Patent Application
20080003961
The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Referring to
The monitor module 40 is configured to scan a plurality of radio waves 30, 32 and 34 in real time, as shown in
The disclosed scanner 10 is not limited to only implementations involving radio stations 36, 38 and 40 as depicted in
The first memory module 50 is in communication with the monitor module 40. The monitor module 40 transmits the extracted audio sample data acquired from the sub-carrier channel's content that is contained in the radio waves 30, 32 and 34. The data is transmitted to the memory module 50, which is configured to receive and store the extracted audio sample data.
The audio analyzer module 60 is in communication with the memory module 50. The memory module 50 transmits the extracted audio sample data to the audio analyzer module 60. The audio analyzer module 60 is configured to analyze the extracted audio sample data. The audio analyzer module 60 is also configured to classify the extracted audio sample data into a particular content category. This classification may be performed by analyzing sound patterns to determine genre (e.g., news, rock, classic, etc.) or by using an RSS (web format) feed delivered over the network for additional content such as a podcast, for example.
The content aggregation module 70 is in communication with the audio analyzer module. Content aggregation is the idea of seamlessly switching between sources, either buffered or live. The content aggregation module 70 is configured to build a multiple content stream of data based upon user preferences such as artist, title, etc. Once the multiple content stream of data is built, the content aggregation module 70 generates a content guide 72 from the sample data that correlates to the user established content preference data. For example, a rock genre aggregation may be built from various artist and stations. Once compiled, the rock genre shall play continuously until it ends. New material may be added to the aggregation on demand, as it becomes available. Multiple aggregations may be built simultaneously and the user may continuously switch between them. Audio and visual queues are utilized to notify the user of new or updated aggregations and how to access them.
The real time updates and available buffered content that has not been accessed or provided to the user is used to generate new seamless content aggregations that the user might be interested in accessing. These updates are used to re-program the user interface and notify the user of the new aggregations and allow the user to switch to another one. The new aggregations have a genre, artist, or other type of relationship and also have values for duration, number of content, elements, etc., which are used to weigh the various aggregations against each other for ordering. The scanner 10 uses an item and/or duration threshold to decide when a new aggregation will be added to the list and the user then notified.
For example, the user might be accessing a content aggregation of five rock genre songs for duration of twenty-eight minutes. The user is also interested in jazz genre songs. Once enough jazz content is identified in either live broadcast or previously buffered content to meet or exceed the threshold, a new aggregation is created and the user is notified by an audible sound, flashing button or on-screen-display that six jazz genre songs for a duration of forty nine minutes is available. The user then has the option to switch to the new seamless stream of aggregated content.
If the user is pleased with the content (a song, a show, etc.), the scanner 10 provides options to allow the user to tag the content as a favorite. If available the user would receive a higher-quality or extended version of the content in real time or optionally, be able to access such versions by downloading directly to the user's device, uploading to a user repository or have a URL sent to the user's e-mail address. The scanner 10 may contain an additional content purchasing module 92 that allows the user to access, store, and compare available content for purchase.
The second memory module 80 is in communication with the content aggregation module 70. The second memory module 80 is configured to store the content guide 72 generated by the content aggregation module 70 such that the content guide 72 can be activated for play at a later time period.
The scanner 10 further includes a discriminator module 90 used to control radio station scan operations performed by the monitor module 40. The discriminator module 90 is configured to, for example, provide a scan of the plurality of radio waves 30, 32 and 34 generated by the plurality of radio stations 36, 38 and 40, respectively, the scan only occurs for particular stations (e.g., such as radio stations 36 and 38 but not radio station 40) according to at least one preferred content category. The preferred content category is previously determined by user selection based upon the user's interaction with a control panel 22 on the radio receiver 20. The user plays certain music by operating various control actuators 24 on the control panel 22 that tune to different channels displayed on a display 26 disposed on the control panel 22. The radio receiver 20 is powered up by activating an on/off switch 28 operably connected to the internal circuitry of the radio receiver.
The scanner 10 allows for at least one content category to be determinable by the monitor module 40 during the monitoring of the plurality of radio waves 30, 32 and 34 generated by the plurality of radio stations 36, 38 and 40, respectively, and chosen by the user for more than a predetermined listening time. A listening sample is extracted from each monitored radio station 36, 38 and 40 selected by the user for more than a predetermined time. The audio analyzer module 60 analyzes each extracted listening audio sample to determine at least one preferred content category.
Referring to
The method begins at block 100 by scanning a plurality of radio waves 30, 32 and 34 broadcast by one or more radio stations 36, 38 and 40 in real time.
The method proceeds as shown in block 102 by extracting audio samples from the sub-carrier channel's content contained in the scanned radio waves 30, 32 and 34.
The method proceeds as shown in block 104 by storing the extracted audio sample data in a first memory 50.
The method proceeds as shown in block 106 by analyzing the extracted audio sample data and classifying the extracted audio sample data into a particular content category.
The method proceeds as shown in block 108 by building a multiple content stream of data by way of content aggregation and using the multiple content stream of data to generate a content guide 72 that correlates to the user established content preference data.
The method proceeds as shown in step 110 by storing the generated content guide 72 in a memory 80 so as to render the content guide 72 available for play at a later time period.
The scan of the plurality of radio waves 30, 32 and 34 generated by the plurality of radio stations 36, 38 and 40, only occurs for particular stations according to at least one preferred content category.
The method proceeds as shown in step 112 by determining the at least one preferred content category based upon user interaction with a control panel 22 on a radio receiver 20 used for scanning the plurality of radio waves.
The method proceeds as shown in step 114 by determining the at least one preferred content category monitoring user radio stations 36, 38 and 40 for more than a predetermined listening time.
The method proceeds as shown in step 116 by extracting a listening audio sample from each monitored radio station 36, 38 and 40 that is user selected for more than a predetermined time. Each extracted listening audio sample is analyzed to determine at least one preferred content category.
At step 118, the user may access, store and compare available content for purchase. The delivery of the content may be configured to be obtained via download to the scanner 10, delivery to the user's e-mail, etc.
The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof.
As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the disclosed invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately.
Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided.
The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention.
While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.
