Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A radio reception and playback unit comprising, in combination, a digital memory for storing broadcast program signals, n tuners for simultaneously receiving n different broadcast program signals, where n is greater than one, each of said tuners having a digital output for continuously supplying a selected one of said broadcast program signals in digital form to said digital memory, a playback device for reproducing a selected recorded program signal stored in said digital memory in an audible form perceptible to a listener, and a user interface including n pushbuttons each associated with a corresponding one of said n tuners and each of which, when pressed, controls said playback device to reproduce a recorded broadcast program signal previously received by the corresponding one of said n tuners.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A radio reception and playback unit comprising, in combination, a digital memory for storing broadcast program signals, n tuners for simultaneously receiving n different broadcast program signals, where n is greater than one, each of said tuners having a digital output for continuously supplying a selected one of said broadcast program signals in digital form to said digital memory, a playback device for reproducing a selected recorded program signal stored in said digital memory in an audible form perceptible to a listener, and a user interface including n pushbuttons each associated with a corresponding one of said n tuners and each of which, when pressed, controls said playback device to reproduce a recorded broadcast program signal previously received by the corresponding one of said n tuners.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said user interface further includes a skip control activated by said listener coupled to said playback device for reproducing content recorded at a different time from the tuner currently selected by the depressed one of the n pushbuttons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for storing bookmark data for identifying the start of different segments of said broadcast program signals recorded in said digital memory, and wherein said user interface includes a content navigation control for controlling said playback device to reproduce the segment identified by one of said bookmarks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for storing bookmark data includes means for accepting a marking signal from a listener for storing a bookmark the identifies that program segment currently being reproduced by said playback device to enable a program segment currently being reproduced to be replayed at a later time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for storing bookmark data includes signal processing means for analyzing said broadcast program signals to store bookmarks identifying locations where the content of said signals changes between music and talk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for storing bookmark data includes means for storing metadata which identifies detectable characteristics of said broadcast program signals and means for analyzing said program signals to store said bookmarks for identifying program segments containing said detectable characteristics.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for storing metadata includes input means for importing said metadata from an external source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said user interface further includes a display for visually presenting information which identifies at least some of said broadcast program signals stored in said digital memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said user interface includes means actuated by said listener for persistently saving that portion of the recorded broadcast program currently being reproduced by said playback unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 8 further comprising means for storing bookmarks for identifying the start of different segments of said broadcast program signals recorded in said digital memory, and wherein said a user interface further includes a content navigation control for controlling said playback device to select and reproduce one of said different segments identified by one of said bookmarks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for storing bookmarks includes means for accepting a marking signal from said listener for storing a bookmark the identifies that program segment currently being reproduced by said playback unit to enable said program segment currently being reproduced to be replayed at a later time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for storing bookmarks includes signal processing means for analyzing said broadcast program signals to store bookmarks identifying locations where the content of said signals changes between music and talk.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for storing bookmarks includes means for storing metadata which identifies detectable characteristics of said broadcast program signals and means for analyzing said program signal to store said bookmarks for identifying individual segments of said program signal containing said detectable characteristics.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for storing metadata includes input means for importing said metadata from an external source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said user interface further includes a display for visually presenting information which identifies at least some of said segments of said broadcast program signals recorded in said digital memory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A radio reception and playback unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said user interface includes means actuated by said listener for persistently saving that portion of the recorded broadcast program currently being reproduced by said playback unit.