Automatic assignment and tuning of radio call letters to radio presets

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising:

• selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, including at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network, to supply a signal;
• storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium, including first and second medium selection data for receiving the signal from the signal source via first and second communication media, respectively;
• obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium;
• accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source;
• outputting the signal from the signal source as received via the first communication medium in response to selection by a user;
• and
• automatically switching to the second communication medium for receipt of the signal in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

A method of identifying signal sources, comprising:

• obtaining a signal from a signal source via a communication medium that uses broadcast signals;
• accessing at least a zip code database of zip codes, latitude and longitude and a station database including broadcast station frequencies and broadcast station locations stored as longitude and latitude, from at least one data source separate from the signal source;
• determining a frequency and a receiving location of the signal based on longitude and latitude for the zip code of the receiving location, and
• calculating a most likely station broadcasting the signal based on the frequency, the receiving location of the signal, the broadcast station frequencies and the broadcast station locations by multiplying degrees latitude by 104/145 to obtain miles and obtaining degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula
• |(1.6093/(111*cos(x))*100)|.

At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method comprising:

• selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media;
• obtaining a signal from a signal source via the communication medium;
• accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source;
• and
• storing the signal information and signal selection data defining how the signal is obtained via the communication medium and medium selection data identifying the communication medium.

At least one computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, embodying a method comprising:

• obtaining a signal from a signal source via a communication medium;
• accessing at least one database, including zip codes, latitude and longitude, from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source, with broadcast station locations stored as longitude and latitude;
• determining a frequency and a receiving location of the signal based on longitude and latitude for the zip code of the receiving location;
• and
• calculating a most likely station broadcasting the signal based on the frequency, the receiving location of the signal, and the broadcast station frequencies and locations, by multiplying degrees latitude by 104/145 to obtain miles and obtaining degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula
• |(1.6093/(111*cos(x))*100)|.

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using at least one database provided by a data source, comprising:

• a network connection to at least one packet-based network providing packetized signals;
• a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source;
• a processor, coupled to the at least one database and said tuner, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database;
• and
• a storage unit to store signal information, a signal frequency of the signal and medium selection data indicating whether the signal is one of a broadcast signal received from the tuner or one of the packetized signals.

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using at least one database provided by a data source, comprising:

• a network connection to at least one packet-based network providing packetized signals;
• a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source;
• a storage unit to store signal information, a signal frequency of the signal and first and second medium selection data for the signal to be received from the signal source via said tuner and said network connection, respectively;
• and
• a processor, coupled to the at least one database, said tuner and said storage unit, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database, to automatically switch between said tuner and said network connection to obtain the signal from the second communication medium in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.

An apparatus for identifying signal sources using data provided by a data source storing a station database storing broadcast station frequencies and broadcast station locations as longitude and latitude and a database of zip codes, latitude and longitude, said apparatus comprising:

• a tuner to receive a signal from a signal source separate from the data source;
• and
• a processor, coupled to the at least one database and said tuner, to obtain signal information about the signal source from the at least one database, to determine a frequency and a receiving location based on the longitude and the latitude for the zip code of the receiving location, to convert latitude to miles by multiplying by 104/145 and to obtain degrees longitude corresponding to 100 miles at a latitude of x using the following formula
• |(1.6093/(111*cos(x))*100)|.

An apparatus for identifying signal sources, comprising:

• means for selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, to supply a signal;
• means for storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium;
• means for obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium;
• and
• means for accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source.

An apparatus for identifying signal sources, comprising:

• means for selecting a communication medium from a plurality of communication media, including at least broadcast signals received from an antenna and packetized signals received via a packet-based network, to supply a signal;
• means for storing medium selection data identifying the communication medium, including first and second medium selection data for receiving the signal from the signal source via first and second communication media, respectively;
• means for obtaining the signal from a signal source via the communication medium;
• means for accessing at least one database from a data source separate from the signal source to obtain signal information about the signal source;
• means for outputting the signal from the signal source as received via the first communication medium in response to selection by a user;
• and
• means for automatically switching to the second communication medium for receipt of the signal in response to detection of deterioration of the signal.