Revenue generating method of broadcasting on FM subcarrier

• US 6,915,107 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Florida Digital Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Florida Digital Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lusk, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US10/064,274
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/3.04, 455/3.03, 4554561- 6, 4554141- 4, 455/66.1, 455/227, 455/228, 455/230
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/55 for traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00

Abstract

A method of generating advertising revenue by securing an FM subcarrier frequency through an FM broadcasting station and distributing portable receivers to end users tailored to play the audio signals broadcast over the FM subcarrier frequency, on demand. Public service audio clips and advertising audio clips are broadcast to the portable receivers with the intention that a listener will be exposed to both the public service audio clip and the advertising audio clip during the period of the broadcast. The public service audio clips and advertising audio clips are broadcast in a continuous loop and are coded with start and stop signals to indicate the beginning and end of the broadcast. Through this method, an individual requesting the broadcast will hear a signal loop of the audio, starting with the detection of the start signal and ending when the detection of the stop signal.

Claims

1. A method of providing content specific information over an FM subcarrier frequency on demand, the method comprising:

securing at least one FM subcarrier frequency;

distributing portable receivers adapted to play audio signals broadcast on the at least one FM subcarrier frequency on demand;

compiling content specific information;

recording at least one public service audio clip including the content specific information;

recording at least one advertising audio clip;

preparing automated playback recording of the at least one public service audio clip;

generating a modulated signal of the automated playback recording of the at least one public service audio clip and the at least one advertising audio clip in coincident relation wherein users of the portable receivers desiring to hear the automated playback recording are also exposed to the at least one advertising audio clip;

transmitting the modulated signal and start and stop signals to the portable receivers in a continuous loop wherein the start signal indicates the beginning of the continuous loop and the stop signal identifies the end of the continuous loop; and

receiving the transmission signal at the portable receiver wherein the portable receiver is adapted to demodulate the transmission signal providing an audio signal broadcast of duration specified by the start and stop signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the FM subcarrier comprises leasing a subcarrier frequency from an FM broadcasting station operating between about 88 Mhz and about 108 Mhz.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the lessee compiles the content specific information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the FM subcarrier comprises contracting with an FM broadcasting station to compile the content specific information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content specific information is traffic congestion information occurring within the broadcast range of the FM subcarrier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content specific information is current stock report information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content specific information is current sports score information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content specific information is emergency public safety information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the public service audio clip is continuously updated with current content specific information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable receivers are purchased by the end user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable receivers are purchased by the sponsors and distributed to the end user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of powering off the portable receiver responsive to the detection of the stop signal.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the FM subcarrier receiver further comprises:

a speaker adapted to play audio;

a battery adapted to supply power to the receiver;

a start control activatable by the user and adapted to initiate power on and off signals to the battery;

a demodulator adapted to demodulate the transmitted signal whereby the demodulation begins upon receipt of the start signal and ends upon receipt of the stop signal;

a control circuit whereby responsive to the detection of the start signal, a single loop of the audio is played until the stop signal is detected; and

a volume control adapted to adjust the speaker volume.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the start control is mechanically activated.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the start control is voice activated.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the start control is activated by movement.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising means to measure the utilization of the FM subcarrier receivers.

19. The method of claim 18 whereby means to measure the utilization of the FM subcarrier receivers comprises:

providing at least one spectrum analyzer adapted to identify the FM subcarrier frequency broadcast when said receiver is demodulating the FM subcarrier signal;

locating said spectrum analyzers at key intersections;

collecting the results of the identification of the FM subcarrier frequency broadcast obtained with the spectrum analyzers; and

establishing a measurement of the utilization of said receivers.

17. The method of wherein the start control is activated on a predetermined schedule.

20. A method of providing content specific information over an FM subcarrier frequency on demand, the method comprising:

securing at least one FM subcarrier frequency;

distributing portable receivers adapted to play audio signals broadcast on the at least one FM subcarrier frequency on demand;

compiling content specific information;

recording at least one public service audio clip comprising said content specific information;

recording at least one advertising audio clip;

preparing automated playback recording of the at least one public service audio clip;

generating a modulated signal of the automated playback recording of the at least one public service audio clip and the at least one advertising audio clip in coincident relation wherein users of the portable receivers desiring to hear the automated playback recording are also exposed to the at least one advertising audio clip;

transmitting the modulated signal and start and stop signals to the portable receivers on a first FM subcarrier frequency in a continuous loop wherein the start signal indicates the beginning of the continuous loop and the stop signal identifies the end of the continuous loop;

transmitting an inaudible verification tone coincident with the transmission of the modulated signal to the portable receiver; and

receiving the modulated signal transmission and the verification tone transmission at the portable receiver wherein the portable receiver is adapted to demodulate the modulated signal transmission providing an audio signal broadcast of duration specified by the start and stop signals when the verification tone is present.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein securing the FM subcarrier comprises leasing a subcarrier frequency from an FM broadcasting station operating between about 88 Mhz and about 108 Mhz.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the lessee compiles the content specific information.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein securing the FM subcarrier comprises contracting with an FM broadcasting station to compile the content specific information.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the content specific information is current traffic information.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the content specific information is current stock report information.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the content specific information is current sports score information.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the content specific information is emergency public safety information.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the public service audio clip is continuously updated with current content specific information.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the portable receivers are purchased by the end user.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the portable receivers are purchased by the sponsors and distributed to the end user.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of powering off the portable receiver responsive to the detection of the stop signal.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the verification tone is transmitted at a frequency above 20 kHz.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the verification tone is transmitted at a frequency below 20 Hz.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the verification tone is transmitted at a second FM subcarrier frequency.

35. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of illuminating a verification indicator when the verification tone is received.

36. The method of claim 20 wherein the FM subcarrier receiver further comprises:

a speaker adapted to play audio;

a battery adapted to supply power to the receiver;

a start control activatable by the user and adapted to initiate power on and off signals to the battery;

a demodulator adapted to demodulate the transmitted signal whereby the demodulatation begins upon receipt of the start signal and ends upon receipt of the stop signal;

a control circuit whereby responsive to the detection of the start signal, a single loop of the audio is played until the stop signal is detected.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the start control is mechanically activated.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the start control is voice activated.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the start control is activated by movement.

41. The method of claim 36 wherein the start control is activated on a predetermined schedule.

42. The method of claim 20, further comprising means to measure the utilization of the FM subcarrier receivers.

43. The method of claim 41 whereby means to measure the utilization of the FM subcarrier receivers comprises:

providing at least one spectrum analyzer adapted to identify the FM subcarrier frequency broadcast when said receiver is demodulating the FM subcarrier signal;

locating said spectrum analyzers at key intersections;

collecting the results of the identification of the FM subcarrier frequency broadcast obtained with the spectrum analyzers; and

establishing a measurement of the utilization of said receivers.

45. The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of powering off the portable receivers responsive to the detection of the stop signal.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the start control is mechanically activated.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein the start control is voice activated.

48. The method of claim 43 wherein the start control is activated by movement.

49. The method of claim 43 wherein the start control is activated on a predetermined schedule.

50. The method of claim 43 wherein the start and stop signals are substantially inaudible.

51. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a plurality of geographic territories, each assigned to an individual FM subcarrier frequency; and

demographically associating the at least one advertising audio clip to each territory.

52. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a plurality of public service audio categories, each assigned to an individual FM subcarrier frequency; and

demographically associating the at least one advertising audio clip to each category.

53. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

periodically broadcasting a reward-based audio clip adapted to produce a measurable user response; and

evaluating the total number of active users based on the measurable user response whereby advertisers utilizing the method are provided with empirical data regarding the exposure they are obtaining in addition to encouraging more frequent use by the user.

37. a volume control adapted to adjust the speaker volume;

and

a signal verification circuit adapted to monitor the volume of said speaker, whereby the speaker is rendered essentially inaudible in the absence of said verification tone.

44. A method of generating advertising revenue by radio broadcast comprising the steps of:

securing at least one FM subcarrier frequency;

distributing portable receivers adapted to play audio signals broadcast on the at least one FM subcarrier frequency on demand;

recording at least one public service audio clip;

recording at least one advertising audio clip;

broadcasting the at least one public service audio clip and the at least one advertising audio clip in coincident relation wherein users of the portable receivers desiring to hear the at least one public service audio clip are also exposed to the at least one advertising audio clip;

broadcasting the at least one public service audio clip and the at least one advertising audio clip in a continuous loop;

including a start signal detectable by the portable receivers at the beginning of the continuous loop;

including a stop signal detectable by the portable receivers at the end of the continuous loop;

providing a start control on the portable receivers activatable by a user; and

establishing a control circuit in the portable receivers whereby responsive to the detection of the start signal, a single loop of the audio is played through the portable receivers until the stop signal is detected.