

6. The radio reception system as recited in claim 5, wherein the removable storage device comprises a compact disc.

7. The radio reception system as recited in claim 5, wherein the removable storage device comprises a floppy disk.