System for providing signals from an auxiliary audio source to a radio receiver using a wireless link

• US 6,493,546 B2
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Patsiokas, Stelios
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/263,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20020058475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/66, 455/74, 455/41, 455/39, 455/11.1, 455/344, 455/154.1, 455/3.04, 455/158.1, 455/3.02, 455/158.2, 455/277.1, 455/345, 455/67.1
• US Class Current: 455/277.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/207 with an audio or audio/video bus for signal distribution H04B1/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting audio signals from an auxiliary source such as a satellite broadcast receiver or a CD or cassette player to a radio receiver located, for example, in a vehicle, using a wireless link. The apparatus comprises a scanning device for locating open radio frequencies in the RF spectrum of the radio receiver. The apparatus displays plural RF channel options on a display device and provides a selection device with which a user selects an RF channel. The apparatus modulates the audio signals using the selected radio frequency, and the user tunes the vehicle radio receiver to the selected RF channel. The scanning device continuously scans for open RF channels and monitors the quality of the RF channel already selected for use as the wireless link. The apparatus provides the user with an indication to select another open channel when the RF channel in use degrades.

Claims

1. A system for providing audio signals to a radio receiver from an auxiliary audio source comprising:

an input for receiving said audio signals from said auxiliary audio source;

a processing device connected to said input and operable to substantially continuously monitor a selected radio frequency spectrum to identify radio frequency channels that satisfy a predetermined open channel criteria, and to automatically select at least one radio frequency satisfying said predetermined open channel criteria at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver via a wireless link, and to modulate said audio signals on said selected radio frequency; and

an antenna connected to said processing device and operable to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver using said at least one radio frequency;

wherein said processing device further comprises an output device for indicating said at least one radio frequency to a user to allow said user to tune said radio receiver to said at least one radio frequency; and

wherein said auxiliary audio source is a satellite broadcast receiver and said output device also indicates at least one of channel identification data corresponding to a satellite broadcast signal received via said satellite broadcast receiver, satellite broadcast program data comprising at least one of an artist name, a program title, and ancillary data relating to said satellite broadcast program, output level data corresponding to said satellite broadcast receiver, and received signal strength indicator data corresponding to said satellite broadcast signal.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one radio frequency is selected from one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device is operable to monitor the quality of said at least one radio frequency, to select another radio frequency when said at least one radio frequency degrades, and to generate a second indication signal to instruct said user to tune said radio receiver to said another radio frequency.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device is operable to randomly select a first radio frequency which satisfies said predetermined open channel criteria from said selected radio frequency spectrum in response to powering up of said processing device.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device comprises a scanning receiver for automatically scanning said predetermined radio frequency spectrum and selecting a radio frequency therein for said wireless link.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device is operable to automatically and dynamically identify a plurality of radio frequencies satisfying said predetermined open channel criteria at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said processing device is operable to display said plurality of radio frequencies via said output device, and further comprises a selection device to allow a user to select one of said plurality of radio frequencies, said processing device modulating said audio signals using the radio frequency selected via said selection device.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processing device is operable to monitor the quality of the radio frequency selected via said selection device, and to generate a signal to instruct said user to select another of said plurality of radio frequencies when the radio frequency selected via said selection device degrades.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver comprises a de-emphasis circuit, said processing device comprising a pre-emphasis circuit for reducing the effect of said de-emphasis circuit on said audio signals transmitted to said radio receiver.