Multiple radio signal processing and storing method and apparatus

An enhanced radio receiving system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of radio receivers capable of receiving simultaneous unrelated radio inputs from a plurality of radio stations;
• (b) a memory device for storing a portion of digital radio data received by each of the plurality of radio receivers in a buffer corresponding to each of the plurality of radio receivers for later output by selection of a user, wherein the portion stored in the corresponding buffer is sufficient to later output a complete content of the digital radio data over a past period during which each of the plurality of radio receivers received the content, and wherein the received and stored content, for at least two radio stations, each comprises a stream of content carrying continuous radio content from each of the radio stations over a period of time including in the radio content multiple radio programs and the corresponding buffer that is implemented local on a player device for transient use by a user;
• (c) a digital-to-analog converter for converting the stored digital radio data to an analog audio signal;
• (d) an audio output device for outputting the analog audio signal;
• (e) a controller for controlling the storing of the digital radio data and the converting of the digital radio data to the analog audio signal;
• and
• (f) a user input device for allowing a user to control the controller, in which the system is additionally configured to allow the radio input received by each of the plurality of radio receivers to be stored into the corresponding buffer at the same time as previously stored digital radio data is converted from the corresponding buffer in which it was stored to an analog audio signal and output by the audio output device, and to automatically switch from a current user-selected radio station for listening by the user to another radio station broadcasting content of interest, which further permits the user to rewind to listen to an earlier buffered radio program in the corresponding buffer of the other radio station.

The method of providing previously recorded radio output while recording new radio content comprising:

• (a) receiving simultaneous radio input data from a plurality of unrelated radio stations from at least one radio source;
• (b) storing a portion of each of the received radio data in a digital format into a buffer corresponding to each receiving in a memory device for later output by selection of a user, wherein the portion stored in the corresponding buffer is sufficient to later output a complete content of the digital radio data over a past period during which each of the plurality of radio receivers received the content and wherein the received and stored content, for at least two radio stations, each comprises a stream of content carrying continuous radio content from each of the radio stations over a period of time including in the radio content multiple radio programs and the corresponding buffer that is implemented locally on a player device for transient use by a user;
• (c) converting the stored digital radio data to an analog audio signal;
• (d) outputting the analog audio signal in an audio format;
• (e) allowing a user to control the storing and the converting;
• (f) allowing each of the radio input received to be stored in the corresponding buffer at the same time as previously stored digital radio data in the corresponding buffer is converted from the corresponding buffer in which it was stored to an analog audio signal and output in the audio format;
• and
• (g) automatically switching from a current user-selected radio station for listening by the user to another radio station broadcasting content of interest, which further permits the user to rewind to listen to an earlier buffered radio program in the corresponding buffer of the other radio station.

A combined radio reception and voice communication system comprising:

• (a) a radio receiver capable of receiving a radio input from a radio station;
• (b) a memory device capable of storing a portion of all digital radio data received by the radio receiver, wherein the portions stored in a buffer corresponding to the radio receiver are sufficient to later output a plurality of complete content of the digital radio data over a past period during which the radio receiver received the content;
• (c) a digital-to-analog converter for converting the stored digital radio data to an analog audio signal;
• (d) a communication device for receiving audio communications;
• and
• (e) an audio output device for outputting the analog audio signal from the digital-to-analog converter and the received audio communications by automatically skipping over disliked content;
• in which the corresponding buffer is additionally configured to store the received radio input at the same time the audio output device is outputting the received audio communications, and in which the digital-to-analog converter is additionally configured to convert from the corresponding buffer in which it was stored previously stored digital radio data upon completion of the audio communications.