Radio preset key assignment method and apparatus

A method for assigning radio preset keys, the method comprising:

• determining a currently selected channel of a radio;
• determining a pressing of a pre-defined preset key, the pre-defined preset key being within a plurality of preset keys, each preset key within the plurality of preset keys being able to cause the radio to select a respective channel assigned to that preset key;
• and
• in response to determining a pressing and holding of said pre-defined preset key for at least predetermined period of time and that the currently selected channel is not currently assigned to a preset key within the plurality of preset keys, assigning the currently selected channel to an available preset key that is different from the pre-defined preset key.

A radio preset key assignment apparatus, comprising:

• a channel selection processor, communicatively coupled to a plurality of preset keys, wherein the plurality of preset keys are arranged in a sequence, and wherein a pre-defined preset key is assigned to a preset key at one end of the sequence, the channel selection processor configured to:
• assign each preset key of the plurality of preset keys to a respective assigned channel, each preset key within the plurality of preset keys being able to cause the radio to select a respective channel assigned to that preset key, wherein the radio comprises at least a first signal processor adapted to process first channels from a first set of radio signals and a second signal processor adapted to process second channels from a second set of radio signals that are different from the first set of radio signals, and wherein the currently selected channel is within the first channels processed by the first received signal processor, and determine a currently selected channel of the radio;
• a preset key assigner, communicatively coupled to the pre-defined preset key and communicatively coupled to the channel selection processor, the preset key assigner adapted to:
• determine a pressing of the pre-defined preset key and, in response thereto, assign, in response to determining that the currently selected channel is not currently assigned to a preset key, the currently selected channel to an available preset key that is different from the pre-defined preset key wherein the available preset key is one of a highest preset key in the sequence that has no assigned channel, and a lowest preset key in the sequence that has no assigned channel;
• de-assign, in response to determining the pressing of said pre-defined preset key and that the currently selected channel is currently assigned to a preset key, the currently selected channel from the preset key to which the currently selected channel is currently assigned;
• assign, in response to determining the pressing of said pre-defined preset key and that each of the plurality of the preset keys except for the pre-defined preset key is currently assigned to a respective channel, the currently selected channel to the pre-defined preset key;
• determine that a candidate preset key exists, the candidate preset key being adjacent, in the sequence, to a preset key not assigned to a channel within the first channels;
• assign, in response to determining that the candidate preset key exists, the currently tuned channel to the candidate preset key;
• assign, in response to determining that the candidate preset key does not exist, the currently tuned channel to one of a highest preset key in the sequence that has no assigned channel and a lowest preset key in the sequence that has no assigned channel;
• and
• assign channels within the second channels to available preset keys that are not adjacent, in the sequence, to preset keys that are assigned channels in the second channels;
• respond to an elongated press of the pre-defined preset key by assigning the currently selected channel to the available preset key that is different from the pre-defined preset key;
• determine an elongated pressing of a pressed preset key other than the pre-defined preset key within the plurality of preset keys;
• assign, in response to determining the elongated pressing of the pressed preset key, the currently selected channel to the pressed preset key;
• detect a short pressing of any pressed preset key within the plurality of preset keys;
• cause, in response to detecting the short pressing, the radio to select a channel assigned to the pressed preset key;
• and
• a preset sequencer adapted to:
• cause, in response to a press of a preset sequencer button, one signal processor within the first signal processor or the second signal processor to select a next channel corresponding to a channel assigned to a next preset key in the sequence of the plurality of preset keys;
• and
• cause, in response to the press of the preset sequencer button, another signal processor within the first signal processor or the second signal processors that is different from the one signal processor to pre-select a second next channel corresponding to a second channel assigned to a next subsequent preset key after the next preset key in the sequence of the plurality of preset keys, the second next channel being selectable by the another signal processor, thereby reducing a delay associated with subsequently selecting the second next channel in the preset sequence with the preset sequencer button.