US 12,009,909 B2 · Content linking multicast streaming for broadcast radio

Abstract

Embodiments presented herein are directed to “content linking multicast streaming” The embodiments connect a listener to over-the-air (OTA) broadcast radio content using an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast stream of the broadcast radio content when, for example, (i) a traditional broadcast radio receiver is not available, or (ii) an OTA broadcast radio signal that carries the content is not available. For example, when recovery of the OTA broadcast radio signal by a car radio is not possible because of poor reception or because the car radio is not configured with a suitable broadcast radio tuner, the embodiments generate a link to a multicast stream of the OTA broadcast radio content (also referred to as a “multicast broadcast radio stream” or simply a “multicast stream”), and provide the link to the car radio. The car radio can then access the multicast stream of the OTA broadcast radio content using the link.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

at a cloud-based connected radio service associated with broadcast radio stations:
receiving cellular network information and broadcast radio audio stream information from multiple client radios over wireless data connections with the multiple client radios;
upon determining that the multiple client radios are all simultaneously accessing a same unicast audio stream associated with a particular broadcast radio station among the broadcast radio stations over a same cellular network based on the cellular network information and the broadcast radio audio stream information, configuring the same cellular network to convert a designated audio stream associated with the particular broadcast radio station to a multicast audio stream;
and
upon receiving a multicast address for the multicast audio stream from the same cellular network, sending the multicast address to the multiple client radios over the wireless data connections to enable the multiple client radios to access the multicast audio stream.

2 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a network interface unit configured to communicate with a network;
and
a processor coupled to the network interface unit and configured to perform operations for a connected radio service associated with broadcast radio stations, including:
receiving cellular network information and audio stream information from multiple client radios over wireless data connections with the multiple client radios;
upon determining that the multiple client radios are all simultaneously accessing a same unicast audio stream associated with a particular broadcast radio station among the broadcast radio stations over a same cellular network based on the cellular network information and the audio stream information, configuring the same cellular network to convert the same unicast audio stream to a multicast audio stream;
and
upon receiving a multicast address for the multicast audio stream from the same cellular network, sending the multicast address to the multiple client radios over the wireless data connections to enable the multiple client radios to access the multicast audio stream.

4 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a connected radio service associated with broadcast radio stations, causes the processor to perform:

receiving cellular network information and audio stream information from multiple client radios over wireless data connections with the multiple client radios;
upon determining that the multiple client radios are all simultaneously accessing a same unicast audio stream associated with a particular broadcast radio station among the broadcast radio stations over a same cellular network based on the cellular network information and the audio stream information, commanding a transcoder in the same cellular network to convert the same unicast audio stream to a multicast audio stream;
and
upon receiving a multicast address for the multicast audio stream from the transcoder, sending the multicast address to the multiple client radios over the wireless data connections to enable the multiple client radios to access the multicast audio stream.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Content linking multicast streaming for broadcast radio

Life of this patent

Content linking multicast streaming for broadcast radio

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20