Abstract: A system is disclosed for inserting stored advertising content into broadcast content being played over an audio system. The system may have a smartphone in wireless communication with the audio system which runs an application relating to a specific broadcast station that is broadcasting the broadcast content. The audio system may have a processing system for detecting breaks in program content that forms part of the broadcast content. The audio system may further be configured to obtain predetermined advertisements and to play back the predetermined advertisements over the audio system during each break in the program content, in place of advertisements contained in the broadcast content.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling access to premium content, obtained via a smartphone, to be controlled by using a vehicle as a “key” to unlock the premium content. In one implementation the user of the vehicle uses her/his smartphone to establish a wireless link with the vehicle's radio system. The vehicle's radio system supplies a unique radio identifier to the smartphone, which the smartphone forwards to a remote authorization server. The authorization server determines from an internal database if the radio identifier is permitted access to any premium content. If so the authorization server forwards a code or command to the smartphone that the smartphone uses when accessing a web-based or cloud-based content provider, which enables the user to receive premium content form the content provider.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing supplemental information to a user receiving a broadcast of audio information. A radio system is used for wirelessly receiving broadcast content. The broadcast content may be provided with a signal component indicating that supplemental information is available for the broadcast content. A smartphone is in communication with the radio system. The radio system and the smartphone communicate to enable supplemental information from the smartphone to be presented to the user, upon a user selection, while the radio system buffers the broadcast content for playback after the supplemental information has concluded.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which involves using an identifier which may be stored in an electronic component of a vehicle. A short range, wireless protocol connectivity system of the vehicle may establish a wireless link with a personal electronic device (PED) of a user when the user enters the vehicle with the PED powered on. The link may be used to automatically transmit the identifier to the PED. The PED then transmits the identifier to a remote authorization source which checks if the identifier is valid and, if so, sends an unlock code back to the PED. The PED uses the unlock code to unlock an application on the PED which enables access to the remote content source.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing advertising (AD) content to a radio system of a vehicle. A smartphone may have a stored application thereon related to a specific broadcast station. A utility application may be associated with the radio system (RS) and used to inform the smartphone when the RS is tuned to the specific broadcast station. The RS may have a processor for detecting a start maker and a stop marker in a broadcast signal being received from the specific broadcast station, and to inform the smartphone when the start marker is detected. The start marker and the stop marker define a time interval where at least one advertisement is present in the broadcast signal. The smartphone may provide AD content to the RS which is inserted for playback during the time interval.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for inserting selected content into a signal being broadcast by a broadcast station, and being received by a vehicle radio system. A vehicle radio system may be incorporated which has a processing system. A personal electronic device (PED) able to be carried by a user is also used. The PED may supply selected content to the processing system. The processing system may detect a first signal in the received broadcast signal that indicates a commercial break period of predetermined duration is to begin, and a second signal in the received broadcast signal that indicates that the commercial break period is to end. The processing system may obtain the selected content from the PED and insert the obtained, selected content into the broadcast signal for seamless playback through the vehicle radio system during the commercial break period.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling access to premium content, obtained via a smartphone, to be controlled by using a vehicle as a “key” to unlock the premium content. In one implementation the user of the vehicle uses her/his smartphone to establish a wireless link with the vehicle's radio system. The vehicle's radio system supplies a unique radio identifier to the smartphone, which the smartphone forwards to a remote authorization server. The authorization server determines from an internal database if the radio identifier is permitted access to any premium content. If so the authorization server forwards a code or command to the smartphone that the smartphone uses when accessing a web-based or cloud-based content provider, which enables the user to receive premium content form the content provider.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for inserting stored advertising content into broadcast content being played over an audio system. The system may have a smartphone in wireless communication with the audio system which runs an application relating to a specific broadcast station that is broadcasting the broadcast content. The audio system may have a processing system for detecting breaks in program content that forms part of the broadcast content. The audio system may further be configured to obtain predetermined advertisements and to play back the predetermined advertisements over the audio system during each break in the program content, in place of advertisements contained in the broadcast content.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing supplemental information to a user receiving a broadcast of audio information. A radio system is used for wirelessly receiving broadcast content. The broadcast content may be provided with a signal component indicating that supplemental information is available for the broadcast content. A smartphone is in communication with the radio system. The radio system and the smartphone communicate to enable supplemental information from the smartphone to be presented to the user, upon a user selection, while the radio system buffers the broadcast content for playback after the supplemental information has concluded.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which involves using an identifier which may be stored in an electronic component of a vehicle. A short range, wireless protocol connectivity system of the vehicle may establish a wireless link with a personal electronic device (PED) of a user when the user enters the vehicle with the PED powered on. The link may be used to automatically transmit the identifier to the PED. The PED then transmits the identifier to a remote authorization source which checks if the identifier is valid and, if so, sends an unlock code back to the PED. The PED uses the unlock code to unlock an application on the PED which enables access to the remote content source.

Abstract: A portable media player and a car media player are disclosed. In either implementation the media player may be used to record digital content as it is streamed over a wide area network (WAN). The recorded digital content may then be played back using the media player and associated controls on the media player. In one implementation the media player makes use of a stored program and an external computer so that digital content recorded by the computer may then transferred from the computer on to the media player for storage and playback.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing advertising (AD) content to a radio system of a vehicle. A smartphone may have a stored application thereon related to a specific broadcast station. A utility application may be associated with the radio system (RS) and used to inform the smartphone when the RS is tuned to the specific broadcast station. The RS may have a processor for detecting a start maker and a stop marker in a broadcast signal being received from the specific broadcast station, and to inform the smartphone when the start marker is detected. The start marker and the stop marker define a time interval where at least one advertisement is present in the broadcast signal. The smartphone may provide AD content to the RS which is inserted for playback during the time interval.

Abstract: A portable media player and a car media player are disclosed. In either implementation the media player may be used to record digital content as it is streamed over a wide area network (WAN). The recorded digital content may then be played back using the media player and associated controls on the media player. In one implementation the media player makes use of a stored program and an external computer so that digital content recorded by the computer may then transferred from the computer on to the media player for storage and playback.