Method and apparatus for customized selection of audio channels
AssigneeXM Satellite Radio, Inc.
InventorsMark Rindsberg, Paul Marko, Jeffrey Malinsky
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Abstract
A method (700) of customizing the selection of channels among a plurality of channels includes the steps of receiving (702) a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels and decoding (704) a selected channel among the plurality of channels. The method further comprises the steps of selectively tagging (706) a desired type of content on the selected channel, analyzing (708) a broadcast information channel and/or an Electronic Program Guide for an indication of content of the desired type among the plurality of channels, and alerting (710) a user of a desired channel containing the indication.
Claims21
A method of customizing the selection of channels among a plurality channels, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels, wherein the digitally encoded bit stream contains descriptors representative of the content on at least a portion of the plurality of channels;
- decoding a selected channel among the plurality of channels;
- selectively tagging a desired type of content associated with descriptors on the selected channel;
- analyzing a broadcast information channel or an Electronic Program Guide for an indication of content of the desired type among the plurality of channels;
- and
- alerting a user of a desired channel containing the indication.
A method of customized intelligent selection of audio channels among a plurality of channels broadcast over the air, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of channels contains content and associated index information;
- selectively decoding at least a portion of the plurality of channels;
- selectively storing descriptors in a memory corresponding to the portion of the plurality channels containing desired content;
- comparing the selectively stored descriptors with the associated index information;
- alerting a user of potential desired content if at least a portion of the selectively stored descriptors matches the associated index information.
A device for receiving and possibly storing for later playback, digital audio radio signals and intelligently selecting channels containing user desired content, comprises:
- a receiver for receiving a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air having a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of channels contains content and associated channel information;
- a decoder for selectively decoding at least a portion of the plurality of channels and the associated channel information;
- a user input for enabling a user to selectively store descriptors associated with user desired content on at least one of the plurality of channels into a memory;
- and
- a processor programmed to compare the selectively stored descriptors with the associated channel information and further programmed to alert a user of user desired content if at least a portion of the selectively stored descriptors matches the associated channel information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.