Radio device with virtually infinite simultaneous inputs

• US 8,909,128 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3D Radio, LLC
• Original Assignee: 3D Radio, LLC
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gannon, Levi
• Application Number:
  US12/420,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 369/1, 369 5- 7, 369/13.01, 375/144, 375/148, 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.04, 455/132, 455/140, 455/150.1, 455/161.1, 455/179.1, 455/186.1, 455/344, 455/345
• US Class Current: 455/3.04
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00007 Time or data compression or expansion audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00057 MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 audio layer III [MP3]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits

Abstract

A method, system, media, and apparatus are directed to radio recording. Radio stations are simultaneously recorded based on a radio parameter including a processing parameter, a memory usage or allocation, a recording status, or the like. The radio parameter is adapted for an individual station, some radio stations, or all radio stations. The processing parameter is adapted based on a processor usage. The memory usage is adapted based on a memory requirement of a station being recorded. A station may be suspended from recording based on a loss of a signal and resumed based on a resumption of the signal. An access to a radio content recorded while a signal was available may be provided, if the signal is unavailable. The plurality of stations may be prioritized.

Claims

1. A radio playback device that simultaneously and continuously monitors and records substantially all available radio stations without previous selection for output by a user, that records stations based on the presence or quality of their signal, that suspends stations from recording based on loss of signal and resumes recording based on resumption of signal, and that changes its processing parameters based on processor usage, wherein the processing parameters are selected from sample frequency, sample size, compression algorithm, and compression parameter.

2. The radio of claim 1 that uses software tuners.

3. The radio of claim 1 configured to use multiple processors.

4. The radio of claim 1 that allows a listener to access radio content recorded while a signal was available at a later time when no signal is available.

5. The radio of claim 1 that adapts its memory usage based on the memory requirements of stations being recorded.

6. The radio of claim 1 in which stations are prioritized.

7. The radio of claim 6 in which the prioritization is based on a user priority.

8. The radio of claim 6 in which the priority is based on a user setting a station as a favorite.

9. The radio of claim 6 in which the priority is based on a user deleting a station.

10. The radio of claim 6 in which the priority is based on listening habits of a user.

11. The radio of claim 6 in which the priority is based on a type of content.

12. The radio of claim 6 in which processing parameters, memory allocation, or recording status of an individual station is modified based on its priority.

13. The radio of claim 1 further configured to allow a user to adjust a processing parameter of memory allocation for an individual station.

14. The radio of claim 1 further configured with an extension interface.

15. The radio of claim 14 further configured to support a processing module to be connected using the extension interface, said processing module augmenting the processing capabilities of the radio.

16. The radio of claim 14 further configured to support a memory module to be connected using the extension interface, said memory module augmenting the storage capabilities of the radio.

17. The radio of claim 14 further configured to support an input source module to be connected using the extension interface, said input source module augmenting the radio reception capabilities of the radio.

18. The radio of claim 14 further configured to support a user interface module to be connected using the extension interface, said user interface module augmenting the user input and/or output capabilities of the radio.

19. A method for recording a plurality of radio stations, comprising:

based on a processing parameter, simultaneously and continuously monitoring and recording a plurality of radio stations without previous selection for output by a user; and

changing the processing parameter based on a processor usage, wherein the processing parameter is selected from sample frequency, sample size, compression algorithm, and compression parameter.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein simultaneously recording further comprises:

performing at least one recording action comprising;

scanning an input source for at least one of the plurality of radio stations;

tuning the scanned radio station;

demodulating the scanned radio station;

compressing audio data from the scanned radio station; and

storing a version of the audio data; and

recording the processor usage for adapting based on performed recording action.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing an interface to perform at least one interface action comprising;

selecting a favorite station;

deleting a station;

monitoring a listening habit;

determining a content type; and

providing an adjustment of a parameter for at least one of the plurality of radio stations.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

suspending a radio station from the recording based on a loss of a signal; and

resuming the recording based on a resumption of the signal.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing an access to a radio content recorded while a signal was available, if the signal is unavailable.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

adapting a memory usage based on a memory requirement of a station being recorded, wherein recording is further based on a memory usage.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

prioritizing the plurality of stations.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

modifying a radio parameter based on a priority of the radio parameter, wherein the radio parameter comprises a processing parameter, a memory allocation, or a recording status of an individual station.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing an adjustment of a processing parameter of a memory allocation for an individual station.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

modifying a deployed device configured to perform the simultaneous receiving step with an extension module.

29. A non-transitory, processor readable medium for recording a plurality of radio stations, comprising instructions that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of claim 19.

30. A system for recording a plurality of radio stations, comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive a radio signal source and to convert the radio signal source to a digital data stream;

a processor in communication with the analog-to-digital converter, wherein the processor is configured to perform actions comprising;

based on a processing parameter, simultaneously and continuously monitoring and recording a plurality of radio stations without previous selection for output by a user; and

changing the processing parameter based on a processor usage, wherein the processing parameter is selected from sample frequency, sample size, compression algorithm, and compression parameter.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is a digital signal processor.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a user interface in communication with the processor.

33. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

an output circuit in communication with the processor.

34. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a direct memory access component in communication with the analog-to-digital converter, wherein the direct memory access component is configured to store the digital data stream into a memory.