Alternate user interfaces for multi tuner radio device

• US 9,419,665 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3D Radio, LLC
• Original Assignee: 3D Radio, LLC
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Schwartz, Caron
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LINH V
• Application Number:
  US14/943,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20160087664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/575.1, 455/414.3, 455/556.1, 455/422.1, 455/566
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/00 Arrangements specially adapted for receiving broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

A method, device, system, and media are directed to controlling a multi-tuner radio. A voice command may be received and/or filtered. An operation of the radio may be modified based on the voice command. A gesture input may be received through a gesture pad. Another operation of the multi-tuner radio may be modified based on the received gesture input. A fingerprint may be recognized with a gesture pad. A user may be authenticated based on the recognized fingerprint. The operation or the other operation may be personalized based on the fingerprint. User training may be provided for the gesture input.

Claims

1. A radio device comprising:

a fingerprint reader and computer that is configured to identify which finger is being used and outputting a first function associated with the finger being used to operate the radio device and to identify an orientation of the finger being used and outputting a second function associated with the orientation of the finger being used to operate the radio device,

a communication device that allows a plurality of individual digital audio content items to be received using the Internet,

a digital-to-analog conversion subsystem for converting the received digital audio content items to analog, and

a speaker for outputting the converted audio content items,

said device configured to receive a sequence of audio content items using the communication device and play back the sequence using the fingerprint reader and computer, the digital-to-analog converter, and the speaker as if it were a radio station,

to determine a listener'"'"'s preference for a specified content item, and

to determine the sequence of audio content items based on the determined preference.

2. The device of claim 1, the specified content item comprises a song, a musical artist, a musical genre, a radio station comprising the sequence of audio content items, or a set of audio content items selected by an external party.

3. The device of claim 1, the preference comprises an indication that the listener likes the specified content item.

4. The device of claim 1, the preference comprises an indication that the listener dislikes the specified content item.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein determining the listener'"'"'s preference comprises allowing the listener to indicate a preference for a content item currently being played back.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein determining the listener'"'"'s preference comprises allowing the listener to specify one or more criteria.

7. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint reader and computer is further configured to determine the identity of a user based on the finger being used and outputting a third function associated with the identity of the user to operate the radio device according to a preference of the user.

8. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the radio device is configured to receive gestures from users to operate the radio device and recognize a set of gestures and in response, apply corresponding operating commands to the radio device, wherein the gestures comprising

a first gesture comprising a first orientation of a finger, wherein the first orientation is placing the finger with its tip pointing in an upward direction and the first gesture defines a first command operating the radio device;

and

a second gesture comprising a second orientation of the finger, wherein the second orientation is placing the finger with its tip pointing in a downward direction and the second gesture defines a second command operating the radio device.

9. The radio device of claim 8, wherein the first command operating the radio device indicates an audio content item preferred by the user.

10. The radio device of claim 8, wherein the second command operating the radio device indicates an audio content item disliked by the user.

11. The radio device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint reader is a gesture pad or touch screen.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the distinguished finger is a thumb, the distinguished orientation is up or down, and the gesture input comprises a thumb up or a thumb down to indicate a like or dislike for an audio content item.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture input comprises one or more taps of the gesture pad, pressing against the gesture pad with a finger, a motion in a direction corresponding to a desired direction of audio control, or a motion in a direction corresponding to a desired direction of audio control and a tap corresponding to a skip to an end of an audio buffer.

14. A radio device comprising:

a gesture pad that receives a gesture input, that distinguishes between a plurality of fingers used for a gesture, that recognizes the orientation of the distinguished finger, and that performs a function that is dependent on the distinguished finger and its orientation,

a communication device that allows a plurality of individual digital audio content items to be received using the Internet,

a digital-to-analog conversion subsystem for converting the received digital audio content items to analog, and

a speaker for outputting the converted audio content items,

said device configured to receive a sequence of audio content items using the communication device and play back the sequence using the gesture pad, the digital-to-analog converter, and the speaker as if it were a radio station,

to determine a listener'"'"'s preference for a specified content item, and

to determine the sequence of audio content items based on the determined preference.

15. The device of claim 14, the specified content item comprises a song, a musical artist, a musical genre, a radio station comprising the sequence of audio content items, or a set of audio content items selected by an external party.

16. The device of claim 14, the preference comprises an indication that the listener likes the specified content item.

17. The device of claim 14, the preference comprises an indication that the listener dislikes the specified content item.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein determining the listener'"'"'s preference comprises allowing the listener to indicate a preference for a content item currently being played back.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein determining the listener'"'"'s preference comprises allowing the listener to specify one or more criteria.

20. The radio device of claim 14, wherein the gesture pad is further configured to determine the identity of a user based on the finger being used and outputting a third function associated with the identity of the user to operate the radio device according to a preference of the user.