Patent US2930894A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4499601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for automatically detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver.
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-10-18
•
Granted: 1985-02-12
•
Expires: 2002-10-18
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a method and apparatus for detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver such as a radio or television. Apparatus is coupled with the broadcast receiver (30) to enable the listener to listen to any of a plurality of different stations and to select desired audio segments being played on any of the stations. Apparatus (46) is provided to store the selected desired audio segments selected by the listener. Apparatus (50) scans the audio being broadcast by each of a plurality of different stations. Apparatus (48) compares the selected desired audio segments with the audio scanned. In response to the comparison, the desired audio segments are played over the broadcast receiver upon occurrence of the desired audio segments on any of a plurality of different stations.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon H. Matthews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:28
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J1/00; H03J1/0008; H03J1/0058; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/10; H04H20/106; H04H20/26; H04H60/00; H04H60/27; H04H60/35; H04H60/37; H04H60/61; H04H60/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver comprising: selecting and storing representations of a first portion of a plurality of desired audio segments being broadcast on a plurality of stations being received by the receiver; detecting the occurrence of an audio portion that corresponds to one of said stored first portions on one of the plurality of stations being received by the receiver; switching the receiver to the station upon which the corresponding audio portion is detected, and broadcasting the remaining portion of the audio segment on the station over the receiver.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver comprising: selecting and storing representations of a first portion of a plurality of desired audio segments being broadcast on a plurality of stations being received by the receiver; detecting the occurrence of an audio portion that corresponds to one of said stored first portions on one of the plurality of stations being received by the receiver; switching the receiver to the station upon which the corresponding audio portion is detected, and broadcasting the remaining portion of the audio segment on the station over the receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the occurrence of one of said desired audio segments is detected on any of said plurality of stations being received by the receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the listener may select and store a representation of an audio segment currently being broadcast on a station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the listener may select and store a representation of an audio segment previously broadcast on a station within a predetermined time interval.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver comprising: receiving and broadcasting audio programs from any of a plurality of different stations over a broadcast receiver; enabling the listener to select a representative portion of the desired audio segments played over the broadcast receiver; storing digital representations of said selected representative portions; scanning the audio programs being broadcast by said plurality of different stations; comparing said stored digital representations with the audio programs being scanned, a valid comparison indicating the presence of the one of said desired audio segments; and playing the remaining portion of said desired audio segments over the broadcast receiver.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver comprising: receiving and broadcasting audio programs from any of a plurality of different stations over a broadcast receiver; enabling the listener to select a representative portion of the desired audio segments played over the broadcast receiver; storing digital representations of said selected representative portions; scanning the audio programs being broadcast by said plurality of different stations; comparing said stored digital representations with the audio programs being scanned, a valid comparison indicating the presence of the one of said desired audio segments; and playing the remaining portion of said desired audio segments over the broadcast receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the listener may select and store a digital representations of a representative portion of an audio segment currently being broadcast on a station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the listener may select and store a digital representations of a representative portion of an audio segment previously broadcast on a station within a predetermined time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 5 and further comprising: tuning the broadcast receiver to a dedicated one of the plurality of stations and broadcasting the audio thereon during scanning of the plurality of stations; and returning the broadcast receiver to the dedicated station after the desired audio segment has been broadcast.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said digital representations of said representative portions of said selected audio segments comprise indications of the frequency spectrum of said audio segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said digital representations of said representative portions of said selected audio segments comprise indications of the power level of said audio segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for being coupled with a broadcast receiver for detecting and playing desired audio segments comprising: means coupled to the receiver for enabling the listener to select desired audio segments; means for storing representations of a first portion of the desired audio segments; means for detecting the occurrence of an audio segment that corresponds to one of said stored first portions on one of a plurality of stations being received by the receiver, a valid detection indicating the presence of one of said desired audio segments; and means responsive to said detecting means for broadcasting the remaining portion of said desired audio segment over the receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for being coupled with a broadcast receiver for detecting and playing desired audio segments comprising: means coupled to the receiver for enabling the listener to select desired audio segments; means for storing representations of a first portion of the desired audio segments; means for detecting the occurrence of an audio segment that corresponds to one of said stored first portions on one of a plurality of stations being received by the receiver, a valid detection indicating the presence of one of said desired audio segments; and means responsive to said detecting means for broadcasting the remaining portion of said desired audio segment over the receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for enabling the listener to select comprises switch means for operation during the broadcast of the desired audio segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for enabling the listener to select comprises switch means for operation within a predetermined time period after the broadcast of the desired audio segment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 11 and further comprising: a dedicated tuner and receiver for scanning said plurality of stations being received by the receiver, the output of said receiver being applied to said means for detecting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said representations of said first portion comprise indications of the frequency spectrum of said audio segments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said representations of said first portion comprise indications of the power level of said audio segments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for detecting and playing desired audio segments comprising: a broadcast receiver for receiving and broadcasting audio programs from a plurality of different stations; means coupled with said broadcast receiver for enabling the listener to select desired audio segments; means for storing representations of initial portions of said selected desired audio segments; means for scanning the audio being broadcast by said plurality of different stations; means for comparing said stored representations with the audio scanned by said scanning means, a valid comparison indicating the presence of one of said desired audio segments; and means responsive to said comparing means for playing the remaining portion of the corresponding one of said desired audio segments over said broadcast receiver upon occurrence of a valid comparison on any of said plurality of different stations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for detecting and playing desired audio segments comprising: a broadcast receiver for receiving and broadcasting audio programs from a plurality of different stations; means coupled with said broadcast receiver for enabling the listener to select desired audio segments; means for storing representations of initial portions of said selected desired audio segments; means for scanning the audio being broadcast by said plurality of different stations; means for comparing said stored representations with the audio scanned by said scanning means, a valid comparison indicating the presence of one of said desired audio segments; and means responsive to said comparing means for playing the remaining portion of the corresponding one of said desired audio segments over said broadcast receiver upon occurrence of a valid comparison on any of said plurality of different stations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said desired audio segment comprises a musical composition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein said means for enabling the listener comprises: switch means operable by the listener in order to detect and store representations of an initial portion of a desired audio segment currently being played over the radio being listened to by the listener.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for enabling the listener further comprises: means for storing representations an initial portion of the audio segment which occurs after the initiation of said switch means by the listener.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for enabling the listener further comprises: means for temporarily storing representations of all audio being broadcast by a selected station; and means for storing as said representations of the initial portion the representations of the portion of the audio played a predetermined time interval before the initiation of said switch means by the listener.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for enabling the listener comprises: means for scanning the audio on all of a plurality of stations being received by the receiver; means for temporarily storing representations of the audio played by all scanned stations; and means for storing as said representations of the initial portions the representations of the stored audio for a particular radio station being listened to prior to the initiation of said switch means by the listener.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising: second storage means for temporarily storing representations of the initial portion of audio segments prior to storage as selected audio segments by the listener.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said representations of the initial portion comprise indications of the frequency spectrum of said audio segments.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said representations of the initial portions comprise indications of the power level of said audio segments.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising: a dedicated tuner and receiver for scanning said plurality of stations being received by the receiver, the output of said receiver being applied to said means for detecting.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising: means for retuning said broadcast receiver back to the original station after playing of a desired audio segment.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver, comprising: selecting and storing a representative portion of each of the desired audio segments, sampling the output of each of a plurality of stations being received by the receiver; comparing the sampled output of each of the plurality of stations with a select one of the stored representative portions, a valid comparison indicating the presence of the corresponding one of said desired audio segments; selecting the station on which the valid comparison was made in response to the valid comparison; and broadcasting the remaining portion of the audio segment over the broadcast receiver, the remaining portion being that portion of the desired audio segment occuring after the station has been selected.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for detecting and playing desired audio segments over a broadcast receiver, comprising: selecting and storing a representative portion of each of the desired audio segments, sampling the output of each of a plurality of stations being received by the receiver; comparing the sampled output of each of the plurality of stations with a select one of the stored representative portions, a valid comparison indicating the presence of the corresponding one of said desired audio segments; selecting the station on which the valid comparison was made in response to the valid comparison; and broadcasting the remaining portion of the audio segment over the broadcast receiver, the remaining portion being that portion of the desired audio segment occuring after the station has been selected.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 28 wherein each of the stored representative portions are prioritized such that the higher priority one of the stored representative portions governs the selection of the station in the event of two simultaneous valid comparisons.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 28 wherein a broadcast receiver is dedicated to one of the plurality of stations and the audio output therefrom is broadcast over the receiver during sampling.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 30 and further comprising sensing the end of the desired audio segment being broadcast after selection of the station in response to a valid comparison and switching back to the dedicated one of the plurality of stations.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the desired audio segments comprise music.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3760275A
Cited
US3919479A
Cited
US4063031A
Cited
US4230990A
Cited
US4230990C1
Cited
US4450531A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-12 | 1988-08-13 | 1989-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-12 | 1992-08-13 | 1993-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-12 | 1996-08-13 | 1997-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |