Method and device for maintaining continuity of radio transmissions

• US 8,655,351 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2006
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sinton, Lee Corey, Ghafoor, Ahmar, Briffett, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, SCOTT D
• Application Number:
  US12/516,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20100062759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1, 455/91, 370/229, 370/230
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for maintaining continuity of radio transmissions, particularly unlicensed low-power FM transmissions, comprising transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency, interrupting the transmission of the media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency, transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption, and continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal. The invention also provides an electronic device for radio transmission of media data with maintained link continuity, comprising a radio transmitter, a controller adapted for transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency, interrupting the transmission of said media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency, transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption, and continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a mobile electronic device, a carrier frequency for a radio transmission;

while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, frequency modulating media data onto the carrier frequency;

while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, determining to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency;

during the interrupt and while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, frequency modulating substitute data onto the carrier frequency; and

resuming frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

repeatedly frequency modulating the substitute data onto the carrier frequency during the interrupt.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said media data comprises data representing audio, and wherein frequency modulating the substitute data onto the carrier frequency produces a modulated signal with the data representing audio at a reduced volume.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein frequency modulating the substitute data onto the carrier frequency is performed after expiration of a time offset starting upon beginning the interrupt.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for a condition;

wherein determining to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data is conditioned upon occurrence of the condition and wherein resuming the frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency is performed upon termination of the condition.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the condition is one of:

a phone call or a user-operated interruption.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substitute data is one of:

a pre-defined melody, a pre-defined sound, a synthesized sound, or a random sound.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting Radio Data System (RDS) information for the radio transmission prior to the interrupt and again during the interrupt.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radio transmission is an unlicensed low power frequency modulation (FM) transmission from the mobile electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency is conditioned upon an incoming or outgoing telephone call at the mobile electronic device, and the substitute data is different from audio of the incoming or outgoing telephone call.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program code that, when executed, causes an apparatus at least to:

transmit a carrier frequency for a radio transmission;

while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, frequency modulate media data onto the carrier frequency;

while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, determine to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency;

during the interrupt and while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, frequency modulate substitute data onto the carrier frequency; and

resume frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is a mobile electronic device and wherein the radio transmission is an unlicensed low power frequency modulation (FM) transmission from the mobile electronic device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is a mobile electronic device and wherein determining to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency is conditioned upon an incoming or outgoing telephone call at the mobile electronic device, and the substitute data is different from audio of the incoming or outgoing telephone call.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

transmit a carrier frequency for a radio transmission,

while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, frequency modulate media data onto the carrier frequency,

while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, determine to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data,

during the interrupt and while maintaining transmission of the carrier frequency, frequency modulating substitute data onto the carrier frequency, and

resume frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

repeatedly frequency modulate the substitute data onto the carrier frequency during the interrupt.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said media data comprises data representing audio, and wherein frequency modulating the substitute data onto the carrier frequency produces a modulated signal with the data representing audio at a reduced volume.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein frequency modulating the substitute data onto the carrier frequency is performed after expiration of a time offset starting upon beginning the interrupt.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

monitor for a condition, and

wherein determining to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data is conditioned upon occurrence of the condition and wherein resuming the frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency is performed upon termination of the condition.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the condition is one of:

a phone call or a user-operated interruption.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising

a storage medium storing the substitute data.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the substitute data is one of:

a pre-defined melody, a pre-defined sound, a synthesized sound, or a random sound.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

transmit Radio Data System (RDS) information for the radio transmission prior to the interrupt and again during the interrupt.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is a frequency modulation transmitter (FMTx) enabled mobile electronic device and the radio transmission is intended for an FM receiver.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a user interface;

wherein determining to interrupt, frequency modulating the substitute data, and resuming frequency modulation of the media data are each responsive to one or more respective user commands received via the user interface.

25. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to be an accessory device for a mobile electronic device, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a media data interface for receiving a media stream providing the media data to be transmitted;

wherein determining to interrupt is conditioned upon detecting an interruption in reception of the media stream at the apparatus, and wherein frequency modulating the substitute data onto the carrier frequency is performed during the detected interruption in the reception of the media stream.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the media data interface is an analogue interface, and wherein detecting the interruption in the reception of the media stream includes detecting when a signal level at the media data interface is below a pre-determined threshold.

27. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is an accessory device for a mobile electronic device, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a control interface for receiving control commands from said mobile electronic device;

wherein determining to interrupt, frequency modulating the substitute data, and resuming frequency modulation of the media data are each responsive to one or more respective control commands received via said control interface.

28. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is a mobile electronic device and wherein the radio transmission is an unlicensed low power frequency modulation (FM) transmission from the mobile electronic device.

29. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein determining to interrupt the frequency modulation of the media data onto the carrier frequency is conditioned upon an incoming or outgoing telephone call at the apparatus, and the substitute data is different from audio of the incoming or outgoing telephone call.