Channel Or Station Selection Patents (Class 455/179.1)
  • Publication number: 20130309986
    Abstract: A system and method provide an enhanced listening experience for a user of a radio receiver or other device that receives broadcast or streamed content having a plurality of program channels. The method and system buffer designated channels at the receiver and, when switching among channels, play back the buffered designated channels during reception from a selected point therein depending on the channel or other criteria. When switching to a different channel during reception, a user is able to hear content in a buffered program channel with music from the start of a song, for example, whereas content in a channel with news, talk radio, or live sports is played back from live reception, even though the content segments are transmitted at different start times relative to their selected times for playback following a channel change. User controls allow navigation among buffered designated channels during reception.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Sirius XM Radio Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Anderson Cox, Paul D. Marko
  • Patent number: 8588717
    Abstract: A radio communications device includes a headphone assembly, which includes at least one aural speaker or transducer and a headphone cable functioning as an antenna and providing electrical signals carrying audio information to the at least one aural speaker or transducer. A signal separator coupled to the headphone cable separates the electrical signals carrying audio information transmitted to the headphone cable and radio frequency (RF) signals received from the headphone cable. A radio receiver receives the RF signals from the signal separator and converts the RF signals to electrical signals carrying audio information. A tuner is provided for tuning the headphone cable to a selected operating frequency of the radio receiver. An audio amplifier amplifies electrical signals carrying audio information from the radio receiver to be transmitted through the headphone cable to the at least one aural speaker or transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Skycross, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank M. Caimi
  • Patent number: 8577317
    Abstract: A broadcast receiver and a method for setting the broadcast receiver, comprising receiving a primary broadcast sent by a broadcast station and retrieving program associated data made available by said broadcast station. The method comprises a first channel, a primary broadcast channel BC, and a second channel, an interaction channel, for retrieving the program associated data (PAD) from the broadcast station, whereby a browser sends an HTTP or a WAP request using an Internet connection. The method comprises retrieving a uniform resource locator of the program associated data (PAD) as station associated data (SAD) from a station associated data site (SADS) the station associated data comprising program associated data relating to the primary broadcast, coverage information and frequency information of included broadcast stations and the broadcast receiver being capable of setting the browser and the broadcast receiver unit by suing this SAD information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Manor Research, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Stefan Strandberg, Johan Sjoblom
  • Patent number: 8577316
    Abstract: Mechanically tuned radios and related methods are disclosed that utilize ratiometric time measurements to detect settings for mechanical adjustment mechanisms. The radio systems and methods disclosed make a first time measurement associated with a mechanically adjusted circuit, make a second time measurement associated with the mechanically adjusted circuit, determine a setting for the mechanical adjustment mechanism based upon a ratio associated with the first and second time measurements, and utilize the setting to select a tuning frequency for signals received by the radio. More generally, ratiometric time measurements can be used to determine a setting for a mechanical adjustment mechanism for a mechanically adjusted circuit, and this setting can be used to at least part control a desired operational feature of a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew B. Henson, Greg Allan Hodgson
  • Patent number: 8571501
    Abstract: A handheld device includes an FM receiver to receive FM radio signals and a processor that is configured to monitor Radio Data System (RDS) data within FM radio broadcasts and to activate an application when a particular RDS data pattern is received. Methods for recognizing and using the RDS data to activate or initiate applications on the handheld device enable a wide range of uses and new services. A server may provide data to the handheld device in response to queries which are based on or include part of the RDS data. Operating in conjunction with FM radio broadcasters, the handheld device and the server provide a data communication system that can deliver useful services and additional entertainment options for users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jason Miller, Mark D. Jerger, Stephen A. Sprigg, Parag Palsapure
  • Patent number: 8571466
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing recommended radio stations to a user. In particular, an electronic device can compare media from a locally stored or accessed media library with media items provided as part of radio streams received by the device. The electronic device can identify the radio streams having the most media items overlapping with the local library, and recommend those streams as being most likely to be of interest to the user. The electronic device can further access a remote database of a large number of users' libraries, and receive recommendations based on the media items common to the user's library, other users' libraries, and radio broadcasts. This approach allows the electronic device to provide recommendations without requiring any monitoring of the user's listening habits or receiving preference information from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael I. Ingrassia, Jr., Jeffery T. Lee
  • Patent number: 8559891
    Abstract: Embodiments of cognitive radio technology can recover and utilize under-utilized portions of statically-allocated radio-frequency spectrum. A plurality of sensing methods can be employed. Transmission power control can be responsive to adjacent channel measurements. Digital pre-distortion techniques can enhance performance. Embodiments of a high DNR transceiver architecture can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Adaptrum, Inc.
    Inventors: Haiyun Tang, Stuart Rumley
  • Patent number: 8532597
    Abstract: A method and mobile terminal for searching for alternative frequencies is provided for facilitating alternative frequency search. The mobile terminal having an alternative frequency search function includes a control unit having a radio data decoder for decoding radio data containing a program identifier and for differentiating the radio data by type, a radio data filter for extracting the program identifier from the radio data and for comparing the extracted program identifier with a previously stored program identifier, and a radio data updater for updating an alternative frequency list in response to an instruction of the radio data filter, and a storage unit for storing the alternative frequency list and the differentiated radio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hean Gwang Chu
  • Patent number: 8514989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving a communication channel modulated on one or more carrier frequencies. The receiver may include a gain adjustable RF amplifier, a wideband signal power measurement circuit, and control logic. The control logic may be adapted to use outputs of one or more measurement circuits to classify interfering signals based on measured signal power and spectral proximity to the one or more channel carrier frequencies, and to adjust the gain of the radio frequency amplifier based on the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Siano Mobile Silicon Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Oren, Noam Lavi
  • Patent number: 8503955
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a signal in a common frequency band includes: a signal processor configured to extract a selected band signal from received wireless signals by filtering the received wireless signal based on a frequency selection control signal, convert the extracted signal to a baseband signal, and detect a predetermined signal; a sensing signal determiner configured to determine existence of the signal, output a determination result, and outputs a frequency selection generating signal when the predetermined signal is absent; and a frequency selection controller configured to output the frequency selection control signal by selecting a target band among a plurality of previously decided bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kyu-Min Kang, Sang-In Cho, Heon-Jin Hong
  • Patent number: 8494540
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to using available spectrum for peer to peer communications and for selecting which of several possibly available channels should be used. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer networks in which channel usage decisions are made in a decentralized manner. A wireless terminal generates a list of potential available channels to be used for peer to peer communications, e.g., based on FCC information and/or local sensing. Channels are filled in accordance with a predetermined channel ordering. A wireless terminal migrates between the channels in accordance with changes in the number of peer devices using a channel. The network, in a distributed manner, changes the number of channels in use at a location in response to changes in numbers of active peer devices at a location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Junyi Li, Saurabh Tavildar, Aleksandar Jovicic, Hongseok Kim
  • Patent number: 8483644
    Abstract: The component, fully integrated onto a monolithic substrate, includes a tuner, a demodulator, and a channel decoder. The overall filtering is carried out in two parts, a baseband analog filtering and a digital Nyquist filtering removing the information of adjacent channels. It outputs a stream of MPEG data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Pierre Busson, Bernard Louis-Gavet, Pierre-Olivier Jouffre
  • Patent number: 8483625
    Abstract: An RF transceiver apparatus comprises transmitter circuitry arranged to convert signals from a baseband frequency to RF transmission frequencies and receiver circuitry arranged to convert signals from RF reception frequencies to the baseband frequency. The transmitter and receiver circuitry each comprise three mixers arranged to convert a signals between the baseband frequency, a first intermediate frequency; a second intermediate frequency that is higher than the transmission frequencies; and a second intermediate frequency to the transmission frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Lime Microsystems Limited
    Inventors: Srdjan Milenkovic, Danny Webster, Ebrahim Bushehri, Ri{hacek over (s)}ard Kurylo
  • Publication number: 20130165062
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tuner input circuit. The tuner input circuit includes an integrated including a low noise amplifier and a band pass filter embedded in one chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8462887
    Abstract: A receiver is set forth that includes a tuner circuit and a converter circuit. The tuner circuit provides an analog signal corresponding to a modulated signal that is received on a selected channel. The converter circuit includes a sample clock that is used to convert the analog signal to a digital signal at a conversion rate corresponding to the frequency of the sample clock. The sample clock is selectable between at least two different clock frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: King Chun Tsai, Patrick Clement, David Cousinard
  • Publication number: 20130143507
    Abstract: Provided are a broadcast receiving apparatus which simultaneously receives a plurality of channels using a single tuner and tunes to a channel without affecting other channels when changing a channel, and a broadcast receiving method thereof. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver receiving RF broadcast signals of a plurality of channels; an intermediate frequency (IF) converter converting the RF broadcast signals of the plurality of channels into IF signals, respectively; a plurality of signal processors separately processing and outputting the converted IF signals; a noise generator generating a noise signal corresponding to the IF signals; and a controller performing control to output the noise signal instead of the IF signals when at least one of the plurality of channels is changed according to user's input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8457574
    Abstract: A tuner front-end circuit for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal includes a first filter block that terminates the RF signal for unwanted frequency bands; a second filter block that provides selectivity within the unterminated signal by separating the unterminated signal into a plurality of separate signals, each of a different desired frequency band; and an amplifier block that amplifies each of the separate signals. One or more of the amplified separate signals can be provided to a tuner. The circuit can also include a daisy chain output block that provides the amplified separate signals to one or more additional tuners. One or more tracking filter blocks can also be included to provide further selectivity to the amplified separate signals and to reject signals at specific harmonics to prevent degradation of a signal-to-noise ratio. A method of processing an RF signal is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ramon Gomez
  • Publication number: 20130122801
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing recommended radio stations to a user. In particular, an electronic device can compare media from a locally stored or accessed media library with media items provided as part of radio streams received by the device. The electronic device can identify the radio streams having the most media items overlapping with the local library, and recommend those streams as being most likely to be of interest to the user. The electronic device can further access a remote database of a large number of users' libraries, and receive recommendations based on the media items common to the user's library, other users' libraries, and radio broadcasts. This approach allows the electronic device to provide recommendations without requiring any monitoring of the user's listening habits or receiving preference information from the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Ingrassia, Jeffery Lee
  • Patent number: 8428530
    Abstract: A plurality of training signal sets are transmitted. Each training signal set includes information sufficient to determine a channel estimate corresponding to a communication channel from a first station to a second station. A refined channel estimate is determined based on reception of the plurality of training signal sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Rohit U. Nabar, Hongyuan Zhang, Arul Durai Murugan Palanivelu
  • Publication number: 20130095778
    Abstract: A disclosed method tunes a signal from a channelized spectrum having a predetermined channel spacing. A signal of interest having a predetermined maximum bandwidth is mixed with a local oscillator signal, which has a frequency that is an integer multiple of the channel spacing or one-half of a channel spacing displaced from an integer multiple of the channel spacing. The local oscillator signal is selected to frequency translate the signal of interest to within a near-baseband passband whose lower edge is spaced from DC by at least about the maximum bandwidth of the signal of interest. Problems associated with 1/f noise, DC offsets, and self-mixing products are avoided or substantially diminished. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventor: University of Washington
  • Patent number: 8358986
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for RF channel selection in a multi-frequency network. A method includes identifying selected local operations infrastructures (LOIs) and their neighboring LOIs, generating a neighbor description message (NDM) that identifies the selected LOIs and their neighboring LOIs and associates a descrambling sequence identifier with each RF channel of the selected LOIs and their neighboring LOIs, and distributing the NDM over the selected LOIs. An apparatus includes a message decoder to receive an NDM that identifies RF channels of a first LOI and neighboring LOIs, and wherein each RF channel is associated with a descrambling sequence identifier, and processing logic to detect content acquisition failures, determine a list of RF channels and their associated LOIs that carry desired content, and select a selected RF channel that is associated with a selected LOI that carries the most additional content among the associated LOIs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Binita Gupta, Linbo Li, Raghuraman Krishnamoorthi, Ashok Mantravadi
  • Patent number: 8355684
    Abstract: A channel determination apparatus and method for a broadcast receiver are provided. The method includes estimating, when the broadcast receiver operates in a sleep state over a preset time period, inter-modulation distortion interference of a plurality of channels by scanning the channels, and receiving, when the sleep state is transitioned to an active state, broadcast data on a channel having the least inter-modulation distortion interference. Accordingly, the inter-modulation distortion interference of individual channels is taken into account to select an optimum channel, thereby resulting in improvement of channel determination accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Seok Yu, In Kwon Paik, Byung Tae Kang
  • Patent number: 8340613
    Abstract: Systems and methods which utilize low performance circuitry to provide received signal power detection without unacceptably impacting operation of a receiver circuit are shown. Circuitry utilized to provide received signal power detection according to embodiments comprises circuitry dedicated for use with respect to received signal power detection. Performance of the circuitry of the detection path may be lower than that required of circuitry of the signal processing path. However, performance parameters are selected to provide power detection of desired accuracy (e.g., flat gain) and to meet other performance metrics. Embodiments provide a low performance power detection circuit comprising a low performance tuner configuration. Further embodiments provide a low performance power detection circuit comprising a low performance data converter configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Magnusen, Michael D. Womac
  • Patent number: 8320821
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus discriminates RDS data containing traffic information corresponding to the vehicle's own position from RDS data of broadcasting stations searched for by frequency sweeping by a sub tuner front end 7; stores step by step into a pool memory 16 frequencies of alternative stations identified by each PI code of the RDS data and the number of the alternative stations; determines the PI code with the greatest number of the alternative stations by comparing the numbers of the alternative stations for individual PI codes stored in the pool memory 16 in a frequency sweeping range; and receives the traffic information from the station with the highest received electric field strength among all the alternative stations identified by the PI code determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Nakata
  • Patent number: 8315626
    Abstract: Systems and methods for connecting a wireless station to a wireless network are provided. The method may include: receiving a pre-connection management signal from each of a plurality of wireless access points, each of the access points connecting an upstream network to a downstream wireless network; retrieving from each of the management signals characteristics of the access point corresponding to the management signal, the characteristics of the access point comprising information regarding the upstream network associated with the respective access point; analyzing the characteristics of the access point for each of the management signals; and based on the analysis of the characteristics of the access points, identifying a preferred access point from the plurality of access points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen J. Huotari, Kendra S. Harrington
  • Patent number: 8310601
    Abstract: An interface circuit configured to connect between (a) a broadcast receiver tuner and associated circuitry for the receiving and processing of broadcast radio frequency signals, and (b) a general purpose computer device programmed with software demodulation code configured to engage a general purpose processor in signal demodulation functions, the interface circuit comprising: a data interface comprising a packetisation buffer connected to receive (i) digital signal sample data from a signal path of the tuner and associated circuitry and (ii) indications of control settings which are applied to one or more configurable components during taking of the sample data, said packetisation buffer being operable to construct packets comprising blocks of sample data and header information carrying said control settings indications; a control interface configured to receive control instructions from tuner control code running on the general purpose computer device; and a microcontroller operable to receive the control i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mirics Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Keith Ahluwalia, Simon Atkinson, Dan Budin, Anthony Eaton
  • Publication number: 20120282959
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for operating in a television white space (TVWS) network. One example method generally includes receiving, at an apparatus, a message with a field indicating a current version of an unused frequency spectrum map (e.g., a white space map (WSM)), the unused frequency spectrum map indicating channels usable for wireless communications; determining whether the current version of the unused frequency spectrum map is different than a previous version of the unused frequency spectrum map; and using a channel for wireless communications based on the determination. Another example method generally includes accessing a database of available channels for a current location of an apparatus via a neighboring portable or fixed enabling apparatus and enabling one or more portable dependent apparatuses for the wireless communications via one or more of the available channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Santosh Paul Abraham, Avinash Jain, Stephen J. Shellhammer, Hemanth Sampath
  • Patent number: 8271022
    Abstract: A wireless device, such as a mobile phone, and a method for operating the wireless device to access a media option. The wireless device may include a media player; a radio signal receiver system configured to receive media signals; a controller comprising a memory comprising a list of different media options, indicating media items the user is interested in taking part of and a media scanner configured to scan the radio signal receiver system to detect media content associated with the media options; a user input interface to select one media item currently indicted as detected; and a media selector configured to pass received media signals relating to the selected media item to the media player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Tomas Wassingbo, Heino Wendelrup
  • Patent number: 8270922
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radio wave receiver including an antenna to receive a radio wave, a tuning unit to switch a frequency characteristic of the antenna in a stepwise fashion, an oscillation unit to oscillate the antenna and a circuit section of the tuning unit, a receiving process unit to carry out a signal process by extracting a signal of a desired wave among received signals which are received from the antenna, a search control unit in which the oscillation unit is made to generate an oscillation signal at the circuit section and in which the oscillation signal searches a setting condition of the tuning unit which is extracted in the receiving process unit by switching a setting of the tuning unit and a search range deciding unit to selectively decide an adjustable range in which the switching of the setting of the tuning unit is carried out by the search control unit so as to be a specific adjustable range which is a portion of an entire adjustable range of the tuning unit corresponding to a frequency of the d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Abe, Hideo Abe
  • Patent number: 8260231
    Abstract: The present invention provides architectures and methods which use multiple radio receive chains in mobile devices to boost performance of the mobile devices. While a first set of the receive chains are assigned to a serving base station, another set of receive chains are dynamically allocated to neighbor base stations and/or to the serving base station depending upon present or expected system conditions and timing. A first synthesizer is configured to provide signals to the first and second set of receive chains. Other synthesizers are also configured to provide signals to the second set of receive chains. Thus, depending on the mode of operation, the second set of receive chains utilizes signals from a given synthesizer as needed. A priori data may be used to allocate specific receive chains to the serving base station, neighboring base stations or both. Unused synthesizers may be turned off to conserve power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventors: Bhaskar Patel, Arumugam Govindswamy, Sarath Babu Govindarajulu
  • Patent number: 8260232
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and method of controlling a broadcast therein are provided by which a broadcast signal can be received and outputted in a manner of setting a frequency band corresponding to a visited country in case of international roaming of the mobile terminal. A memory may store per-country broadcast relevant information and a controller may search the memory for broadcast relevant information corresponding to a visited country in case of detecting international migration. The controller may set the searched broadcast relevant information when the search for the broadcast relevant information corresponding to the visited country is successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seong Nam Kim, Beom Seok Cho
  • Patent number: 8260230
    Abstract: A radio receiver may comprise a receiver adaptable for receiving a plurality of broadcast streams over a plurality of broadcast channels, wherein the receiver will attempt to receive a selected broadcast stream on a selected broadcast channel, and if the selected broadcast stream is not receivable on the selected broadcast channel, the receiver will attempt to receive the selected broadcast stream on an alternative broadcast channel. A computer readable medium may allow a user of a receiver to create a composite stream comprising at least one portion selected from each of at least two of a plurality of broadcast streams. A method of open interface merge replication may involve comparing data between first and second databases, and if a conflict exists, updating one of the first and second databases with at least a portion of data from the other of the first and second databases to resolve the conflict.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Patent number: 8254863
    Abstract: A broadcast receiver and a method for setting the broadcast receiver, comprising receiving a primary broadcast sent by a broadcast station and retrieving program associated data made available by said broadcast station. The method comprises a first channel, a primary broadcast channel BC, and a second channel, an interaction channel, for retrieving the program associated data (PAD) from the broadcast station, whereby a browser sends an HTTP or a WAP request using an Internet connection. The method comprises retrieving a uniform resource locator of the program associated data (PAD) as station associated data (SAD) from a station associated data site (SADS) the station associated data comprising program associated data relating to the primary broadcast, coverage information and frequency information of included broadcast stations and the broadcast receiver being capable of setting the browser and the broadcast receiver unit by suing this SAD information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Manor Research, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Stefan Strandberg, Johan Sjöblom
  • Patent number: 8249533
    Abstract: A rapidly adjustable local oscillation (LO) module for use in a radio transmitter or a radio receiver includes an oscillation generating module and a high frequency switching module. The oscillation generating module is operably coupled to generate a plurality of local oscillations. The high frequency switching module is operably coupled to, for a first one of a plurality of transmission paths, provide one of the plurality of local oscillations when a first transmission path selection indication is in a first state and provide another one of the plurality of local oscillations when the first transmission path selection indication is in a second state and, for a second one of the plurality of transmission paths, provide the one of the plurality of local oscillations when a second transmission path selection indication is in a first state and provide the another one of the plurality of local oscillations when the second transmission path selection indication is in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Vixs Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bojan Subasic, Mathew A. Rybicki
  • Patent number: 8249001
    Abstract: A base station assigns a subcarrier for downlink communications under Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access. Before downlink communications with a mobile station, based on carrier sensing by the mobile station, the base station detects information concerning an available subcarrier from downlink signals using a modulating unit. The information concerning the available subcarrier is stored in a downlink-information sharing unit and is shared among the base station and the adjacent base stations. A downlink subcarrier setting unit sets the available subcarrier for downlink communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Oota, Takanori Iwamatsu
  • Patent number: 8244171
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing recommended radio stations to a user. In particular, an electronic device can compare media from a locally stored or accessed media library with media items provided as part of radio streams received by the device. The electronic device can identify the radio streams having the most media items overlapping with the local library, and recommend those streams as being most likely to be of interest to the user. The electronic device can further access a remote database of a large number of users' libraries, and receive recommendations based on the media items common to the user's library, other users' libraries, and radio broadcasts. This approach allows the electronic device to provide recommendations without requiring any monitoring of the user's listening habits or receiving preference information from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ingrassia, Jeffery Lee
  • Publication number: 20120202443
    Abstract: A preset device and an automatic preset application for ranking a group of content providers (e.g., radio stations) and for assigning one or more preset channels to the content providers with the top rankings. The preset device may include a timer configured to be coupled to a receiver, the timer configured to time a plurality of durations of a plurality of signals received from a plurality of content providers, a memory coupled to the timer, the memory configured to store the plurality of durations, and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to rank the plurality of content providers based on the respective plurality of durations, and configured to preset the tuning device based on the ranked plurality of content providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Aleksandar Jotanovic
  • Publication number: 20120190319
    Abstract: A method of performing alternate frequency switching in a radio includes tuning the radio to a primary frequency. A candidate alternate frequency is identified. It is determined whether the candidate alternate frequency is a third order inter-modulation artifact. Tuning is switched from the primary frequency to the candidate alternate frequency only if it is determined in the determining step that the candidate alternate frequency is not a third order inter-modulation artifact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Donald Thomas, Jason Hingerton, Tatsuya Fujisawa, Jammie Chu, Shree Jaisimha, Robert Baillargeon
  • Patent number: 8224274
    Abstract: A frequency translation module for a broadband multi-channel communication system may include an analog signal converter, a digital channel selection device, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The analog signal converter is configured to receive a plurality of analog signals, to select analog signals residing in a predefined frequency band, and to convert each of the selected analog signals into a digital signal. The digital channel selection device is configured to process digital signals corresponding to the selected analog signals and to generate a composite output of digital signals representative of the selected analog signals. The D/A converter is configured to translate the composite output to an analog signal output decodable by a receiver. Further, the frequency translation module may include a mixer configured to upconvert the analog signal output to a frequency decodable by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon Gomez, Tommy Yu
  • Patent number: 8213881
    Abstract: A signal processing system is disclosed. The system includes: a first synthesizer and a second synthesizer, for respectively generating a first frequency and a second frequency; a first RF circuit; a first analog front end (AFE); a second RF circuit; and a second AFE, wherein the first RF circuit and the first AFE can support a signal transmission of a first bandwidth, the second RF circuit and the second AFE can support a signal transmission of a second bandwidth, a central frequency of the first bandwidth is substantially equal to the first frequency, and a central frequency of the second bandwidth is substantially equal to the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Kuang-Yu Yen, Chung-Yao Chang
  • Patent number: 8200159
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless transmitting and receiving module including a radiofrequency module filtering and amplifying the wireless signals received, a high intermediate frequency module transposing the wireless signals received to a high intermediate frequency, the transpositions being carried out by mixing of the wireless signals with signals of known frequency generated by local oscillator modules, and a low intermediate frequency module transposing the wireless signals received to a low intermediate frequency. In particular, the invention applies to the radiocommunication software modules that can receive and/or transmit on the broad band, that is to say in a frequency range from 30 MHz to 3 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Marie-Pierre Dussauby, Vincent Jahier, Michel Giraudo, Christophe Flouzat
  • Patent number: 8189500
    Abstract: A communication terminal having a control unit performs a station search for determining that a not-yet-connected station is included in connectable stations, and performs a trial connection to the not-yet-connected station for determining whether the not-yet-connected station is capable of accommodating packet data communication. The determination results of the trial connection for the packet data communication, or packetability, are stored in a memory in the control unit in association with a station ID of the not-yet-connected station. The stored packetability of the not-yet-connected station is used for notifying a user, from a presentation unit of the communication terminal, of the availability of the packet data communication for the improved usability of the packet data communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20120129476
    Abstract: A radio system includes a radio tuner for receiving a terrestrial radio signal, a communication device for receiving an internet data, a user interface in signal communication with at least the radio tuner to provide a selective control of at least the radio tuner, and a processor in signal communication with the radio tuner, the communication device, and the user interface, wherein the processor receives a user preference data from at least one of the communication device and the user interface, analyzes the user preference data based on an instruction set, and selectively transmits an audio output to a user based upon the user preference data, wherein a source of the audio output is one of the terrestrial radio signal and the internet data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: J. William Whikehart, Shadi Mere, Theodore Charles Wingrove
  • Publication number: 20120129475
    Abstract: A radio system includes a radio tuner for receiving a terrestrial radio signal, a communication device for receiving an internet data, a user interface in signal communication with at least the radio tuner to provide a selective control of at least the radio tuner, and a processor in signal communication with the radio tuner, the communication device, and the user interface, wherein the processor receives a user preference data from at least one of the communication device and the user interface, analyzes the user preference data based on an instruction set, and selectively transmits an audio output to a user based upon the user preference data, wherein a source of the audio output is one of the terrestrial radio signal and the internet data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Shadi Mere
  • Patent number: 8170597
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for controlling power in a cognitive radio wireless communication system, the method comprising: performing channel scheduling and the first power control for at least one terminal; checking whether the at least one terminal exist within constraint area, and determining whether the at least one terminal within constraint area cause interference to incumbent system; and performing the secondary power control so that an allocating power may be less than the maximum tolerable interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng Shan, David Mazzarese, Sung-Kwon Hong, Do-Young Kim, Eun-Taek Lim, Jung-Soo Woo, Deok-Ki Kim, Yong-Ho Park, Hyeon-Woo Lee, Geun-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8159619
    Abstract: A multi-standard integrated television receiver is disclosed. According to the invention, a RF tracking filter is provided to receive a RF signal and then filter out a fifth order and above harmonics and a band-pass filter is provided to further eliminate harmonics. Moreover, a double quadrature mixer is provided to remove third order harmonics. Accordingly, the quality factor requirement of the RF tracking filter and the linearity requirement of the band-pass filter are relaxed. Thus, the RF tracking filter and the band-pass filter can be fully integrated without any external components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 8160524
    Abstract: A signal receiving apparatus includes: a receiver which receives at least two types of broadcasting signals included in a plurality of channels; and a controller which controls the receiver to search a current channel according to one type of a broadcasting signal used for a previous channel search and to search a current channel according to another type of a broadcasting signal if the channel is not searched, to thereby set an automatic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Bong-ki Jang
  • Patent number: 8160584
    Abstract: A cellular communications system may include at least one base station and at least one mobile cellular communications device. More particularly, the at least one mobile cellular communications device may include a controller, at least one user input device connected to the controller, and a wireless transceiver cooperating with the controller for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station, and if the wireless communications link cannot be established, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Moreover, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, then the controller may continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Kenneth J. Liang, Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8145276
    Abstract: An event displaying method and a portable terminal adapted to the method are provided. The method displays events in the portable terminal whose environments are set according to pieces of user information. The method includes setting an environment of the portable terminal based on an environment selected from among the pieces of information, identifying, if a communication event is received by the portable terminal while it is operated in the set environment, connecting information included in the received communication event, determining whether the identified connecting information is included in the selected user information, determining, if it is determined that the identified connecting information is not included in the selected user information, whether the identified connecting information exists in other user information, and displaying, if it is determined that the identified connecting information exists in other user information, the other user information and the communication event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee, Young Hae Kim
  • Patent number: 8145215
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to achieve improvements in scanning that can be implemented by a wireless device. A method to control scanning performed by a mobile unit includes detecting the presence or absence of audio for transmission from the mobile unit. A performance of a scan can be deferred depending on the detection of the presence or absence of audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Olson