CN114747160A

CN114747160A - Connected radio local, isolation, and hybrid implementations

Info

Publication number: CN114747160A
Application number: CN201980102340.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·维尼智亚
Original assignee: Ibiquity Digital Corp
Current assignee: Ibiquity Digital Corp
Priority date: 2019-10-07
Filing date: 2019-10-07
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Also published as: CA3157169A1; MX2022004176A; AU2019469978A1; KR20220074948A; EP4042604A1; WO2021071466A1; JP2023504984A; JP7490763B2

Abstract

The radio receiver includes Radio Frequency (RF) receiver circuitry to receive radio broadcast signals, an internet network interface, a display, a memory, processing circuitry, and a client application including instructions for execution by the processing circuitry. The client application is configured to: determining geographical location information of the radio receiver; determining radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver using the geographical location information; selecting metadata associated with a radio broadcast available to the radio receiver from metadata stored in the memory; and presenting information included in the selected metadata using a display according to the received radio broadcast signal.

Description

Connected radio local, isolation, and hybrid implementation

Technical Field

The technology described in this patent document relates to systems and methods for providing supplemental data (e.g., metadata) associated with an over-the-air radio broadcast signal.

Background

Over-the-air radio broadcast signals are used to deliver a wide variety of programming content (e.g., audio, etc.) to radio receiver systems. Such over-the-air radio broadcast signals may include conventional AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) analog broadcast signals, digital radio broadcast signals, hybrid radio signals including both analog and digital broadcast signals, or other broadcast signals. Service data including multimedia programming may be included with the radio broadcast. The broadcast of service data may be contracted by a company to include multimedia content associated with primary or primary radio program content.

Another approach to providing service data is to combine over-the-air (OTA) broadcast radio information with Internet Protocol (IP) delivered content to provide an enhanced user experience. An example of this type of radio service is

Connected Radio^TMService, the

Connected Radio^TMThe service combines over-the-air analog/digital AM/FM radio with IP delivered content. The combined OTA and IP radio service receives radio broadcast audio that is then paired with IP delivered content (such as artist information and song title, logos, slogans, over-the-air radio program information, and station contact information, which originates directly from the radio broadcaster) and displayed on a radio receiver in the vehicle. The vehicle's radio receiver integrates data from internet services with broadcast audio to create a rich media experience. However, there may be situations where a connection to the internet is not available to the vehicle.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In general, embodiments of local, isolated, or hybrid implementations of connected radios use geographic location information determined by the receiver to determine radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver when the radio receiver does not have access to the internet to obtain fully connected radio services. Rather than receiving metadata for broadcast via an internet connection, the radio receiver analyzes and selects metadata stored in memory of the radio receiver for presentation with the tuned radio broadcast. The metadata is associated with the radio broadcast that the radio receiver determines to be available. The connected radio experience may still be provided to the user, although the experience is less distinctive than that provided by a continuously connected radio service.

It should be noted that alternative embodiments are possible, and that steps and elements discussed herein may be changed, added, or eliminated, depending on the particular embodiment. These alternative embodiments include structural changes that may be made, as well as alternative steps and alternative elements that may be used, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Drawings

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The accompanying drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in this document.

Fig. 1 is a flow chart of an example of a method of operating a radio receiver that receives over-the-air radio broadcasts and internet protocol delivered content.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of portions of an example of a radio receiver.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of portions of another example of a radio receiver or head unit.

Detailed Description

In the following description of embodiments of the metadata distribution system, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings show by way of illustration specific examples of how embodiments of the metadata distribution system may be implemented. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Over-the-air radio broadcast signals are commonly used to deliver a wide variety of programming content (e.g., audio, etc.) to radio receiver systems. Main Program Service (MPS) data and Supplemental Program Service (SPS) data may be provided to the radio broadcast receiver system. Metadata associated with the programming content may be delivered in MPS data or SPS data via over-the-air radio signals. The metadata may be included in a subcarrier of the primary radio signal. In IBOC radio, the radio broadcast may be a hybrid radio signal that may include streaming analog broadcast and digital audio broadcast. The subcarriers broadcast by the main channel may include digital information such as text or numerical information, and metadata may be included in the digital information of the subcarriers. Thus, a hybrid over-the-air radio broadcast may include analog audio broadcasts, digital audio broadcasts, and other textual and numerical digital information (such as metadata streamed with the over-the-air broadcast). The programming content may be broadcast according to a DAB standard, a world Digital Radio (DRM) standard, a Radio Data System (RDS) protocol, a Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) protocol, or a High Definition (HD) IBOC radio protocol.

The metadata may include both "static" metadata and "dynamic" metadata. Static metadata does not change frequently or does not change. The static metadata may include the call sign, name, logo (e.g., higher or lower logo resolution), slogan, station format, station genre, language, web page Uniform Resource Locator (URL), URL of social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), phone number, Short Message Service (SMS) number, SMS short code, Program Identification (PI) code, country, or other information of the radio station.

Dynamic metadata changes relatively frequently. Dynamic metadata may include song title, artist name, album image, artist image (e.g., related to content currently playing on the broadcast), advertisements, enhanced advertisements (e.g., title, slogan, image, phone number, SMS number, URL, search terms), programming (image, schedule, title, artist name, DJ name, phone number, URL), over-the-air radio program information, station contact information, service tracking data, or other information. When a radio receiver system is receiving an over-the-air radio broadcast signal from a particular radio station, the receiver system may receive both static metadata and dynamic metadata.

As explained earlier herein, combining OTA radio broadcast with Internet Protocol (IP) delivered content is another method of providing service data to a radio receiver. Combining over-the-air analog/digital AM/FM radio with IP delivered content provides an enhanced user experience. The combined OTA-IP radio service receives dynamic metadata directly from the local radio broadcaster, which is then retrieved by the radio receiver via IP, paired with the broadcast content and displayed in the vehicle.

The vehicle's radio receiver integrates data from internet services with broadcast audio to create a rich media experience. A preferred implementation of the combined OTA-IP radio service is an implementation that provides full features via an active internet connection, where the data is based on the current geographical location of the radio receiver. A client application or "client" executing on an internet-connected Radio receiver transmits location information (e.g., GPS coordinates) via the internet connection to an internet service that can perform mathematical and geospatial functions on large data sets consisting of AM, FM, HD Radio, and DAB Radio broadcasts to determine metadata (e.g., dynamic metadata) that is available to Radio receivers tuned to the Radio broadcasts. Based on the location information from the radio receiver, the internet service returns metadata about the radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver. The data set of a radio broadcast often changes as the broadcaster changes the radio transmitter, the radio transmission type, introduces and removes new radio stations from the air, and remodels existing radio stations. The data set used by the combined OTA-IP radio service can be constantly updated with current data so that the radio receiver can access the latest information and the latest metadata.

However, there may be situations where a connection to the internet is not available to the vehicle radio receiver, or where the client of the radio receiver is prevented from transmitting its location to an internet service. For these situations, it may be desirable to implement isolated OTA-IP radio services, local OTA-IP radio services, or a mix of isolated and local OTA-IP radio services at the radio receiver. These versions of the combined OTA-IP radio service provide a subset of the services available from the full feature implementation of the combined OTA-IP radio service. These versions may be substandard compared to a full implementation, but provide combined OTA-IP radio services within the regulatory limits imposed on the radio receiver or the range of functions available.

Fig. 1 is a flow chart of a method of operating a radio receiver that receives OTA radio broadcast and IP delivered content. The method 100 may be performed by a client executed by processing circuitry of a radio receiver. The client of the radio receiver may perform the method when an internet connection is not available to the radio receiver or the radio receiver is unable to send location information (e.g., due to regulatory restrictions or user options). The radio receiver includes a memory storing metadata for radio broadcasting. The metadata may include both static and dynamic metadata, but the metadata may be a subset of the content that may be provided by the internet service.

At 105, geographic location information of the radio receiver is determined. For example, the radio receiver may include a GPS receiver and the geographic location information may include GPS coordinates. At 110, the radio receiver (rather than the internet service) uses the location information to determine radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver and stored metadata associated with the radio broadcasts. In some embodiments, the radio broadcast and selected metadata may be associated with all radio broadcasts available in the country in which the radio receiver is located or in a smaller specific area of the world in which the radio receiver is located. In a variant, the radio broadcast and the selected metadata may be associated with a radio broadcast available to the continent where the radio receiver is located, or may be associated with a radio broadcast available globally.

At 115, the client selects metadata from metadata stored in a memory of the radio receiver according to one or both of the tuning and location information of the radio receiver. This is in fact the same internet service provided by the full-feature internet-connected version, but the service is implemented locally at the radio receiver, without requiring an active internet connection. At 120, information included in the selected metadata is displayed to the user in accordance with the tuning of the radio receiver.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of portions of an example of a radio receiver that receives OTA radio broadcast and IP delivered content. In certain variations, the Radio receiver is a DTS Connected Radio receiver. The radio receiver 200 may be a radio receiver of a vehicle. The radio receiver 200 includes a wireless internet network interface 240 for receiving metadata via wireless IP and other components for receiving over-the-air radio broadcast signals. The internet network interface 240 and the receiver controller 230 may be collectively referred to as a wireless internet protocol hardware communication module of the radio receiver.

The radio receiver 200 includes a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver circuit including a tuner 256 having an input 252 connected to an antenna 254. The antenna 254, tuner 256, and baseband processor 251 may be collectively referred to as an over-the-air radio broadcast hardware communication module of the radio receiver. The RF circuit is configured to receive an audio broadcast signal including a digital audio file.

Within baseband processor 251, intermediate frequency signal 257 from tuner 256 is provided to analog-to-digital converter and digital down-converter 258 to produce a baseband signal comprising a series of complex signal samples at output 260. The signal samples are complex in that each sample includes a "real" component and an "imaginary" component. Analog demodulator 262 demodulates the analog modulated portion of the baseband signal to produce an analog audio signal on line 264. The digitally modulated portion of the sampled baseband signal is filtered by an isolation filter 266, the isolation filter 266 having packetsInvolving the sub-carriers f present in the received OFDM signal₁-f_nThe passband frequency response of the total set. A First Adjacent Canceller (FAC)268 suppresses the effects of the first adjacent interference. Complex signal 269 is routed to an input of an acquisition module 270, which acquisition module 270 acquires or recovers OFDM symbol timing offset/error and carrier frequency offset/error from received OFDM symbols represented in received complex signal 269. The acquisition module 270 forms the symbol timing offset Δ t and the carrier frequency offset Δ f, as well as status and control information. The signal is then demodulated (block 272) to demodulate the digitally modulated portion of the baseband signal. The digital signal is deinterleaved by a deinterleaver 274 and decoded by a viterbi decoder 276. The service demultiplexer 278 separates the main and supplemental program signals from the data signal. The supplemental program signal may comprise a digital audio file received in an IBOC DAB radio broadcast signal.

Audio processor 280 processes the received signal to produce an audio signal on line 282 and MPSD/SPSD 281. In an embodiment, the analog and main digital audio signals are mixed as shown in block 284 or the supplemental program signal is passed to produce an audio output on line 286. A data processor 288 processes the received data signals and generates data output signals on

lines

290, 292 and 294. The data lines 290, 292, and 294 may be multiplexed together onto a suitable bus (such as I)²c. SPI, UART, or USB). The data signal may comprise data, for example representing metadata to be rendered at the radio receiver.

The wireless internet network interface may be managed by the receiver controller 230. As shown in fig. 2, the internet network interface 240 and the receiver controller 230 are operatively coupled via a line 242, and data transmitted between the internet network interface 240 and the receiver controller 230 is transmitted over this line 242. Selector 220 may be connected to receiver controller 230 via line 236 to select particular data received from internet network interface 240. The data may include metadata (e.g., text, images, video, etc.) and may be rendered at substantially the same time as the primary or supplemental programming content received over the air in rendering the IBOC DAB radio signal.

The receiver controller 230 receives and processes the data signals. The receiver controller 230 may include a microcontroller operatively coupled to a user interface 232 and a memory 234. The microcontroller may be an 8-bit RISC microprocessor, an advanced RISC machine 32-bit microprocessor, or any other suitable microprocessor or microcontroller. Further, some or all of the functions of receiver controller 230 may be performed in a baseband processor (e.g., audio processor 280 and/or data processor 288). The user interface 232 may include an input/output (I/O) processor that controls a display, which may be any suitable visual display, such as an LCD or LED display. In some embodiments, the user interface 232 may also control the user input components via a touch screen display. In some embodiments, the user interface 232 may also control user input from a keyboard, dial, knob, or other suitable input. The memory 234 may include any suitable data storage medium, such as RAM, Flash ROM (e.g., SD memory cards), and/or a hard disk drive. The radio receiver 200 may also include a GPS receiver 296 to receive GPS coordinates.

The processing circuitry of the receiver controller 230 is configured to execute instructions included in a client 246 installed in the radio receiver 200. The client 246 determines the geographic location of the radio receiver, such as by using, for example, a GPS receiver 296. Using the geographic location, the client 246 determines the radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver. The client 246 may perform the same mathematical and spatial functions on the local data set as the internet service performs on the complete data set. For example, the client 246 may perform R-tree calculations or similar calculations on the local data set to determine the radio broadcasts available to the radio receivers.

The client selects metadata associated with radio broadcasts available to the radio receivers from the data set stored in memory for presentation to the user using display 244. The metadata may be selected from static metadata stored in memory. An image asset (e.g., a radio station logo) may be stored in memory, and the client selects the image asset for display according to the tuning of the radio receiver and the available radio broadcasts.

As explained above, the service implemented locally by client 246 is actually the same internet service provided by the full-feature internet-connected version, but it works from a smaller local data set stored in memory 234. The data set may be a baseline data set delivered with the radio service, and updates to the local data set may be performed periodically. In some embodiments, the client is configured to detect when access to the internet network is available. The internet network access may be a home internet network, an internet network link provided by the user's smart phone, or a network accessible at an automotive service center. The client 246 initiates a download of the updated metadata via the internet network interface and stores the downloaded metadata in memory in response to detecting that access to the internet network is available.

In some embodiments, the client initiates the downloading and storing of metadata via the internet network interface in response to a prompt received at the radio receiver. In certain embodiments, the radio receiver includes a port (e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port or other communication port), and the metadata may be downloaded to the memory 234 via the port when the vehicle is serviced. For these types of embodiments, the internet network interface 240 may be a wired interface.

The client may send a query to the metadata service application via the internet interface in response to detecting that internet access is available. If the receiver is restricted from sending location information, then the geographic location information may be excluded from the query. The local data set may be downloaded to the radio receiver based on an identifier or subscription identifier provided by the client to determine the data set for download to the radio receiver.

The radio receiver may receive the dynamic metadata in response to a query that does not include location information and use identifiers present in the local data set for geographic location. The identifier may uniquely identify each radio broadcast allowing geographic location information to be inferred from the identifier. The radio receiver may present information included in the received dynamic metadata and metadata selected from metadata stored locally in a memory of the radio receiver according to the received radio broadcast or according to tuning of the radio receiver. Other content besides dynamic metadata, such as other static metadata and services, may be received in response to a query. This hybrid functionality allows pairing of IP services with metadata of local data sets to approximate full-featured functionality without requiring the radio receiver to send geographical location information.

In some embodiments, upon detecting internet access, the baseline data set is updated with new data in response to the client sending a request to the metadata service application. Only new information is sent in order to make the transfer bandwidth efficient. In an illustrative example intended to be non-limiting, the request for the update may include a timestamp (e.g., 2018-11-01T13:35.30.813131+00:00) identifying metadata of the request and no geographic location information. The metadata service application will deliver a data set containing only the necessary additions and deletions of data since that timestamp, and the receiver memory will have the current data. The image assets may be updated simultaneously. In some embodiments, after a specified time after the metadata is stored in memory without being updated, the client 246 marks or otherwise identifies one or more portions of the metadata stored in memory as expired and excludes the expired metadata from the metadata selected for presentation to the user.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of portions of another example of a radio receiver or head unit 300. Head unit 300 includes a radio tuner circuit 356 that receives radio broadcast signal 304, a display 344, and a memory. The memory may include any suitable data storage medium for storing logo and other image data 334, and for storing a radio broadcast database 335, which radio broadcast database 335 may store metadata for radio broadcasts. Head unit 300 also includes a wireless internet network interface 340 for communicating with server 306. The wireless internet network interface 340 may communicate information using one or both of a WiFi network and a cellular telephone network.

Server 306 includes an Application Program Interface (API) and head unit 300 includes an API client 346, the API client 346 including a data update service. API client 346 may be executed by processing circuitry of head unit 300. The processing circuitry may also execute a GPS lookup service 396 to determine geographic location information.

The API client 346 may control the operation of the radio receiver according to the method of fig. 1. The API client 346 may receive data of a specified type for a radio broadcast according to the mode in which the wireless internet interface 340 is operating. For example, when the interface is in an offline mode and not communicating using a cellular network, head unit 300 may periodically receive updates to the radio broadcast database using the detected WiFi network. The radio broadcast database 335 is updated with the received data using the data update service of the API. This data may include metadata for the radio broadcast that may be displayed when the head unit tunes to the broadcast, even if the metadata is not received in real-time during the broadcast.

In another example, head unit 300 may perform or service real-time data queries when the interface is operating in a hybrid mode where data may be received using one or both of a WiFi network or a cellular network. The real-time data may be used to display metadata associated with the real-time radio broadcast. In another example, head unit 300 may receive logo data when the interface is operating in an offline mode or a hybrid mode.

The API client 346 may perform a broadcast query using a GPS lookup service to determine available broadcasts. The metadata for the broadcast may be retrieved from memory without the head unit 300 having to send location information (e.g., GPS information) to obtain the metadata. The metadata retrieval service is implemented locally at head unit 300 without requiring an active connection to the cellular network of the internet.

The described systems, devices and methods allow a radio receiver to emulate the radio experience of an internet connection for a user even if the connection to the internet is not available to the vehicle-mounted radio receiver or the radio receiver is prevented from sending its location to an internet service.

I.Alternate embodiments and exemplary operating Environment

Example 1 includes subject matter, such as a radio receiver, comprising Radio Frequency (RF) receiver circuitry configured to receive radio broadcast signals, an internet network interface, a display, a memory, processing circuitry, and a client application comprising instructions for execution by the processing circuitry. The client application is configured to determine geographical location information of the radio receiver; determining radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver using the geographical location information; selecting metadata associated with radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver from metadata stored in the memory; and presenting information included in the selected metadata using the display according to the received radio broadcast signal.

In example 2, the subject matter of example 1 optionally includes a client application configured to detect when access to an internet network is available, initiate downloading of metadata via the internet network interface in response to detecting that access to the internet network is available, and store the downloaded metadata in the memory.

In example 3, the subject matter of example 2 optionally includes a client application configured to initiate downloading of metadata via the internet network interface and storage of the downloaded metadata in the memory in response to a prompt received at the radio receiver.

In example 4, the subject matter of one or both of examples 2 and 3 optionally includes a client application configured to initiate sending a query to a metadata service application via an internet interface in response to detecting that internet access is available, wherein the query requests metadata to be downloaded to the radio receiver and does not include geographic location information of the radio receiver.

In example 5, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 2-4 optionally includes the client application configured to send, via the internet interface, a request to the metadata service application for an update to the metadata according to the determined geographic location information in response to detecting that access to the internet network is available, wherein the request includes a timestamp identifying the requested metadata and does not include the geographic location information.

In example 6, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 1-5 optionally includes a client application configured to perform R-tree computations to determine radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver.

In example 7, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 1-6 optionally includes a client application configured to select metadata associated with radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver from static metadata stored in the memory.

In example 8, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 1-7 optionally includes a client application configured to mark one or more portions of the metadata stored in the memory as expired after a specified time after the metadata is stored in the memory and exclude the expired metadata from the selected metadata.

Example 9 includes subject matter (or may optionally be combined with one or any combination of examples 1-8 to include such subject matter), such as a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a radio receiver, cause the processing circuitry to perform acts comprising: determining geographical location information of the radio receiver; determining radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver using the geographical location information; selecting metadata associated with radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver from metadata stored in a memory of the radio receiver; and presenting information included in the selected metadata using a display in accordance with the tuning of the radio receiver.

In example 10, the subject matter of example 9 optionally includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform acts comprising: detecting when internet access is available; and downloading metadata via an internet network interface of the radio receiver for storage in a memory of the radio receiver in response to detecting that internet access is available.

In example 11, the subject matter of example 10 optionally includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform acts comprising: receiving, at the receiver, a prompt to download metadata via an internet network interface of the radio receiver, and downloading metadata via the internet network interface for storage in the memory in response to the prompt.

In example 12, the subject matter of one or both of examples 10 and 11 optionally includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform acts comprising: sending a query for updates to metadata according to the geographic location information in response to detecting that internet access is available, wherein the query includes a timestamp identifying the metadata for updating and does not include location information of the radio receiver.

In example 13, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 10-12 optionally includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform acts comprising: downloading static metadata via an internet network interface of the radio receiver for storage in a memory of the receiver in response to detecting that internet access is available.

In example 14, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 9-13 optionally includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause the processing circuitry to perform actions comprising: performing calculations on a data set local to the radio receiver to determine available radio broadcasts.

In example 15, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 9-14 optionally includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform acts comprising: indicating one or more portions of metadata stored in the memory as expired after a specified time after the metadata is stored in the memory; and excluding from the selected metadata that is indicated to be out of date.

Example 16 may include a theme (such as a method of controlling operation of a radio broadcast receiver) or may optionally be combined with one or any combination of examples 1-15 to include a theme that includes determining geographic location information of a radio receiver; determining radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver using the geographical location information; sending a query to a metadata service application using an internet network interface of the radio receiver, wherein the query requests dynamic metadata download to the radio receiver based on an identifier included in data stored in memory and does not include geographic location information of the radio receiver; selecting metadata associated with the determined radio broadcast available to the radio receiver from metadata stored in a memory of the radio receiver; and presenting information included in the received dynamic metadata and the selected metadata in the memory using a display in accordance with the tuning of the radio receiver.

In example 17, the subject matter of example 16 can optionally include detecting when access to an internet network is available to the radio receiver; sending the query to the metadata service application in response to detecting that the access is available; and storing the downloaded dynamic metadata in the memory.

In example 18, the subject matter of example 17 can optionally include the radio receiver performing a calculation on a data set local to the radio receiver to determine available radio broadcasts.

In example 19, the subject matter of one or both of example 17 and example 18 optionally includes indicating one or more portions of the metadata stored in the memory as expired after a specified time after the metadata is stored in the memory; and excluding from the selected metadata that is indicated to be out of date.

In example 20, the subject matter of one or any combination of examples 17-19 optionally includes sending, in response to detecting that access to the internet network is available, a query requesting an update of metadata according to the determined geographic location information, wherein the query includes a timestamp identifying the requested metadata and does not include the geographic location information.

These non-limiting examples may be combined in any permutation or combination. It will be apparent from the disclosure herein that there are many other variations in addition to those described herein. For example, depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events or functions of any methods and algorithms described herein can be performed in a different order, may be added, merged, or omitted altogether (such that not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the methods and algorithms). Moreover, in some embodiments, acts or events may be performed concurrently, such as through multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processor cores, or on other parallel architectures, rather than sequentially. Further, different tasks or processes may be performed by different machines and computing systems that may function together.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, methods, and algorithm processes and sequences described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, and process actions have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. The described functionality may be implemented in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of this document.

The various illustrative logical blocks and modules described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a machine, such as a general purpose processor, a processing device, a computing device with one or more processing devices, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor and a processing device may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine, combinations of the same, or the like. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

Embodiments of the in-vehicle real-time guidance generation systems and methods described herein may operate in numerous types of general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. In general, a computing environment may include any type of computer system, including but not limited to one or more microprocessor-based computer systems, mainframe computers, digital signal processors, portable computing devices, personal organizers, device controllers, computing engines in devices, mobile telephones, desktop computers, mobile computers, tablets, smart phones, devices with embedded computers, and so forth.

Such computing devices may generally be found in devices having at least some minimal computing power, including but not limited to personal computers, server computers, hand-held computing devices, laptop or mobile computers, communication devices such as cellular telephones and PDAs, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, audio or video media players, and the like. In some embodiments, the computing device will include one or more processors. Each processor may be a dedicated microprocessor, such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW), or other microcontroller, or may be a conventional Central Processing Unit (CPU) having one or more processing cores, including a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) based core in a multi-core CPU.

The process actions or operations of a method, process, or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in any combination of the two. The software modules may be embodied in computer-readable media that may be accessed by a computing device. Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media, which are either removable, non-removable, or some combination thereof. Computer-readable media are used to store information such as computer-readable or computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media.

Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, computer or machine readable media or storage devices, such as blu-ray discs (BD), Digital Versatile Discs (DVD), Compact Discs (CD), floppy disks, tape drives, hard drives, optical drives, solid state memory devices, RAM memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, flash memory or other memory technology, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other device that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by one or more computing devices.

A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, media, or physical computer storage known in the art. An exemplary storage medium can be coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

As used in this document, the phrase "non-transient" refers to "persistent or long-lived". The phrase "non-transitory computer readable medium" includes any and all computer readable media, with the sole exception of transitory propagating signals. By way of example, and not limitation, this includes non-transitory computer-readable media such as register memory, processor cache, and Random Access Memory (RAM).

The phrase "audio signal" is a signal representing a physical sound.

The retention of information such as computer-readable or computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules, etc., may also be accomplished by the use of various communication media to encode one or more modulated data signals, electromagnetic waves (such as carrier waves), or other transmission mechanisms or communication protocols and include any wired or wireless information delivery mechanisms. Generally, these communications media refer to signals whose one or more characteristics are set or changed in such a manner as to encode information or instructions in the signal. For example, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection carrying one or more modulated data signals, and wireless media such as acoustic, Radio Frequency (RF), infrared, laser, and other wireless media for transmitting, receiving, or both one or more modulated data signals or electromagnetic waves. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of communication media.

In addition, one or any combination, or portions thereof, of the various embodiments implementing the in-vehicle real-time guidance generation systems and methods described herein may be stored, received, transmitted, or read from any desired combination of computers or machine-readable media or storage devices and communication media in the form of computer-executable instructions or other data structures.

Embodiments of the in-vehicle real-time guidance generation systems and methods described herein may be further described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computing device. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The embodiments described herein may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by one or more remote processing devices, or in a cloud of one or more devices that are linked through one or more communications networks. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including media storage devices. Still further, the instructions described above may be implemented partially or wholly as hardware logic circuitry, which may or may not include a processor.

As used herein, conditional language (such as "can," "might," "can," "e.g.," among others) is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or states, unless otherwise indicated or otherwise understood in the context as used. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, that such features, elements, and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms "comprising," "having," and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and the like. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) such that, when used with a list of, for example, connected elements, the term "or" refers to one, some, or all of the elements in the list.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or algorithm illustrated may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As will be recognized, certain embodiments of the invention described herein may be embodied within a form that does not provide the features and advantages set forth herein, as some features may be used or practiced separately from others.

Claims

1. A radio receiver, comprising:

a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver circuit configured to receive a radio broadcast signal;

an internet network interface;

a display;

a memory;

a processing circuit; and

a client application comprising instructions for execution by the processing circuitry, wherein the client application is configured to:

determining geographical location information of the radio receiver;

determining radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver using the geographical location information;

selecting metadata associated with radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver from metadata stored in the memory; and

presenting information included in the selected metadata using the display according to the received radio broadcast signal.

2. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein the client application is configured to:

detecting when access to an internet network is available;

initiating a download of metadata via the internet network interface; and

the downloaded metadata is stored in the memory in response to detecting that access to the internet network is available.

3. The radio receiver of claim 2, wherein the client application is configured to initiate downloading of metadata via the internet network interface and storage of the downloaded metadata in the memory in response to a prompt received at the radio receiver.

4. The radio receiver of claim 2, wherein the client application is configured to initiate sending a query to a metadata service application via an internet interface in response to detecting that internet access is available, wherein the query requests metadata to be downloaded to the radio receiver and does not include geographic location information of the radio receiver.

5. The radio receiver of claim 2, wherein the client application is configured to send, via the internet interface, a request to the metadata service application for an update to the metadata according to the determined geographic location information in response to detecting that access to the internet network is available, wherein the request includes a timestamp identifying the requested metadata and does not include the geographic location information.

6. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein the client application is configured to perform calculations on a data set local to the radio receiver to determine radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver.

7. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein the client application is configured to select metadata associated with radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver from static metadata stored in the memory.

8. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein the client application is configured to mark one or more portions of metadata stored in the memory as expired after a specified time after the metadata is stored in the memory and exclude expired metadata from selected metadata.

9. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a radio receiver, cause the processing circuitry to perform acts comprising:

determining geographical location information of the radio receiver;

selecting metadata associated with radio broadcasts available to the radio receiver from metadata stored in a memory of the radio receiver; and

presenting information included in the selected metadata using a display in accordance with the tuning of the radio receiver.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform actions comprising:

detecting when internet access is available; and

downloading metadata for storage in a memory of the radio receiver via an internet network interface of the radio receiver in response to detecting that internet access is available.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform actions comprising:

receiving, at the receiver, a prompt to download metadata via an internet network interface of the radio receiver; and

downloading metadata via the Internet network interface for storage in the memory in response to the prompt.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform actions comprising: sending a query for updates to metadata according to the geographic location information in response to detecting that internet access is available, wherein the query includes a timestamp identifying the metadata for updating and does not include location information of the radio receiver.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform actions comprising: downloading static metadata for storage in a memory of the radio receiver via an internet network interface of the receiver in response to detecting that internet access is available.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform actions comprising: performing calculations on a data set local to the radio receiver to determine available radio broadcasts.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, comprising instructions to cause the processing circuit to perform actions comprising: indicating one or more portions of metadata stored in the memory as expired after a specified time after the metadata is stored in the memory; and excluding from the selected metadata that is indicated to be out of date.

16. A method of operating a radio broadcast receiver, the method comprising:

determining geographical location information of the radio receiver;

sending a query to a metadata service application using an internet network interface of the radio receiver, wherein the query requests dynamic metadata download to the radio receiver based on an identifier included in data stored in memory and does not include geographic location information of the radio receiver;

selecting metadata associated with the determined radio broadcast available to the radio receiver from metadata stored in a memory of the radio receiver; and

presenting information included in the received dynamic metadata and the selected metadata in the memory using a display in accordance with the tuning of the radio receiver.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

detecting when access to an internet network is available to the radio receiver;

sending the query to the metadata service application in response to detecting that the access is available; and

storing the downloaded dynamic metadata in the memory.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining available radio broadcasts to the radio receiver comprises the radio receiver performing calculations on a data set local to the radio receiver to determine available radio broadcasts.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising;

indicating one or more portions of metadata stored in the memory as expired after a specified time after the metadata is stored in the memory; and

excluding from the selected metadata that is indicated to be out of date.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein sending the query comprises sending a query requesting an update of metadata according to the determined geographic location information in response to detecting that access to the internet network is available, wherein the query includes a timestamp identifying the requested metadata and does not include the geographic location information.