Patent Application
20130094426
Disclosed embodiments are directed, generally, to radio broadcasting equipment, as system and methodologies that enable targeted radio broadcast delivery in a radio broadcast area.
Radio broadcasters obtain revenue by selling advertising commercial time, wherein the commercials, or “spots” are incorporated into the content broadcast by the radio broadcaster in broadcasting listening area. Typically, such broadcasters' listening areas are associated with a metropolitan area or geographic region and commercial time is sold to advertisers within that area or region.
However, the value of such commercial time is, in part, based on the number of listeners that are potentially hearing a commercial; nevertheless, the effectiveness of those commercials in persuading a listener to partake of an advertised product or service or visit an advertiser's location may be based, at least in part, on the availability of the advertiser's product, service or location to a listener. Thus, although a radio station listener may hear an advertiser's commercial, the likelihood that the listener may purchase the advertiser's product/service or visit the advertiser's location is at least in part based on the availability of advertiser's product/service or proximity of the advertiser's location.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description below.
In accordance with at least one disclosed embodiment, radio broadcasting equipment is provided that enables targeted radio broadcast advertisement delivery in an radio broadcast area wherein a plurality of radio transmitters are used to transmit broadcasting area wide programming and localized auxiliary information on a single frequency and wherein broadcasting area wide programming is transmitted by at least one of the radio transmitters and localized auxiliary information is transmitted by individual radio transmitters included in the plurality of transmitters. In accordance with that disclosed embodiment, the equipment used to transmit localized auxiliary information for a particular frequency may be shared by broadcasters using a plurality of frequencies so as to reduce the cost of installation and operation of that equipment.
A more compete understanding of the present invention and the utility thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features. It should be noted that
The description of specific embodiments is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. To the contrary, those skilled in the art should appreciate that there are numerous variations and equivalents that may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those equivalents and variations are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
In the following description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
As explained above, U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/245,482, 12/879,081, 61/241790, and 61/368509 are expressly incorporated by reference herein. Detailed descriptions of
It should be understood that the term “radio broadcaster” is meant to include organizations and/or individuals involved in the broadcast of audio radio broadcasting area wide programming and localized auxiliary information. The term “broadcasting area wide programming” or “license coverage area” is meant to include, for example, programming content that is intended to be distributed throughout a particular broadcasting area; thus, depending on the format of the station, such programming may include, for example, talk radio programs, music programs, songs, etc. Likewise, the term “localized auxiliary information” is meant to include, e.g., advertisements, public safety information, public service information, emergency broadcast information, etc. Thus, radio broadcasters are not limited to individuals or organizations owning licenses for radio broadcasting; however, the term radio broadcaster does include such individuals or organizations.
In explaining the operation of various disclosed embodiments, description of one or more “main transmitters” and “booster transmitters” is provided. It should be understood that the term “main transmitter” encompasses a transmitter that may be, for example, the only transmitter used by a radio broadcaster in a particular radio broadcasting area or it may be the most powerful (or one of the most powerful) transmitters in the radio broadcasting area.
To the contrary, the term “booster transmitter” (which is interchangeable with the term “signal boosters” and is included in the equipment also referred to herein as “auxiliary transmitters”) includes low-power transmitters (relative to the maximum class of the main transmitter), which are conventionally used to improve communications in locations within the normal coverage area of a radio system where the radio signal is blocked or shielded due to natural terrain or man-made obstacles (e.g., to provide fill-in coverage but not increase the normal coverage area).
Booster transmitters can be effective in weak or no-signal areas that may be present in a radio broadcaster's area of operation; however, booster transmitters are designed so as not to extend the broadcast signal beyond a radio broadcaster's licensed broadcast area. Such booster transmitters can be used to compensate or accommodate for physical barriers to effective radio broadcast transmission, e.g., mountains, mountain ranges, steep valleys, large buildings, vegetation, etc.
As explained in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/879,081, a segmented listening area that is configured to deliver localized auxiliary information may utilize “zones” within the FCC defined service area of a FM broadcast transmitter associated with a particular broadcaster. These zones may contain 1 to N number of on-channel, same frequency boosters that broadcast, in a simulcast manner, during specific instances in time.
In accordance with at least one implementation of the disclosed embodiments of U.S. Ser. No. 12/879,081, the design of the zone may be such that the signal power from the on-channel boosters in the zone may radiate a signal significantly stronger than the broadcaster's main station transmitter in the zone. Therefore, FM receivers in the zone capture on the on-channel booster signal rather than the main transmitter signal. Thus, a broadcaster can transmit different, local audio information to the specific zone. At the same time, there may exist several other on-channel zones within the listening area that are simultaneously, or independently, broadcasting different information that the broadcaster wants to transmit in that particular zone. These zones may be separated geographically so as not to emit transmission signals that interfere with each other.
Likewise, in accordance with the presently disclosed embodiments, the deployed “zones” may be within a defined service area of an FM broadcaster, e.g., a defined service area as set out and/or approved by the U.S. Federal Communication Commission or the like outside the United States. These zones can contain 1 to N number of on-channel, same frequency boosters that may broadcast area wide content, in a simulcast manner, during specific instances in time. Each zone may be designed or laid out such that the signal power from the on-channel booster transmitter(s) in the zone radiates a signal significantly stronger than the main station transmitter in the zone.
Therefore, receivers, e.g., FM receivers in each zone capture on the zone's on-channel booster signal rather than the main signal at pertinent times as laid out in the incorporated patent application. Thus, as disclosed in the incorporated application, the concept of deploying zones is that a broadcaster can transmit different, local audio information to the specific zone, while, at the same time, there may exist several other on-channel zones that are simultaneously, or independently, broadcasting different information/content that the broadcaster wants to transmit in a particular zone. These zones are typically separated geographically to not interfere with each other.
Presently disclosed embodiments further transmit information/data associated with Radio Data System (RDS) or Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) technology via the disclosed zone and auxiliary/booster transmitter setup.
The Radio Data System (RDS) is intended for application to VHF/FM sound broadcasts in the range 87.5 MHz to 108.0 MHz, which may carry either stereophonic (e.g., pilot-tone system) or monophonic content. The main objectives of RDS are to enable improved functionality for FM receivers and to make them more user-friendly by using features such as Program Identification, Program Service name display and where applicable, automatic tuning for portable and car radios, in particular.
RDS technology was originally developed in Europe in the early 1980s; however, it is now conventionally used in most of the world. RDS enables recognition, output, analysis and use of various pieces of transmitted data, including the ability to output a radio station's name on the display of a listener's receiver, stations phone number and address, artist and title of actual song playing, traffic announcement, and program type (e.g., weather update, stock report, etc.). In the United States, a corresponding system is called Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) and is very similar to RDS.
RDS is broadcast with the least deviation, limited to 7.5 kHz in the standard, but typically broadcast at about 2 kHz. Therefore, RDS is generally difficult for the receiver to decode unless a signal is fairly strong. As a result, pairing RDS/RBDS technology with the disclosed technology for segmenting a listening area into multiple zones associated with respective strong booster signals provides improved transmission of RDS/RBDS data.
RDS carries data at 1,187.5 bits per second on a 57 kHz subcarrier. As a result, there are exactly 48 cycles of subcarrier during every transmitted data bit.
Of note, the RBDS/RDS subcarrier was set to the third harmonic of the 19 kHz FM stereo pilot tone to minimize interference and intermodulation between the data signal, the stereo pilot and the 38 kHz DSB-SC stereo difference signal. (The stereo difference signal extends up to 38 kHz+15 kHz=53 kHz, leaving 4 kHz for the lower sideband of the RDS signal.)
As a result, in accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, the previously disclosed segmentation of a listening area into zones associated with one or more booster transmitters may enable the booster transmitters to transmit different RDS information than the RDS information the main transmitter is transmitting.
One application of transmission of such differentiated RDS/RBDS information/data is to enable broadcasters to sell advertising messaging that is distinct for one or more particulars zone. For example, messaging may include but is not limited to message, i.e., via SMS, MMS or any other conventionally known messaging protocol, electronic mail or voice call delivery in general, either displayed on a dashboard, a mobile device, e.g., a mobile phone or smart phone and may include text, graphics, and/or sound including voice. Such messaging may provide information, content, advertising, etc., hat is relevant for the geographical area where the receiver is physically located.
Another application would be transmission of local RDS content of interest, for example, non-commercial information, such as news, sports, weather, emergency broadcast data, programming on particular topics of specialized interest such as comedy, blue grass music, etc.
Moreover, while previously disclosed and incorporated embodiments have pertained to broadcast of different audio content at various transmission times, the same audio content may also be transmitted from both the main broadcast transmitter and booster transmitters while transmitting differentiated or localized RDS/RBDS information/data. Thus, in accordance with at least one presently disclosed embodiment, only the RDS/RBDS information content/data may be differentiated between zones.
Because the segmented listening area technology previously disclosed in the incorporated applications uses high RF power in each zone to capture the FM transmitters residing in that zone, RDS should, therefore, be highly decodable and reliable. Thus, implementation of the segmented listening area for transmitting differentiated RDS/RBDS information/data may be termed an “RDS ZoneCasting” System
A block diagram of one embodiment of the components of such a system is provided in
Thus, the RDS zones 1720 can time and frequency share, in a similar manner to that disclosed in the previously disclosed embodiments. More specifically, this may be implemented by extending the technology disclosed in the incorporated patent application wherein TDMA and/or FDMA technology may be utilized by the auxiliary transmitters (e.g., booster antennas) on other frequencies and time slots. In such an implementation, ownership of such auxiliary transmitters may be by broadcasters other than the one owning the primary antenna or may be owned by the same broadcaster wherein a cluster of auxiliary antennas (which may be included in a single zone or across multiple zones) is owned by a single broadcaster or group of broadcasters with multiple radio stations in a particular geographical radio market.
Audio routing and control equipment 1730 is configured to receive the main station audio and controls 1735 from the main broadcast system playout equipment 1740. The audio routing and control equipment 1730 also interface with automated playout systems, encoding the RDS messages for the particular zones, and rout the audio and control data to the distribution network equipment 1750 for the zones 1720. The audio routing and control equipment 1730 includes software that provides a timed-event system which can program RDS events to happen at specified times. RDS messaging can be triggered at a particular time and date or on a rotating schedule on certain days and times of the week.
RDS messaging to a particular zone can also be initiated by monitoring a General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) and so as to initiate a RDS messaging transmission whenever a GPIO condition changes. For example, a GPIO signal can convey to a particular zone of auxiliary antennas, or even a particular auxiliary antenna or group of auxiliary antennas within a zone, that a specific message should be broadcast to that particular coverage area. Moreover, there can be multiple messages stored in the RDS encoding device, and based on receipt of a particular GPIO signal, the auxiliary antenna(s) may encode and transmit the appropriate digital signal.
In addition or as an alternative, external automated playout systems (not shown) can interface with the audio routing and control equipment 1730 and generate and control the RDS messaging output to the appropriate zone(s) 1720. In addition to the RDS message, control information such as GPIO states or serial data may be sent to the appropriate zones (for example, to mute/un-mute the Power Amplifiers of the boosters in a particular zone).
The audio routing and control equipment 1730 may also include a user interface for input of RDS message data, data for selection of particular zones, and times/dates for distribution to the zones.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the various embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It should also be appreciated that a plurality of zones could exist within a service contour that could behave in the same manner, but independent of the other zones and separated geographically as to not interfere with one another.
It should also be appreciated that, in accordance with at least one disclosed embodiment, at any particular time, a booster transmitter may be transmitting on any particular frequency, but only one at a time. However, alternatively, the embodiments may be implemented using one or more linear FM transmitters that can be configured to transmit on multiple frequencies at the same time. As one option for implementation, a plurality of booster transmitters may be located at the same site and a combiner(s) may be used to support transmission of localized content, e.g., localized traffic reports
For example, it should be understood that various disclosed embodiments relate to the broadcasting of analog radio broadcasting signals. However, it should be understood that the embodiments are not limited to analog radio broadcasting and may by utilized in digital audio radio broadcasting, for example, Eureka 147 (also known as Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)), ‘DAB+, FM band in-band on-channel (FM IBOC) broadcasting including HD Radio (OFDM modulation over FM and AM band IBOC sidebands) and FMeXtra (FM band IBOC subcarriers), Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and its extension (DRM+) (OFDM modulation over AM band IBOC sidebands), AM band in-band on-channel (AM IBOC) including HD Radio (AM IBOC sideband) and DRM, Satellite radio including ,e.g., WorldSpace, Sirius XM radio, and MobaHo!, Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB), Low-bandwidth digital data broadcasting over existing FM radio and Radio Data System (also known as RDS), etc.
It should be appreciated that, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the system may be implemented in conjunction with the transmission of digital radio signals rather than analog radio signals. Moreover, it should be appreciated that at least one embodiment of the invention may be implemented in conjunction, and be compatible, with the DAB standard to enable implementation outside the United States radio markets.
Further, it should be appreciated that the various disclosed embodiments and their individual aspects and features also may be utilized in the transmission of analog and/or digital television signals.
Moreover, it should be understood that various connections are set forth between elements in the following description; however, these connections in general, and, unless otherwise specified, may be either direct or indirect, either permanent or transitory, and either dedicated or shared, and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.
Additionally, it should be understood that the functionality described in connection with various described components of various invention embodiments may be combined or separated from one another in such a way that the architecture of the invention is somewhat different than what is expressly disclosed herein. Moreover, it should be understood that, unless otherwise specified, there is no essential requirement that methodology operations be performed in the illustrated order; therefore, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that some operations may be performed in one or more alternative order and/or simultaneously.
Various components of the invention may be provided in alternative combinations operated by, under the control of or on the behalf of various different entities or individuals.
Further, it should be understood that, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, system components may be implemented together or separately and there may be one or more of any or all of the disclosed system components. Further, system components may be either dedicated systems or such functionality may be implemented as virtual systems implemented on general purpose equipment via software implementations.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any operations set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit being indicated by the following inventive concepts.
Although the utility of various invention embodiments has been described in connection with the distribution of promotional content, it should be understood that distributed information is not limited to promotional content but may also or alternatively include non-promotional material.
Thus, for example, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, an optional emergency services announcement component may be included. Such a component may be implemented, for example, to be responsive to a wirelessly communicated notification transmitted via a wireless transmitter under the control of emergency services personnel. Thus, in the event that an emergency announcement is required, fire, police or other emergency services department personnel may interrupt a regular broadcasting to trigger broadcasting in one or more (or all) subsets of a broadcasting area to provide emergency information regarding, a forest fire, a tornado warning, flash flood warnings, etc. Accordingly, the wirelessly communicated notification may include pre-recorded information to be transmitted on the one or more boosters and/or simply enable a trigger within the system to shift an audio source for a booster to a channel associated with emergency broadcast information.
Likewise, it should be appreciated that emergency services personnel could utilize this type of wireless communicated microcast notification for implementing an Amber Alert type announcement to disseminate information associated with child-abduction situations.
In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, an emergency alert message may be issued and transmitted and thereby received by a user's receiving device, i.e., phone, radio, etc. based on the geographic proximity of a user. For example, the RDS data may include emergency information that may be output to a user to provide localized emergency alert information in the same way that the Emergency Broadcast System operates. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the RDS data may be output through a user's device in a manner that overrides stored or recorded content being output to the user to ensure the safety of the user even if they are reviewing stored content. Alternatively, or in addition, the emergency information may be overlaid on the content being output to the user, e.g., as a scrolling banner at the bottom of the user's device screen. In an additional alternative or option, the transmission of the RDS data associated with emergency information may activate display of an icon on the user's device (or in a user's vehicle if the user's device is synced to or incorporates functionality that enables output of received and/or stored content, e.g., a vehicle that has functionality for satellite radio, satellite television, digital television, digital radio, HD radio, HD television, etc.). Such embodiments enable the ability to output emergency broadcast information to a user via their receiving device even when the device is outputting previously stored content, e.g., a digital audio and/or video recorder outputting previously received and recorded content.
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the boosters may also be used as a transmission location point for communicating text messages or the like to a user's mobile phone or other Personal Data Assistant (PDA) based on the geographic location of the user. Accordingly, when a user travels into the booster area, the user's device may receive promotional information or offers regarding that an advertiser's business in that area. It should be appreciated that the transmission of such data from the boosters may be using a different communication protocol and technology and may not have any relationship to the timing of shifting from transmission of content from a main transmitter to one or more booster transmitters or vice versa.
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, transmission of localized RDS content may be performed via at least one of the plurality of auxiliary transmitters in a manner that is separated by time. Alternatively, or in addition, transmission of localized RDS content via at least one of the plurality of auxiliary transmitters is performed based on RF frequency. For example, TMDA and/or FDMA may be used to enable sharing of both time and frequency on one or more auxiliary transmitters that would otherwise be silent based on a principal assignment function, e.g., which main transmitter an auxiliary transmitter is otherwise assigned to.
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the booster transmitters, for example, may be configured to transmit a signal that may be received by circuitry installed at one or more billboards or other signage within a localized area associated with the booster. The transmission and receipt of the signal would trigger an LED readout on the board which would become visible simultaneously with the broadcasting of promotional material via the booster.
As a result, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that the illustrative embodiments described are only examples and that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention
This Application claims priority to a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/245,482 filed Sep. 26, 2011, which is a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/879,081, filed Sep. 10, 2010, which relies for priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/241790, filed on Sep. 11, 2009, entitled “Equipment, System And Methodologies For Segmentation Of Listening Area Into Sub-Areas Enabling Delivery Of Localized Auxiliary Information,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/368509, filed Jul. 28, 2010 and entitled “Equipment, System And Methodologies For Segmentation Of Listening Area Into Sub-Areas Enabling Delivery Of Localized Auxiliary Information,” the disclosures of which are all being incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61368509 | Jul 2010 | US | |
| 61241790 | Sep 2009 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13245482 | Sep 2011 | US |
| Child | 13626969 | US | |
| Parent | 12879081 | Sep 2010 | US |
| Child | 13245482 | US |
