US 2024/0403900 A1Published application

Radio broadcast content synchronization

OwnerJoseph Harbinventor

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Abstract

Hybrid interactive radio may be implemented utilizing an interactive radio server configured to receive now playing data (“NPD”) from a radio station on-air automation system server, the NPD identifying FM radio broadcast content now playing over the air from the radio station. In operation, the interactive radio server may acquire supplemental information from a database server in near-real time, based on the NPD. Utilizing a wireless telecom data connection, the interactive radio server may transmit the supplemental information to a hybrid interactive application running in a smart phone or a head unit of a vehicle. The hybrid interactive application generates a screen display that identifies the radio broadcast content now playing, integrates into the screen display at least a subset of the supplemental information associated with the broadcast content, and further provides a user interface to present interactions options to a user, including an option to request more information to be incorporated into the display while the content is playing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a radio head unit configured to receive radio broadcast information, the radio broadcast information comprising an audio item currently playing in an over the air radio broadcast and now playing data (“NPD”) that identifies the audio item currently being broadcast by a source;
an interactive radio application program on a user device having a user interface including a display screen, wherein the user device does not receive data over the air from the source as part of the radio broadcast, the interactive radio application program coupled to receive the NPD from the radio head unit;
the interactive application program enabling the user device to transmit a synchronization content request to a synchronization server, the synchronization content request including at least the NPD;
at least one of hardware means and software means at the source that receives the NPD from the interactive application program and provides it to the synchronization server;
wherein the synchronization server is configured to, in response to the synchronization content request from the user device,
transmit, via a wireless telecom data connection, a content file selected by an advertiser to the interactive radio application program in response to the NPD while the audio item is playing over the air;
wherein in response to receiving the content file, the interactive radio application program is configured to cause the user device to display, play, or allow the user to display or play the content file received from the synchronization server while the audio item is playing in the radio broadcast, and wherein the content file is configured to cause the user device display screen to display at least one visual indicator on the user device display screen, and the interactive radio application program is configured to send a command back to the synchronization server, responsive to a user interface selection of the visual indicator, to execute a corresponding action associated with the content file;
and
wherein the synchronization server is configured to execute the action responsive to the command.

6 more elements

A method comprising:

configuring a radio head unit to receive radio broadcast information, the radio broadcast information comprising an audio item currently broadcast over the air by a radio station and now playing data (“NPD”) that identifies the audio item currently being broadcast;
providing an interactive radio application program downloadable to and executable on a device having a user interface including a display screen wherein the user device does not receive data over the air from the radio station as part of the radio broadcast, the interactive radio application program coupled to receive the NPD from the radio head unit;
the interactive application program enabling the user device to transmit a synchronization content request to a synchronization server, synchronization content request including at least the NPD;
receiving a selection of a content file from an advertiser for delivery to a user through the interactive radio application in response to the NPD indicating that the audio item is currently being played over the air;
transmitting from the synchronization server the selected content file over a wireless telecom connection to the device;
receiving at the device the selected content file through the interactive radio application program and, in response, generating a screen display on the user interface of the device;
whereby the device displays information from the content file while the radio broadcast audio item is playing over the air, the interactive radio application operating separately from and independently of the radio broadcast playing over the air from the radio station.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/805,273Filed 14 Aug 2024
Priority: 9 Jul 2012
Published: 5 Dec 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06Q 30/02
Commerce: marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
G06F 16/60
Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor: of audio data
G06Q 30/0207
Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising: discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
G06Q 30/0251
Advertisements: targeted advertisements

Family

Application13/544,932Continuation in part · filed 9 Jul 2012
Application13/853,511Continuation in part · filed 29 Mar 2013
Application61/927,425Us provisional application · filed 14 Jan 2014
Application14/597,055Continuation · filed 14 Jan 2015
Application15/899,230Continuation · filed 19 Feb 2018
Application18/805,273Continuation
Application14/597,055Continuation in part
US 2013/0179275 A1Published application
US 2014/0046775 A1Published application
US 2015/0193516 A1Published application
US 2018/0189800 A1Published application
US 8,918,333 B2Related patent
US 9,940,632 B2Related patent
US 2024/0403900 A1This patent

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

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