GB2375263A - Monitoring of vehicle radio - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle entertainment and communication system comprises a radio receiver 1, a mobile phone 2, and a radio operation monitor 3, which monitor is responsive to the radio for collecting data appertaining to radio stations and/or radio programs selected by a users. The data is transmitted automatically at intervals via the mobile phone 3, to a remotely located data collection centre 4.

Description

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Improvements in or relating to vehicle entertainment and communication systems.

This invention relates to vehicle entertainment and communication systems and more especially but not exclusively it relates to car radio listener survey systems.

There is a requirement for collection of statistical data concerning the listening habits, and the program selection behaviour of car radio users. Such data is of interest to program schedule planners and is also of particular interest to sponsors and advertisers so that advertising can be targeted and planned effectively. It is contemplated that fresh opportunities for gathering this kind of data will arise with the introduction of integrated entertainment and communication systems in cars.

It is therefore an object of this invention to facilitate the automatic collection of this kind of statistical data in the use of vehicle entertainment and communication systems systems.

According the present invention a vehicle entertainment and communication system comprises a radio receiver, a mobile phone, and a radio operation monitor, which monitor is responsive to the radio for collecting data appertaining to radio stations and/or radio programs selected by a user, which data is transmitted automatically at intervals via the mobile phone to a remotely located data collection centre.

The data may comprise or be derived from RDS data transmitted in order to identify a received radio station or program.

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The monitor may comprise, a data store in which the data is stored together with timing information, identifying in respect of each selected station/program'listening ON'/'listening OFF'times.

The timing information may comprise or be derived from GSM timing data received by the mobile phone.

The data may be transmitted via the mobile phone automatically at intervals determined in dependence upon the volume of data stored locally in the data store, so that when a predetermined stored volume is reached, the store content is downloaded for transmission by the mobile phone to the remote data collection centre.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1, is a schematic block diagram of a radio entertainment and communication system and, Figure 2, is a schematic block circuit of a part of the system as shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, a car entertainment and communication system comprises a radio receiver 1, a mobile phone 2, which may operate in accordance with GSM, UMTS standards, or a mobile phone which operates in accordance with any other standard, and a radio operation monitor 3. In operation of the system, RDS data from a radio station received by the radio receiver 1, is monitored by the monitor 3, and data appertaining to the stations/programs received, including'listening ON'and'listening OFF'times, is transmitted via the mobile phone 3, to a remotely located call data collection and analysis centre 4.

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As shown in Figure 2, the radio operation monitor 3, comprises a monitor 5, which receives signals on a line 6, from the radio receiver 1, and GSM timing signals on a line 7, from the mobile phone 2. Data descriptive of the stations and or programs received, together with the 'listening ON'and'listening OFF'times for each station and or program, is transferred via a line 8, to a data store 9. The volume of data in the store 9, is monitored and buffered by a store monitor 10, and when the volume reaches a predetermined limit, it is downloaded via a line 11, and transmitted by the mobile phone 2, to the remote data collection centre 4, as shown in Figure 1.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiment just before described without departing from the scope of the invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and for example timing methods using techniques and/or signals other than methods requiring GSM signals may be used for timing purposes, and data other than or additional to, RDS based data may be collected to describe programs received, such as signal frequency information for example.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS.

1. A vehicle entertainment and communication system comprises a radio receiver, a mobile phone, and a radio operation monitor, which monitor is responsive to the radio for collecting data appertaining to radio stations and/or radio programs selected by a user, which data is transmitted automatically at intervals via the mobile phone to a remotely located data collection centre.

2. A vehicle entertainment and communication system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the data comprises or is derived from RDS.

3. A vehicle entertainment and communication system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the monitor comprises, a data store in which the data is stored together with timing information, identifying in respect of each selected station/program'listening ON'/'listening OFF'times.

4. A vehicle entertainment and communication system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the timing information comprises or is derived from GSM timing data received by the mobile phone.

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5. A vehicle entertainment and communication system as claimed in Claim 3, or Claim 4, wherein the data is sent via the mobile phone automatically at intervals determined in dependence upon the volume of data stored locally in the data store, so that when a predetermined

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stored volume is reached, the store content is downloaded for transmission by the mobile phone to the remote data collection centre.

6. A vehicle entertainment and communication substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.