Method of configuring FM radio transmitters in portable devices

A method for configuring a user-portable device to use FM transmission circuitry, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first set of valid geo-specific FM transmission parameters for the current geographical location of the user-portable device based on received global positioning satellite (GPS) data for the current geographical location of the user-portable device;
• providing signalling to configure an FM transmission circuitry to use the valid first set of geo-specific FM transmission parameters;
• determining a boundary between the current geographical location and a geographical location adjacent the current geographical location;
• obtaining a second set of valid geo-specific FM transmission parameters for the geographical location adjacent the current geographical location while the user-portable device is in the current geographical location;
• tracking motion of the user-portable device while the user-portable device is in the current geographical location;
• and
• automatically providing signalling in response to the tracking the motion of the user-portable device, to configure the FM transmission circuitry to use the valid second set of geo-specific FM transmission parameters when the user-portable device is in, or crosses the boundary to, the adjacent geographical location.

A computer program recorded on a computer readable non-transitory medium, the computer program comprising computer code configured to operate a user-portable device, the user-portable device comprising FM transmission circuitry, and wherein the computer program comprises:

• code for obtaining a first set of valid geo-specific FM transmission parameters for the current geographical location of the user-portable device based on received global positioning satellite (GPS) data for the current geographical location of the user-portable device;
• code for providing signalling to configure an FM transmission circuitry to use the valid first set of geo-specific FM transmission parameters;
• code for determining a boundary between the current geographical location and a geographical location adjacent the current geographical location;
• code for obtaining a second set of valid geo-specific FM transmission parameters for the geographical location adjacent the current geographical location while the user-portable device is in the current geographical location;
• code for tracking motion of the user-portable device while the user-portable device is in the current geographical location;
• and
• code for automatically providing signalling in response to the tracking the motion of the user-portable device, to configure the FM transmission circuitry to use the valid second set of geo-specific FM transmission parameters when the user-portable device is in, or crosses the boundary to, the adjacent geographical location.

A processor for a device, the device comprising FM transmission circuitry, wherein the processor is configured to:

• obtain a first set of valid geo-specific FM transmission parameters for the current geographical location of the device based on received wireless local area network (WLAN)-derived location data for the current geographical location of the device;
• provide signalling to configure an FM transmission circuitry to use the valid first set of geo-specific FM transmission parameters;
• determine a boundary between the current geographical location and a geographical location adjacent the current geographical location;
• obtain a second set of valid geo-specific FM transmission parameters for the geographical location adjacent the current geographical location while the user-portable device is in the current geographical location;
• track motion of the user-portable device while the user-portable device is in the current geographical location;
• and
• automatically provide signalling in response to the tracking the motion of the user-portable device, to configure the FM transmission circuitry to use the valid second set of geo-specific FM transmission parameters when the user-portable device is in, or crosses the boundary to, the adjacent geographical location.