WO2001098865A2 - Tuning a broadcast network using selection attributes - Google Patents

Abstract

Disposition allowing a plurality of users of a broadcasting network to automatically tune into programs or musical or artistic works, according to at least one of their attributes in which users all have radio receivers (U1, U2...Un) with an audio outlet which is tunable from a processing unit and includes an operative center (CO) connected to commercial radio broadcasting stations (FM1, FM2...FMm) through fixed links and it controls a publicity radio transmitting station (EP) in the same band and a codes radio transmitting station (EC). The processing unit of each radio receiver includes a keyboard, a memory for the selected attributes and a display, and it is connected through a converter with a codes radio receiver. The operative center receives from each commercial radio broadcasting station, information relevant to their transmission including their attributes and other data such as the starting time and ending time and the duration of said transmission and of the frequency corresponding to the commercial radio broadcasting station.

Description

Ferlac61 trad

DEVICE CAPABLE TO PROVIDE A LARGE NUMBER OF USERS OF A

BROADCASTING NETWORK WITH THE POSSIBILITY TO AUTOMATICALLY

TUNE IN PROGRAMS OR MUSIC ACCORDING TO THEIR SELECTION

ATTRIBUTES.

Introduction- Field of the invention:

This invention is relative to a novel means disposition which allows a

large number of users of a broadcasting network to individually preset determined attributes of programs, music or artistic performances, and

when same are set, whenever one of the broadcasting stations pertains to said net transmits any program or musical piece which has at least one of

said preset attributes, said broadcasting station is tuned in automatically.

In the following specifications the term "broadcasting" is comprehensive

of any and all radio frequency emissions, modulated in several ways, with analogical or digital signals, placed at the disposal of a large number of users, by at least two different emitting or transmitting stations, including the emission of radio programs through Internet.

By the term "attribute" it is understood a particular characteristic of a program, of a musical and/or artistic work, which is perfectly determinable. Examples thereof are:

Gender : musical, sports, plays, etc. Subgenera: Musical : Tango, jazz, classic. Etc.

Sports : Box, soccer, car races, etc.

Others : The author, name, orchestra, vocalist, etc. Combined : Author and date of release, name of the musical piece or orchestra, etc.

The term "commercial" when applied to broadcast networks must be understood in a broad sense; since the commercial networks are broadcasting

programs which are attractive to the public in general with programs which are interrupted by "advertisement times", it must be included within the

scope of the definition of "commercial networks" as used in this specification, any other broadcasting station casting attractive programs including the

ones which are state owned or state sponsored, or entities of public welfare which as such they do not have the need to introduce commercials or

advertisements.

Therefore the field of activity for this instant invention is then, a new service provided within the commercial broadcasting networks, which

allows the users an automatic selection of the radio station broadcasting in that instant, of any item which is of their individual preference.

Nevertheless, the field of activity towards which this instant invention is directed is the one in which the users are people listening to the radio

while travelling on motorcars or the like, and the broadcasting stations are FM (modulated frequency) stations, in the VHF band.

Brief description of the prior Art:

Just for a start, as far as the inventors of this instant invention are knowledgeable, there is no such a device capable of rendering this service or to provide with this result. There are known other devices or dispositions which allow an automatic tuning, but none performing as in this invention.

On the other hand, it exists US-A patent num. 5, 161 ,251", which allows to provide written information identifying selections of radio programs,

stored on CD disks. In spite of this, the written information does not deal with the attributes or characteristics of the musical works, but only their

identification, such as the manufacturer of said CD compiles the information therein loaded. Said US patent allows to automatically select musical

programs to be used by a broadcasting station, but it cannot be used by multiple individual users.

US-A patent num. 5,406,558 consists in a device emitting along with a determined program (audio or TV program), a digital signal identifying its

attributes, in such a way the people listening or watching same may recognize them, without interrupting the reception. Obviously, this US-A

patent has no relation with automatic tuning. On the other hand, the way said attributes are reaching the user, through the same carrier wave, is

quite different from the conception of this instant invention.

US-A patent num. 5,629,867 deals with a broadcasting station

including hundred of different pre-programmed musical selections, ready

for their broadcast, loaded into a digital data base. This allows to

implement, through telephone lines, the interactivity with the users.

US-A patent num. 5,485,518 deals with a method and device for the

recognition of programs and the capability for the parents to exclude said transmissions, in order not to let small children see determined TV

emissions. The interest in this said patent is given because the way these programs are recognized is through the recognition of the initial images of said program or of their musical curtain or wave, and not through their

attributes.

The most recent antecedent to this instant invention belongs to the already mentioned US-A patent num. 4,682,370, having a similar scope of

the one of this instant invention, but performing through different means and in a different way: this instant invention introduces two receiver units

(eventually this can be obtained with a single multiplexed receiver unit or a time-share receiver unit, fulfilling the function of both receiving units); one

of said receiver units is the one providing the audio signal which the user will finally listen to, while the other receiving unit sweeps through all the

broadcasting network and compares the segments "listened" with an array of musical segments previously loaded. To load this segments, the user may do so while he is listening to said musical segment, or it is possible to purchase said segments pre-loaded into an insertabie chip, etc.

As it will later be explained, this instant invention, having another structure and other results and functionalities, overcomes the difficulties

provided in this said prior art antecedent, which are: difficulties for the user when selecting the program segments, (he may be driving the car)

indetermination of the attributes or characteristics to be given to said segments (in fact, the user may wish to listen to works hitherto unknown to

him and performed by the same author, but then he is lacking the necessary adequate selecting segments); further, he may not recognize a

segment of a musical work, if same in interpreted through different

orchestrations, etc; and last, the segment shouid necessarily be the initial part of the musical work, if not a substantial part thereof may be lost to the

listener.

Brief description of the invention:

The device to allow multiple listeners of a broadcasting network the

possibility to tune in automatically to programs o musical and/or artistic works according to their attributes, comprises a broadcasting network

composed by more than one commercial stations transmitting on the same band, being each one of said users or listeners provided with a receiving

unit which comprises a radio receiver with a audio outlet tunable from a processing unit, and is characterized by having an operative central unit

connected, on a first side, with each one of said commercial stations of the broadcasting network, through corresponding fixed links; on a second side,

with a radio station emitting publicity or advertisements on the same wave band; and on a third side, with a code radio emitting unit, capable of

connecting with the receiver unit of the users through a link for the at least unidirectional transference of codes; said processing unit of each receiver

unit includes a control keyboard, a memory for the selected attributes and a display, and being same connected with a code radio receiver; being said

operative center capable to receive from each one of said commercial

stations of the broadcasting network, through said fixed links, information

of their broadcasts which includes said attributes and other data such as the initial time and duration of the work, and of the frequency corresponding to

said commercial station, processing said information and transforming same into

new digital codes in which said attributes for the transmitting stations are

compatible with the attributes codes generated from each single user in its own processing unit, and emitting these new digital codes through said code radio emitting device; being said processing unit of the radio receiver

with said audio outlet capable to store the attributes keyed in- by the

respective user, of comparing said attributes with the ones received by the

operative center through said link for the code transference, and in case of coincidence, to tune in said radio receiver with said audio outlet in a

sequential pre-programmed form as ordered by said codes, with said publicity emitting station, with one of the commercial stations of the

network selected according to the coincidences of said attributes and with one of the commercial radio emitting stations of the network which is the

one the user has sleeted through its keyboard before said coincidence; being able said user, through said control keyboard, to interrupt said pre¬

programmed sequence to tune in immediately any other of said commercial stations.

Detailed description of the invention through a preferred embodiment thereof:

In order to illustrate the above mentioned advantages for this instant invention, to which the persons trained in the Art may add other more, it

follows a preferred embodiment of said invention which is schematically illustrated in the enclosed diagrams, with the proviso that being this a mere

example of one of the possible embodiments of this invention, it does not correspond to assign to it any limitative condition, being the above given as

a mere example of how the invention works and how the means employed therewith are related, being the actual inventive idea represented in the

enclosed set of claims. Figure 1 shows in a block diagram the schematic working of an embodiment according to this invention, in which the radio broadcasting net

is a commercial network in the FM band, usually placed in VHF, between

88 and 108 MHz, and the receiving unit is placed (for instance) into the

motorcar of the user.

In Figure 2 it may be observed, also by means of block diagrams, the configuration of the operative center of the disposition as per Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows, also by block diagrams, the configuration of a

receiving unit in the users motorcar.

In all these figures, the same references corresponds to the same or substitute means.

Making reference to Figure 1 , this novel device =DI= includes an operative central =CO=, interconnected with a radio emitting advertisements

=EP= in the same FM band and with a radio emitting codes =EC= which, while transmitting in the same or other frequency wavelength and with any

kind of modulation, covers approximately al least the same zone covered

by the FM broadcasting network of commercial radios. This FM commercial radio broadcasting network is symbolized in Figure 1 by the notations

=FM1 =, =FM2=, , =FMm=, (having at least two emitting radio stations, but, in a densely urbanized zone, it may possibly amount to tens of emitting stations). Last, the users, each one in its corresponding motorcar, is

symbolized with the blocks =U1 =, =U2=,..., =Un=. (said users may be several thousand or more).

Each of said radio emitting stations =FM1 =, =FM2=, , =FMm=,

have a fixed link =EF= with the operative center =CO=, which may be a radio link or a point to point link (such as a telephone link, fiber optics, coaxial, etc) through which the program is transmitted to the operative

center, either in anticipation or in real time.

The operative center performs the following activities. On one side, it

programs and commands the publicity radio emitting station =EP=, and on the other hand, it processes the input information from the broadcasting

network, it retains and/or modifies the received codes in such a way said codes, modified or not, will specify which are the attributes of the emitted

programs, and according to the contents of said emitted programs will select if same carries or not any advertisements, and in the affirmative,

which is the most adequate to accompany and, seconds before the instant in which said emission stars, it sends through the codes emitting radio

=EC= the attribute codes, between which it shouid be present the frequency of the determined commercial radio originating said transmission, as well as the time

given to the duration of the particular work, and it emits the codes which will be interpreted by the receiving units of the users in which there is found a coincidence of codes, as orders to shift the tuning of the publicity radio transmission =EP=. These times should be adequate to the duration,

for instance, of a musical work, as well for the pauses in between and for the own publicity of the transmitting radio.

In some cases, for operative or commercial reasons, it is possible that the operative center will not allow the automatic tuning of the publicity emitting radio =EP=.

In Figure 2, it is illustrated the configuration of the operative center

=CO=, and it is possible to see that the links =EF= will end in a codes and time receptor =RCT= in which it is read permanently the administration of the center =AC=. Optionally, the codes for each emitting or transmitting

radios and their times may be received through a link by means of internet

=EVI=, that is in a redundant format, or in a cooperating or alternative

format, Moreover, in Internet it would also be a data base for the codification of ail the possible attributes, which wiil be general and public.

=AC=, at he same time, links with the emitting or transmitting station =EP= through a digital audio system =SAD=, wherein the commercial publicity is

stored; and with the radio transmitting the codes =EC=, eventually through a converter of the digital data to radio signals =CDS=.

As per Figure 3, which illustrates a reception unit of a determined user, for

exempla user =U1 =, the FM radio reception unit =RFM=, is capable to tune into all the FM band, and it forms a unit with its audio output =SA=, as usual, and it is tunable from the processing unit =UP=, which has, to

facilitate the operation, a users keyboards =TU= and a display =EX=.

This unit =UP= is related to a codes and time receiver =RCO= which, logically, operates at the same frequency and under the same norm of the radio transmitter or radio emitting station =EC= of the operative center, and

this could be performed through a data converter, which may be a converter of radio signal to digital data =CRD=.

In an embodiment which has not herein illustrated, =EC= as well as =RCO= are transceptors, being the link a bidireccional link, either a semiduplex

or a dupiex link, which allows, in a future, the intercativity with the users.

This bidireccionai link may be similar to the one already used by cellular telephony. It will allow the user, for instance, to request the code of what it is actually listing to, and it may indicate its preferences, etc.

Claims

Claims:

1- DEVICE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE LISTENERS OF A BROADCASTING

NETWORK THE POSSIBILITY TO TUNE IN AUTOMATICALLY TO

PROGRAMS O MUSICAL AND/OR ARTISTIC WORKS ACCORDING TO

THEIR ATTRIBUTES, comprising a broadcasting network composed by

more than one commercial stations transmitting on the same band, being each one of said users or listeners provided with a receiving unit

which comprises a radio receiver with a audio outlet tunable from a

processing unit, characterized by having an operative central unit

connected, on a first side, with each one of said commercial stations of the broadcasting network, through corresponding fixed links; on a second side, with a radio station emitting publicity or advertisements on the same wave band; and on a third side, with a code radio emitting

unit, capable of connecting with the receiver unit of the users through a link for the at least unidirectional transference of codes; said processing unit of each receiver unit includes a control keyboard, a memory for the

selected attributes and a display, and being same connected with a code radio receiver; being said operative center capable to receive

from each one of said commercial stations of the broadcasting network,

through said fixed links, information of their broadcasts which includes said attributes and other data such as the initial time and duration of the

work, and of the frequency corresponding to said commercial station, processing said information and transforming same into new digital codes

in which said attributes for the transmitting stations are compatible with

the attributes codes generated from each single user in its own processing unit, and emitting these new digital codes through said code radio emitting device; being said processing unit of the radio receiver

with said audio outlet capable to store the attributes keyed in by the

respective user, of comparing said attributes with the ones received by

the operative center through said link for the code transference, and in

case of coincidence, to tune in said radio receiver with said audio outlet

in a sequential pre-programmed form as ordered by said codes, with said publicity emitting station, with one of the commercial stations of the network selected according to the coincidences of said attributes

and with one of the commercial radio emitting stations of the network

which is the one the user has sleeted through its keyboard before said coincidence; being able said user, through said control keyboard, to interrupt said pre-programmed sequence to tune in immediately any

other of said commercial stations.

- DEVICE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE LISTENERS OF A BROADCASTING

NETWORK THE POSSIBILITY TO TUNE IN AUTOMATICALLY TO

PROGRAMS O MUSICAL AND/OR ARTISTIC WORKS ACCORDING TO

THEIR ATTRIBUTES, according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at

least unidirectional link for the codes transference is a bidirectional link, while said radio transmitter of codes of the operative center is a

first transceptor and said radio receiver of codes of the reception unit

is a second transceptor.

- DEVICE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE LISTENERS OF A BROADCASTING

NETWORK THE POSSIBILITY TO TUNE IN AUTOMATICALLY TO

PROGRAMS O MUSICAL AND/OR ARTISTIC WORKS ACCORDING TO THEIR ATTRIBUTES, according to claim 1 , characterized in that said

connection between the processing unit of each receiving unit and the

corresponding code radio reception unit includes a data converter.

- DEVICE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE LISTENERS OF A BROADCASTING

NETWORK THE POSSIBILITY TO TUNE IN AUTOMATICALLY TO

PROGRAMS O MUSICAL AND/OR ARTISTIC WORKS ACCORDING TO

THEIR ATTRIBUTES, according to claim 1 , characterized in that in the

sequential pre-programmed form it is not included the tuning in of said

publicity radio transmitter.

- DEVICE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE LISTENERS OF A BROADCASTING

NETWORK THE POSSIBILITY TO TUNE IN AUTOMATICALLY TO

PROGRAMS O MUSICAL AND/OR ARTISTIC WORKS ACCORDING TO

THEIR ATTRIBUTES, according to claim 1 , characterized in that said

operative centerahs a connection with a net of digital data, such as Internet.