US6539210B1 — Automatic assignment and tuning of radio call let…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 63 words

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising: selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, to supply a signal; storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium; obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; and accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 63 words

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising: selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, to supply a signal; storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium; obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; and accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 29 words

A method as recited in claims 1 , wherein said selecting selects between at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the signal information includes at least one of call letters, genre and geographical location of the signal source.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein said storing includes a signal frequency in the signal selection data when the medium selection data indicates that the communication medium uses broadcast signals and includes a network address when the medium selection data indicates that the communication medium uses the packet-based network.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising displaying the signal information for receivable signals from multiple signal sources using any of the communication media.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the genre and a source identifier is included in the signal information for at least some of the signal sources, and wherein said displaying lists the signal information sorted by the genre.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising automatically organizing the signal information for the signal sources that has been stored for display into a plurality of subsets with at least one common characteristic in each subset.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising reporting a selected subset specified by the user to a remote system via the packet-based network.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising receiving information directed to the user based on the signal information in one of the subsets.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein said receiving is further based on a geographical location of the user.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein said storing includes the genre and a source identifier in the signal information for the signal sources and at least one of the subsets is organized based on the genre, wherein said method further comprises identifying at least one preferred genre selected by the user from a first group of sources included in the at least one of the subsets; and wherein said obtaining includes accessing the database to obtain the signal information for a second group of sources having the at least one preferred genre.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first group of sources provide the broadcast signals received from an antenna and the second group of sources provide the packetized signals received via the packet-based network.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising receiving information directed to the user based on a currently selected source for playback.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 144 words

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising: selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, including at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network, to supply a signal; storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium, including first and second medium selection data for receiving the signal from the signal source via first and second communication media, respectively; obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source; outputting the signal from the signal source as received via the first communication medium in response to selection by a user; and automatically switching to the second communication medium for receipt of the signal in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 144 words

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising: selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, including at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network, to supply a signal; storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium, including first and second medium selection data for receiving the signal from the signal source via first and second communication media, respectively; obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source; outputting the signal from the signal source as received via the first communication medium in response to selection by a user; and automatically switching to the second communication medium for receipt of the signal in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 143 words

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising: obtaining a signal from a signal source via a communication medium that uses broadcast signals; accessing at least a zip code database of zip codes, latitude and longitude and a station database including broadcast station frequencies and broadcast station locations stored as longitude and latitude, from at least one data source separate from the signal source; determining a frequency and a receiving location of the signal based on longitude and latitude for the zip code of the receiving location, and calculating a most likely station broadcasting the signal based on the frequency, the receiving location of the signal, the broadcast station frequencies and the broadcast station locations by multiplying degrees latitude by 104/145 to obtain miles and obtaining degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula |(1.6093/(111*cos( x ))*100)|.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 143 words

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising: obtaining a signal from a signal source via a communication medium that uses broadcast signals; accessing at least a zip code database of zip codes, latitude and longitude and a station database including broadcast station frequencies and broadcast station locations stored as longitude and latitude, from at least one data source separate from the signal source; determining a frequency and a receiving location of the signal based on longitude and latitude for the zip code of the receiving location, and calculating a most likely station broadcasting the signal based on the frequency, the receiving location of the signal, the broadcast station frequencies and the broadcast station locations by multiplying degrees latitude by 104/145 to obtain miles and obtaining degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula |(1.6093/(111*cos( x ))*100)|.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 84 words

At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method comprising: selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media; obtaining a signal from a signal source via the communication medium; accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source; and storing the signal information and signal selection data defining how the signal is obtained via the communication medium and medium selection data identifying the communication medium.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 84 words

At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method comprising: selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media; obtaining a signal from a signal source via the communication medium; accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source; and storing the signal information and signal selection data defining how the signal is obtained via the communication medium and medium selection data identifying the communication medium.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 16 , wherein said selecting selects between at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 17 , wherein the signal information includes call letters, genre and geographical location of the signal source.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 55 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 18 , wherein said storing includes a signal frequency in the signal selection data when the medium selection data indicates that the communication medium uses broadcast signals and includes a network address when the medium selection data indicates that the communication medium uses the packet-based network.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 33 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 18 , wherein said method further comprises displaying the signal information for receivable signals from multiple signal sources using any of the communication media.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 41 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 20 , wherein said storing includes the genre and a source identifier in the signal information for the signal sources, and wherein said displaying lists the signal information sorted by the genre.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 45 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 20 , wherein said method further comprises automatically organizing the signal information for the signal sources that has been stored for display into a plurality of subsets with at least one common characteristic in each subset.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 22 , wherein said method further comprises reporting a selected subset specified by the user to a remote system via the packet-based network.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 32 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 23 , wherein said method further comprises receiving information directed to the user based on the signal information in one of the subsets.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 24 , wherein said receiving is further based on a geographical location of the user.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 30 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 22 , wherein said method further comprises receiving information directed to the user based on a currently selected source for playback.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 98 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 22 , wherein said storing includes the genre and a source identifier in the signal information for the signal sources and at least one of the subsets is organized based on the genre, wherein said method further comprises identifying at least one preferred genre selected by the user from a first group of sources included in the at least one of the subsets; and wherein said obtaining includes accessing the database to obtain the signal information for a second group of sources having the at least one preferred genre.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 40 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 27 , wherein the first group of sources provide the broadcast signals received from an antenna and the second group of sources provide the packetized signals received via the packet-based network.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 84 words

At least one computer program as recited in claim 17 , wherein said storing includes first and second medium selection data for receiving the signal from the signal source via first and second communication media, and wherein said method further comprises: outputting the signal from the signal source as received via the first communication medium in response to selection by a user, and automatically switching to the second communication medium for receipt of the signal in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 140 words

At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method comprising: obtaining a signal from a signal source via a communication medium; accessing at least one database, including zip codes, latitude and longitude, from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source, with broadcast station locations stored as longitude and latitude; determining a frequency and a receiving location of the signal based on longitude and latitude for the zip code of the receiving location; and calculating a most likely station broadcasting the signal based on the frequency, the receiving location of the signal, and the broadcast station frequencies and locations, by multiplying degrees latitude by 104/145 to obtain miles and obtaining degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula |(1.6093/(111*cos( x ))*100)|.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 140 words

At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method comprising: obtaining a signal from a signal source via a communication medium; accessing at least one database, including zip codes, latitude and longitude, from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source, with broadcast station locations stored as longitude and latitude; determining a frequency and a receiving location of the signal based on longitude and latitude for the zip code of the receiving location; and calculating a most likely station broadcasting the signal based on the frequency, the receiving location of the signal, and the broadcast station frequencies and locations, by multiplying degrees latitude by 104/145 to obtain miles and obtaining degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula |(1.6093/(111*cos( x ))*100)|.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using at least one database provided by a data source, comprising: a network connection to at least one packet-based network providing packetized signals; a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source; a processor, coupled to the at least one database and said tuner, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database; and a storage unit to store signal information, a signal frequency of the signal and medium selection data indicating whether the signal is one of a broadcast signal received from the tuner or one of the packetized signals.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using at least one database provided by a data source, comprising: a network connection to at least one packet-based network providing packetized signals; a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source; a processor, coupled to the at least one database and said tuner, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database; and a storage unit to store signal information, a signal frequency of the signal and medium selection data indicating whether the signal is one of a broadcast signal received from the tuner or one of the packetized signals.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 20 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 31 , wherein said storage unit further stores call letters, genre and geographical location.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 49 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 31 , wherein said storage unit further stores a signal frequency when the medium selection data indicates that the communication medium uses broadcast signals and includes a network address when the medium selection data indicates that the communication medium uses the packet-based network.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 31 , further comprising a display, coupled to said processor, to display the signal information for receivable signals from multiple signal sources using any of the communication media.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 34 , wherein said storage unit stores genre information and a source identifier for the signal sources, and wherein said display lists the signal information sorted by the genre.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 38 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 34 , further comprising an input port, coupled to said processor, to receive control signals from a user specifying a subset of the signal information stored for display by said storage unit.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 36 , wherein said network connection further outputs the subset specified by the user to a remote system via the packet-based network.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 82 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 36 , wherein said storage unit stores genre information and a source identifier in the signal information for the signal sources, and wherein said processor identifies at least one preferred genre from a first group of sources selected by the user for inclusion in the subset, based on the genre information, and accesses the at least one database to obtain the signal information for a second group of sources having the at least one preferred genre.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 38 , wherein the first group of sources provide broadcast signals received from said tuner and the second group of sources provide the packetized signals received via the packet-based network.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 36 , wherein said processor selects between at least broadcast signals received from said tuner and packetized signals received via a said network connection.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 140 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using at least one database provided by a data source, comprising: a network connection to at least one packet-based network providing packetized signals; a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source; a storage unit to store signal information, a signal frequency of the signal and first and second medium selection data for the signal to be received from the signal source via said tuner and said network connection, respectively; and a processor, coupled to the at least one database, said tuner and said storage unit, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database, to automatically switch between said tuner and said network connection to obtain the signal from the second communication medium in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 140 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using at least one database provided by a data source, comprising: a network connection to at least one packet-based network providing packetized signals; a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source; a storage unit to store signal information, a signal frequency of the signal and first and second medium selection data for the signal to be received from the signal source via said tuner and said network connection, respectively; and a processor, coupled to the at least one database, said tuner and said storage unit, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database, to automatically switch between said tuner and said network connection to obtain the signal from the second communication medium in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

Claim 49

Independent Claim 136 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using data provided by a data source storing a station database storing broadcast station frequencies and broadcast station locations as longitude and latitude and a database of zip codes, latitude and longitude, said apparatus comprising: a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source; and a processor, coupled to the at least one database and said tuner, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database, to determine a frequency and a receiving location based on the longitude and the latitude for the zip code of the receiving location, to convert latitude to miles by multiplying by 104/145 and to obtain degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula |(1.6093/(111*cos( x ))*100)|.

Claim 50

Independent Claim 136 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using data provided by a data source storing a station database storing broadcast station frequencies and broadcast station locations as longitude and latitude and a database of zip codes, latitude and longitude, said apparatus comprising: a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source; and a processor, coupled to the at least one database and said tuner, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database, to determine a frequency and a receiving location based on the longitude and the latitude for the zip code of the receiving location, to convert latitude to miles by multiplying by 104/145 and to obtain degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula |(1.6093/(111*cos( x ))*100)|.

Claim 51

Independent Claim 71 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources, comprising: means for selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, to supply a signal; means for storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium; means for obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; and means for accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source.

Claim 52

Independent Claim 71 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources, comprising: means for selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, to supply a signal; means for storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium; means for obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; and means for accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 156 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources, comprising: means for selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, including at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network, to supply a signal; means for storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium, including first and second medium selection data for receiving the signal from the signal source via first and second communication media, respectively; means for obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; means for accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source; means for outputting the signal from the signal source as received via the first communication medium in response to selection by a user; and means for automatically switching to the second communication medium for receipt of the signal in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 156 words

An apparatus for identifying signal sources, comprising: means for selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, including at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network, to supply a signal; means for storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium, including first and second medium selection data for receiving the signal from the signal source via first and second communication media, respectively; means for obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium; means for accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source; means for outputting the signal from the signal source as received via the first communication medium in response to selection by a user; and means for automatically switching to the second communication medium for receipt of the signal in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-03-24	2006-09-23	2007-03-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-03-24	2010-09-23	2011-03-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-03-24	2014-09-23	2015-03-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic assignment and tuning of radio call letters to radio presets

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag