Automated selection of audio broadcast signal source based on user preference criterion

A method of receiving audio broadcasts, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a first audio broadcast signal from a first source:
• (b) monitoring a second source concurrently with receiving the audio broadcast signal from the first source to locate a second audio broadcast signal matching a user preference criterion, wherein monitoring the second source includes receiving program information in the second audio broadcast signal;
• and
• (c) comparing the program information with the user preference criterion, wherein the program information identifies a song title, and wherein the user preference criterion identifies at least one favorite song, wherein comparing the program information with the user preference criterion includes comparing the song title from the second audio broadcast signal with the favorite song identified by the user preference criterion.

A method of receiving audio broadcasts, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a first audio broadcast signal from a first source;
• (b) monitoring a second source concurrently with receiving the audio broadcast signal from the first source to locate a second audio broadcast signal matching a user preference criterion, wherein monitoring the second source includes scanning through a plurality of sources to locate audio broadcast signals that match the user preference criterion;
• and
• (c) calculating a relevancy score for at least a subset of sources from the plurality of sources based upon the relevancy of each source in the subset of sources to the user preference criterion.

A method of receiving audio broadcasts, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a first audio broadcast signal from a first source, including receiving program information in the first audio broadcast signal that identifies a current program;
• (b) monitoring program information from a plurality of sources concurrently with receiving the audio broadcast signal from the first source to locate an alternate source for the current program;
• (c) indicating that an alternate source for the current program is available with a stronger signal than the first source;
• and
• (d) switching from the first source to the alternate source with the stronger signal in response to user input.

A method of receiving audio broadcasts, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving user input defining a user preference criterion that identifies user preferences for audio broadcast programming;
• (b) monitoring program information from a plurality of sources to locate at least one source matching the user preference criterion wherein the user preference criterion identifies at least one of a favorite program, a favorite song and a favorite artist, and wherein monitoring the program information includes comparing the program information with the user preference criterion by comparing at least one of the program title, the song title and the artist from the second audio broadcast signal with at least one of the favorite program, the favorite song and the favorite artist identified by the user preference criterion;
• and
• (c) indicating during reception of an audio broadcast signal from a first source whether the first source matches the user preference criterion.

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a tuner configured to receive a first audio broadcast signal from a first source;
• and
• (b) a program configured to monitor a second source concurrently with reception of the audio broadcast signal from the first source to locate a second audio broadcast signal matching a user preference criterion, wherein the program is configured to monitor the second source by receiving program information in the second audio broadcast signal, and to compare the program information with the user preference criterion;
• wherein the program identification identifies at least one of a program title, a song title and an artist, and wherein the user preference criterion identifies at least one of a favorite program, a favorite song and a favorite artist, and wherein the program is configured to compare the program information with the user preference criterion by comparing at least one of the program title, the song title and the artist from the second audio broadcast signal with at least one of the favorite program, the favorite song and the favorite artist identified by the user preference criterion.