US 11,870,547 B2 · Method and apparatus for enhanced playback of content while switching among channels of broadcast or streamed content while being received (Tune Start)

Abstract

A system and method provide an enhanced listening experience for a user of a radio receiver or other device that receives broadcast or streamed content having a plurality of program channels. The method and system buffer designated channels at the receiver and, when switching among channels, play back the buffered designated channels during reception from a selected point therein depending on the channel or other criteria. When switching to a different channel during reception, a user is able to hear content in a buffered program channel with music from the start of a song, for example, whereas content in a channel with news, talk radio, or live sports is played back from live reception, even though the content segments are transmitted at different start times relative to their selected times for playback following a channel change. User controls allow navigation among buffered designated channels during reception.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system for enhanced playback of content, the system comprising:

a broadcast device;
and
a computing device configured to:
receive, from the broadcast device, a plurality of program channels from at least one content stream;
designate one or more of the plurality of program channels as designated channels;
store at least a currently received program and one or more older programs associated with each of the designated channels in a buffer;
and
in response to receiving a command to initiate a scan function, scanning at least a subset of the plurality of program channels by:
playing a portion of an oldest program in each of the designated channels from a playback point that corresponds to a start of the oldest program;
and
successively playing a portion of a next oldest program in each of the designated channels until at least a portion of the currently received program in each of the designated channels is played.

8 more elements

A system for enhanced playback of content, the system comprising:

a broadcast device;
and
a computing device configured to:
receive, from a broadcast device, a plurality of program channels from at least one content stream;
designate one or more of the plurality of program channels as designated channels;
store at least an oldest program and a next oldest program, associated with each of the designated channels, in a buffer;
receive a user input to initiate a scan function;
and
in response to the user input, scanning at least a subset of the designated channels by successively playing a selected amount of content for each designated channel in the subset,
wherein the successively playing the selected amount of the content includes playing a portion of an oldest program in each of the designated channels and playing a portion of a next oldest program in each of the designated channels until at least a portion of a newest buffered program in each of the designated channels is played.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/717,190Filed 11 Apr 2022 · continuation

Priority

14 Feb 2011

Published

US 2023/0070871 A19 Mar 2023

Granted

9 Jan 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

H04H 20/55
Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers: for traffic information
H04H 20/26
Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast: arrangements for switching distribution systems
H04H 20/74
Wireless systems: of satellite networks
H04H 60/27
Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems:…

Family

Application61/442,468Us provisional application · filed 14 Feb 2011

PCT/US2012/025091Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Feb 2012

Application14/868,659Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Sep 2015

US 9,154,248 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Oct 2015

Application16/397,602Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Apr 2019

US 10,277,342 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Apr 2019

US 2023/0070871 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Mar 2023

US 11,303,370 B2Parent of this continuation

Application13/982,949Parent of this continuation

US 2013/0309986 A1Published application

US 2016/0094300 A1Published application

US 2020/0059308 A1Published application

US 11,870,547 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method and apparatus for enhanced playback of content while switching among channels of broadcast or streamed content while being received (Tune Start)

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for enhanced playback of content while switching among channels of broadcast or streamed content while being received (Tune Start)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14