US20060179077A1 - Receiver content saving system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system are provided in which a user is enabled to create a preferred playlist of the user's favorite songs or types of video presentations. An input device allows the user to add or delete items or key words of a song title or video presentation to or from the favorites list. In an exemplary video application, a user is enabled to indicate by using a digital video recorder, a specific type of broadcast such as “Sports” or “Basketball”. In an exemplary radio application, the user is enabled to list songs, or key words of the title if the user is unsure of the exact title, on the preferred playlist. Video signals or songs playing on several channels or stations are monitored and when a listed video type or song having the input key words from the user's favorites list begins to play on a station, the song and the full song title which is acquired from the received broadcast data, are automatically saved to memory for subsequent retrieval and playing by the user. In one example, the user is also enabled to add video types or songs to the favorites list by pressing a single “ADD” button at any time while a type of video or a favorite song is currently being played. The song then being played together with the title of the song or video presentation are then saved to memory for subsequent retrieval and playing.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Subject matter disclosed and not claimed herein is disclosed and claimed in related co-pending application, Attorney Docket AUS920040652US1, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and included herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to information processing systems and more particularly to a system and methodology for processing received digital audio and/or video signals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• In the rapidly changing world of telecommunications and electronics in general, the concepts of radio that exist today are not much different from those in existence in the early part of the twentieth century. Despite the advent of physical media which enable a user to carry the music to which the user wishes to listen, the concept of radio still exists in a format offering users very few user options. Although a user may choose a station or several stations which may be preferred by the user, there are no current options which enable users to listen to preferred music selections, for example, at the user's convenience rather than on the timetables provided by the local broadcasters.
• Moreover, it is oftentimes frustrating for a user to switch among radio stations in an effort to find a music selection preferred by the user. Many times, when a user finally does find a music selection or song that the user prefers, the song may be ending and the user may have to initiate the station scanning process all over again. This is not only frustrating to the user but also distracting and even dangerous when the user is operating a motor vehicle at the same time.
• Thus, there is a need for an improved digital processing system which provides a greater degree of control by users of radio and other broadcast signal content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A method and system are provided in which a user is enabled to create a preferred playlist of the user's favorite songs or types of video presentations. An input device allows the user to add or delete items or key words of a song title or video presentation to or from the favorites list. In an exemplary video application, a user is enabled to indicate by using a digital video recorder, a specific type of broadcast such as “Sports” or “Basketball”. In an exemplary radio application, the user is enabled to list songs, or key words of the title if the user is unsure of the exact title, on the preferred playlist. Video signals or songs playing on several channels or stations are monitored and when a listed video type or song having the input key words from the user's favorites list begins to play on a station, the song and the full song title which is acquired from the received broadcast data, are automatically saved to memory for subsequent retrieval and playing by the user. In one example, the user is also enabled to add video types or songs to the favorites list by pressing a single “ADD” button at any time while a type of video or a favorite song is currently being played. The song then being played together with the title of the song or video presentation are then saved to memory for subsequent retrieval and playing. The user is also enabled to delete video types and/or songs from the favorites list by entering an edit mode to present the favorites list on a display associated with the television or radio, highlighting or otherwise indicating a video type or song which the user wishes to delete and pressing a delete button. The ADD and DELETE functions may also be implemented through the use of an embedded voice processing system in which case the user need only speak an appropriate command such as “Add”, “Delete” or “Change Station”.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a receiving device implemented in accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a compare function implemented in accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of a display unit used in connection with the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is an illustration of another embodiment of a display unit which may be used in connection with the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an exemplary operational sequence in one implementation of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary operational sequence for an “DELETE” function as may be used with the present invention; and
• FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary operational sequence for an “ADD” function as may be used with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Relatively recent developments in Radio Data System (RDS) and Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) technologies have resulted in widespread implementation of improved digital processing systems for radio transmission systems. With RDS, identification information concerning a song currently being played on a radio for example, is available from the broadcast information for other uses. For example, the name or title of the song, the artist, the album and other related information may be decoded from a received radio transmission and made available for additional processing. Although the present disclosure is made with regard to an RDS radio system, it is understood that the principles contained herein also have application to video signal processing methodologies, and may be used in connection with digital video receivers and recorders as well, in processing various types and titles of digital video signal streams.
• It is noted that circuits and devices which are shown in block form in the drawings are generally known to those skilled in the art, and are not specified to any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention.
• With reference toFIG. 1, the various methods discussed herein may be implemented within areceiving device100 which illustrates only one of many possible exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Thereceiving device100 includes areceiver unit101 which is arranged to receive broadcast signals through anantenna102. Theradio receiver unit101 receives signals from theantenna102 and converts those signals into a plurality ofdigital data streams105 of information S1-S(n). Received signals may include, for example, amplitude modulated (AM), frequency modulated (FM) and/or citizen's band (CB) signals, inter alia. Analog signals are converted into digital streams through analog-to-digital converters (not shown) within theradio receiver unit101. As hereinafter discussed in greater detail, a digital data stream is generated for each station that has been tuned-in or selected by a user of thereceiver unit101. If no stations have been pre-selected by a user, thereceiver101 provides data streams for each of a predetermined number of the strongest stations received by thereceiver101. In the present example, where no stations have been pre-selected by a user, theradio receiver101 will digitize and provide data streams for the five strongest stations being received. It is understood that the exact number of default stations may be any number depending upon the application and the number of stations being received in the geographical area.
• The station digitized data streams are applied to processingcircuitry103 which includes one ormore CPUs107, amemory unit109,storage111, anetwork interface113 andvoice processing circuitry115. Thememory unit109 is used for selectively storing favorite songs and listings. Thevoice processing circuitry115 enables synthesized voiced announcements to be made and also enables direct user input through voiced commands. Voiced inputs as well as push-button inputs and software menu-enabled user inputs are processed through a user input orinterface unit117. All of the functional blocks within theprocessing circuitry103 are connected together by a common system bus. The system is designed to enable a user, inter alia, to input the name or title of a favorite song using a voiced input to thevoice processing module115. The voiced-in title will then be inserted into a favorites listing such that the system will subsequently search for the input title from song header information transmitted from the tuned radio stations. The user may also input song titles, or key words of a song title, for the system to use in searching incoming data streams to determine when a favorite song or title is being played on one of the radio stations.
• Outputs from theprocessing circuitry103 are provided to adisplay module119, and also as played station audio output to aspeaker system121 of an audio player. Thedisplay device119 may comprise, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) which is viewable by a user in a motor vehicle. Outputs from the processing circuitry are also provided to anaudio alert system123, which, in response to signals provided from theprocessing circuitry103, is enabled to alert a user to various conditions by sounding alarms and/or synthesized voice announcements. Other alarms including visual alarms (i.e. flashing or blinking text) are also enabled to effect and modify visual presentations or screens on thedisplay module119.
• As shown inFIG. 2, in one example, audio data streams S1-S(n) are applied to a First-In First-Out (FIFO) memory and stationselection control unit201. The FIFO memory is designed to capture and shift data streams of a length, i.e. “T”, which corresponds to the length of a typical audio stream for most popular songs. When a song is queued for playing by a tuned station, header information containing the song title and other related information is detected203 and the header information is switched by aswitching device205 to aheader information buffer207 where it is accessed and compared in a look-up and comparecircuit209 to a favorites list containing a listing of a user's favorite songs and key words. When a match is detected between the favorites list of key words or titles and the song that is currently being played on one of the monitored stations, the song and the full song title are saved and a message may be displayed stating that the detected song is currently being recorded from the indicated station. Alert signals may also be sent to alert a user that one of the user's favorite songs is currently being played on a given station. Subsequently, when a user switches from another station in order to hear a favorite song, the beginning of the song is referenced to begin playing from the appropriate FIFO memory unit. Each of the predetermined tuned radio stations provides a digital data stream and each data stream is applied to a different channel in a FIFO memory andselection control unit201. As shown, a user may select which station is to be played and the data stream from the selected station is output to anaudio player202.
• InFIG. 3, there is shown adisplay screen arrangement301 which is positioned to be viewable by a user (i.e. driver or passenger) within a motor vehicle for example. As shown, thedisplay screen arrangement301 includes adisplay area303 to display the station to which the radio receiver is tuned at any given time. Anothersection304 of the display area includes a “favorite song”area305 which indicates when one or more of a user's favorite songs are playing on one of the tunedstations307. When more than one of the user's favorite songs are playing at the same time, all songs that are currently playing will be indicated308 along with therespective stations310. Songs that have been previously recorded or saved to memory may also be selected and played by a user and thedisplay area304 will identify which song is currently being played.
• In anotherdisplay area section312, there is shown aFavorites List311 which displays an assignedreference number313 for each favorite song of the user together with thecorresponding song title315 andsinger317. There is also a column to indicate whether or not a particular song on the favorites list has already been recorded320. Those songs that have been recorded may be selected, highlighted and played from memory by the user by hitting aPlay button323. Songs on the favorites list which have been identified and input to the favorites list by the user (for example by a menu-driven user input or voiced input) cannot be played from memory until the receiver has recorded the playing of that song from a tuned station. However, a user may have an unrecorded favorite played by actuating theAdd button319 when a song which the user wished to record is currently being played on the radio station as is hereinafter explained in connection withFIG. 6.
• In anothersection322, a user is enabled to select songs from theFavorites List311, e.g. Song B, for playing and/or deletion. A user is enabled to move from song to song on theFavorites List311 by manipulating theSelect Button321 which will highlight318 the particular song selection on the display screen. The user is then enabled to either play a selected recorded song by actuating thePlay Button323 or delete the selected recorded song by actuating aDelete Button325. The various buttons are shown in differing shapes in order to facilitate the selection of the correct button by a user driving a motor vehicle without requiring the user to look at the button itself. In another exemplary implementation, the various buttons are positioned on the side of the steering wheel for easy access.
• The “Add Current Song” feature enables a user, for example a driver of a motor vehicle, to hit only one button, i.e. the “Add Current Song” (ADD)Button319, in order to have a song currently being received by thereceiver101 on any of the tuned stations, to be marked and entered on the “Favorites List”311 and optionally recorded from theFIFO memory201 to non-volatile (NV) memory and/or storage for later retrieval and playing at the user's convenience. When a user hears a song on the station currently being listened to and the user wishes to record the current song, all the user has to do is hit theADD button319. If a favorite song is being played on another station, then an alert signal, i.e. blinking orsteady light309 will be activated to show that a favorite305 is playing and on whichstation307. An audio alert signal may also be concurrently sounded in order to get the user's attention. The user may then manually switch to the indicated station at which time the alert signals will be turned off.Light309 and/orindicator307 may also serve a dual function as a push button switch in order to facilitate switching stations and insure that the correct station is switched to without requiring the user to manually search for the correct station as displayed307. The unit may also be programmed to automatically switch stations when a favorite is playing on another station. The processing may also include a check on the currently playing song before switching so that the player will not switch to a new station if a favorite is already playing on the current station. The “ADD”, “DELETE” and other functions may also be implemented through the use of an embedded voice processing system in which case the user need only speak an appropriate command such as, but not limited to, “Add”, or “Delete” or “Change Station”.
• FIG. 4 shows a simplified alternate layout of adisplay arrangement400 in which typical radioselection push buttons401,403,405,407 and409 are arranged to correspond to tuned radio stations A, B, C, D and E which are shown ondisplay area412. InFIG. 4, each radio station has a corresponding alertlight indicator402,404,406,408 and410 which is designed to light up when a favorite song is playing on the corresponding station. The function of the alert light indicators402-410 are the same asalert indicator309 inFIG. 3.FIG. 4 also shows a simplified operational panel section for adding419, selecting421 and deleting423 songs from a displayedfavorites playlist411.
• As shown in the flow chart ofFIG. 5, in a typical operation when the system is initiated, amemory check501 is first made in order to insure that there is sufficient memory available to store a favorite song if one is played while a user is listening to the radio input audio player. This memory check precludes the possibility that a user will be alerted that a favorite song is being played but there is not sufficient memory to record it. Next, if sufficient memory is available503, then the data streams from the tuned stations are monitored and compared511 with the favorites list to look for a “match”. If there is notsufficient memory503 to store a favorite song if a favorite song happens to be detected, then an appropriate message is displayed and/or announced via synthesizedvoice message505, and anoption507 is given to the user to execute adelete function509 to delete a selected favorite and make memory space available for a new favorite song before beginning to monitor the tunedstations511. In the illustrated example, the monitoring of tuned stations does not occur if there is not sufficient memory available to save.
• Next, when a match occurs513 between a song or key words on the favorites list and a song playing on one of the tuned radio stations, the currently playing status is announced515 to a user by an alert signal. If the user chooses to have the favorite song played517 on the audio player, then the radio channel is switched519 to the station which is playing the favorite song and the favorite song is played. When the favorite song has completed playing521, the processing continues from thememory check block501.
• In another example, the user is enabled to actuate a “record only” button (not shown) so that when the playing of a favorite song is detected on another station, the system records the favorite song from the other station “in the background” but does not change the station that is currently being listened to by the user. Further enhancements include the ability to set degrees of preferences for favorite songs such that one song or a group of preferred songs will be displayed in one color and/or more prominently, while other less preferred songs would be displayed less prominently and/or in a different color. In this example, when preferred songs are played on another station, the system automatically switches stations but when less preferred songs are detected as being played, only a visual and/or audio indication or alert is given and the user has the option to manually switch to the new station at that time.
• FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary operational sequence which occurs during a Delete function. As shown, when a delete function is selected601 by a user pushing thedelete button325, the selected favorite song on the play list is highlighted, for example, by blinkingtext603 to identify the song to be deleted. If the highlighted song is the one intended to be deleted by the user, the user will confirm605 the delete function by, for example, hitting the delete button325 a second time. If the wrong song is highlighted for deletion, the user may select anotherfunction607. For example, the user may hit theselect button321 to move up or down on the favorites list and thatoperation609 will cancel the pending but unconfirmed deletion operation. The user may also choose theAdd319 or Play323 buttons to effect a cancellation of the pending but unconfirmed delete function. If after hitting the Delete button one time, no further action is taken for a predetermined period oftime615, the Delete function will also be canceled and the process will end. If the Delete function is confirmed by the user by hitting the Delete button, for example, for a second time, then the highlighted song will be deleted611 and the memory that was taken by the deleted song will again be made available613.
• FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary operational sequence which occurs during an ADD function. As shown, when an ADD function is selected701 by a user pushing the add button419 (FIG. 4), the song content for the currently playing song is saved703 and the official song title is copied705 from the RDS song header information. The official song title is then saved in theFavorites List707 and when the song content has been saved709, the Favorites List is updated to show that the newly saved song has been “Recorded”711 as shown incolumn320 ofFIG. 3.
• The processing herein disclosed may be implemented in many forms and combinations of hardware and software. The following illustrates an exemplary high level source code listing which may be used, for example, to alert a driver when a favorite song is playing.

  	blnFavoriteSongPlaying=false
  	while (true) {

  	1. Get RDS info for currently playing radio station.
  	2. Look up song title in favorite songs list. If

  present, blnFavoriteSongPlaying=true,

  else blnFavoriteSongPlaying=false.

  3. For each preset station in preset stations list

  3a. Get RDS info for currently playing song. (The

  	car would have a separate tuner for this purpose so as not
  	to interfere with the currently playing song).

  	3b. Look up song title in favorite songs list.
  	3c. If title exists in favorite songs list

  3c1. If (blnFavoriteSongPlaying)

  3c1a. Update timestamp for entry in

  favorite songs list with current time.

  3c2. Else

  3c2a. Retrieve timestamp for entry in

  favorite songs list.

  3c2b. If (timestamp!=null&&(current

  time-timestamp) >30 seconds)

  3c2b1. Clear timestamp for entry

  in favorite songs list.

  3c2b2. Turn off display for

  	flashing light above preset station, if it was currently
  	on.

  3c2c. Else

  3c2c1. Display flashing light

  	above preset station that has been currently cycled to in
  	order to alert the driver that a favorite song is playing
  	on a different station.
  	}

• In an exemplary video application, a user in a home environment is enabled to indicate by using a digital video recorder and menu driven inputs, a specific type of broadcast such as “Sports” or “Basketball”, and a processing methodology as described above would alert the user when a preferred type of video broadcast is being played on a channel other than the channel currently being watched by the user. Similar processing methodologies including the recording function, are applied to enable the user to add, switch to or record a channel where a preferred type of video presentation is being presented.
• The method and apparatus of the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment as disclosed herein. The disclosed methodology may be implemented in a wide range of sequences, menus and screen designs to accomplish the desired results as herein illustrated. Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art, and even included or integrated into a processor or CPU or other larger system integrated circuit or chip. The disclosed methodology may also be implemented solely or partially in program code stored on a CD, disk or diskette (portable or fixed), or other memory device, from which it may be loaded into memory and executed to achieve the beneficial results as described herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. A method for processing a plurality of digital data streams, said digital data streams being derived from transmissions received from a like plurality of radio stations wherein portions of said digital data streams comprise songs which are played by said radio stations, said method comprising:

receiving said digital data streams by a processing circuit; and

enabling a user to save a currently playing song and information related to said song to a playlist by engaging a single actuating device while said favorite song is being played, said information related to said song being included in said received digital data streams.

2. The method as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said song-related information includes a song title of said currently playing song.

3. The method as set forth inclaim 1 and further including displaying said playlist on a display device to said user.

4. The method as set forth inclaim 1 and further including providing a perceptible indicium to said user when said currently playing song is being saved.

5. A method for processing a plurality of digital data streams, said digital data streams being derived from transmissions received from a like plurality of radio stations, said method comprising:

receiving said digital data streams by a processing circuit;

determining when one or more of said digital data streams contains a predetermined data sequence, said predetermined data sequence being representative of the playing of a particular song on one of said radio stations; and

enabling a saving of said particular song in memory.

6. The method as set forth inclaim 5 wherein said predetermined data sequence is representative of at least a key word in a title of said particular song.

7. The method as set forth inclaim 6 wherein said predetermined data sequence is contained within a header segment of a song file.

8. The method as set forth inclaim 5 wherein at least one perceptible indicium is provided when said saving is occurring.

9. The method as set forth inclaim 8 wherein said at least one perceptible indicium is an audibly perceptible indicium.

10. The method as set forth inclaim 8 wherein said at least one perceptible indicium includes a visually perceptible indicium.

11. The method as set forth inclaim 5 and further including producing an indication of a particular one of said radio stations from which said predetermined song is being received.

12. The method as set forth inclaim 5 and further including enabling a switching from a currently listened to radio station to said particular one of said radio stations from which said predetermined song is being received.

13. The method as set forth inclaim 5 and further including:

enabling a user to create a playlist of said user's favorite songs, said playlist including song titles or key words within a song title; and

displaying said playlist on a display device.

14. The method as set forth inclaim 13 and further including:

enabling a user to add a currently playing song to said playlist by engaging a single actuating device while said favorite song is being played.

15. A storage medium, said storage medium being selectively coupled to processing circuitry, said storage medium containing indicia readable by said processing circuitry for providing program signals to control processing a plurality of digital data streams, said digital data streams being derived from transmissions received from a like plurality of radio stations, said program signals being effective for:

receiving said digital data streams by a processing circuit;

determining when one or more of said digital data streams contains a predetermined data sequence, said predetermined data sequence being representative of the playing of a particular song on one of said radio stations; and

enabling a saving of said particular song in memory.

16. The medium as set forth inclaim 15 wherein said predetermined data sequence is representative of at least a key word in a title of said particular song.

17. The medium as set forth inclaim 16 wherein said predetermined data sequence is contained within a header segment of a song file.

18. The medium as set forth inclaim 15 wherein said program signals are further operable for:

enabling a user to create a playlist of said user's favorite songs, said playlist including song titles or key words within a song title; and

displaying said playlist on a display device.

19. The medium as set forth inclaim 18 wherein said program signals are further operable for:

enabling a user to add a currently playing favorite song to said playlist by engaging a single actuating device while said favorite song is being played.

20. The medium as set forth inclaim 19 wherein said program signals are further operable for enabling said user to delete a selected favorite song from said playlist.

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