Patent Application
20130344799
The subject invention relates to radio content, and more particularly to a system and a method of delivering such radio content.
Many vehicles have or are modified to include user interface devices that provide various services to a user. Such services include, but are not limited to, directions and other navigation-related services, airbag deployment notification and other emergency or roadside assistance-related services provided in connection with various crash and/or collision sensor interface modules and sensors located throughout the vehicle. Additionally, services include “infotainment-related” services where music radio content, Web pages, movies, television programs, videogames and/or other content is downloaded to the user interface devices.
Current user interface devices, with respect to radio content, provide various data to a user relating to current radio content, but fail to provide meaningful advance notice to the user of future radio content on a plurality of broadcast channels available to the user.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a system for delivery of radio content includes a database configured to receive a radio content data comprising a radio content, a broadcast time for the radio content and a broadcast channel of the radio content. Also included is a signal for communicating the radio content from the database to a remote radio unit, wherein the remote radio unit communicates the radio content data to a user for providing advance notice to the user of future radio content.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a system for delivery of radio content includes a database configured to receive a radio content data comprising a radio content, a broadcast time for the radio content and a broadcast channel of the radio content. Also included is a signal for communicating the radio content data from the database to a user for providing advance notice to the user of future radio content, wherein the user selectively determines a listening schedule. Further included is a radio unit controller for switching between a plurality of broadcast channels in response to input from the listening schedule.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of delivering radio content is provided. The method includes providing a radio content data to a database for storing and processing the radio content, wherein the radio content data comprises a radio content, a broadcast time for the radio content and a broadcast channel of the radio content. Also included is transmitting the radio content data to a remote radio unit for processing therein. Further included is communicating current radio content data and future radio content data to a user.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of embodiments, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
Referring to
The broadcast radio content comprises various transmitted programs, including music, news, sports and talk radio, for example, however, it is to be understood that the preceding list of examples are merely illustrative and numerous other categories of broadcast radio content are contemplated. The radio content data 14 further includes information relating to the broadcast radio content, irrespective of the category of broadcast radio content. Such information may include, but is not limited to, identification of the broadcast radio content, a broadcast time for the broadcast radio content, transmitted programs, songs, genre, as well as a broadcast channel. One aspect or all of the aforementioned information may be included.
A remote radio unit 16 is configured to receive the radio content data 14 via a signal 22 from the database 12. The remote radio unit 16 may be in the form of a variety of embodiments having a radio integrated therein for entertainment of a user. Merely illustrative examples include various personal electronic devices, including a cellular phone, a personal computer, a portable music device and a MP3 player. Additionally, as will be described below with reference to
Referring now to
The remote radio unit 16 is thereby configured to receive the radio content data 14, whether installed directly within the vehicle 18 or disposed at a remote location, such as a personal electronic device, for example, that then communicates the radio content data 14 to the vehicle 18. Upon receipt of the radio content data 14, the remote radio unit 16, whether a personal electronic device or a radio unit integrated within the vehicle 18, extraction of appropriate files from the signal 22 is performed and converted to an understandable communication to the user. Such a communication may be in the form of audio prompts or visual display on a graphical user interface (GUI) 24 (
In contemplated embodiments that only provide the user with future radio content information relating to a current broadcast channel, the user is assisted by the provision of future radio content. Based on the upcoming radio content, the user or any intelligent device may make a decision to continue listening to the current broadcast channel or seek alternative radio content on other available broadcast channels. As the user switches to various alternative broadcast channels, the list 26 provides the user with information relating to the upcoming radio content for that particular broadcast channel, thereby allowing the user to quickly determine whether to seek other radio content on other broadcast channels.
The aforementioned embodiments enable the user to make more informed choices regarding what broadcast channel to listen to. Whether the future radio content is provided visually or in the form of an audio prompt, the user avoids excessively listening to radio content that is less desirable than radio content available on other broadcast channels. Additionally, by providing the user with future broadcast data, informal short-term queues are effectively compiled by the user while listening to the radio content.
Referring now to
A method of delivering radio content 100 is also provided as illustrated in
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the application.
