EP0994587A2 - Method for selecting a broadcast programme from a secondary memory of a broadcast receiver, which is capable of receiving Radio Data System (RDS) signals - Google Patents

Abstract

The program selection method responds to the reception quality of the received radio broadcast program, to select at least one radio broadcast program from the background memory of the radio data system radio receiver, which has a program identification which differs from that of the first radio broadcast program only in its regional area identification. The reception quality of each selected radio broadcast program is evaluated and the tuner is switched to the radio broadcast program with the best reception quality.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a method for selecting a radio program off in a background memory of an RDS (radio data system) radio receiver stored radio programs with different program identification codes (PI codes), where the PI code at least one country code, one regional code and comprises a program identifier, according to the preamble of the claim 1.

State of the art

According to the "Specifications of the radio data system RDS for VHF / FM broadcasting "of the European Broadcasting Union of March 1984 (EBU specification DIN EN50067) are based on the transmission frequencies of the In addition to the actual radio program, radio stations also digital Data, including the codes that characterize the transmission frequencies from a country code, a regional code for identification a spatial limitation of the transmission frequency broadcast program and a station or program identifier, transfer. Programs are used especially at larger broadcasters temporarily regionalized. To distinguish these different Regional programs will be given the same program identifier different regional codes assigned, some of which also after a possibly interconnecting the content of the regional programs maintain a national program. One speaks here of a "static regionalization".

A signal of this R adio- D aten- S ystems (RDS), a so-called RDS-signal, is used when the program broadcasts, such as radio programs for travelers in a vehicle which is equipped with a corresponding RDS car radio, different for transmitting important information , with which the RDS car radio carries out a large number of operations necessary for undisturbed reception independently and automatically, for example, without a driver having to turn his attention away from traffic and making manual entries on the RDS car radio. This RDS signal also contains information that may be communicated to the driver or a user on a display of the RDS car radio.

The RDS signal is DIN in the EBU specification mentioned above EN50067 specifies and contains or transmits with the transmitter signal a currently set frequency of a currently on the RDS car radio set radio transmitter to differentiate the different Radio transmitter with correspondingly different transmitter chains a program identification code, hereinafter PI code or abbreviated PI. This includes the country code, the regional identifier as well as the program identifier. The country code is used for coding of the country in which the respective program is broadcast, the regional identifier gives an indication of the limited distribution of the over the respective Frequency broadcast program while the program identifier identifies the broadcaster and the respective program. The The country code and the regional code are four bits and Program identifier is encoded with eight.

The PI code is in accordance with the EBU specification DIN EN50067 from four digits, which are also called 1st nibble to 4th nibble. The 1st Nibbel marks the country, e.g. "D" for Germany or "F" France. The 2nd nibble indicates whether it is a supraregional, national or regional broadcaster. This second nibble contains the distinction between original and neighboring channels. The 3rd nibble identifies the transmitter chain, e.g. "8" for NDR. The 4th nibble makes a difference the respective program of the transmitter chain, e.g. NDR1, NDR2, NDR3, NDR 4 etc. of the broadcasting network of the North German Radio NDR.

The PI code, which is broadcast via the RDS signal, is used for Identification of a program broadcast on a broadcast frequency. For this purpose, each program or the respective associated transmission frequency an individual PI code is assigned. Especially with larger broadcasters, such as the Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), radio programs are dynamically regionalized at certain times of the day, i.e. broadcast with regionally different content, such as this is the case with NDR1, for example, so that different stations broadcast different regional programs from the same network, such as NDR1 Harz, NDR1 Hannover etc. For the clear The distinction is that each of these regional programs has its own PI code assigned, which is the same in the program identifier and in the regional identifier differs. With different program chains, such as NDR1, doing the regionalization of the PI codes as well then maintained when the different regional stations become one national program interconnected what as static regionalization of the PI code is to be understood. Against with dynamic regionalization a national program during regional programs switched off and from different channels also separated by broadcasting regionalized PI codes.

Each radio signal is a list for alternative frequencies via the RDS (AF list), which indicates alternative frequencies on which this program can also be received. Conventional RDS car radios offer an automatic function to switch from one frequency currently set on the receiver to an alternative frequency (AF) without changing the program content if this results in a results in better reception quality. However, since transmitters of a transmitter chain alternative frequency identical with different regional programs are assigned, it can by such an automatic frequency change to an AF to an undesired change by the user of the program content come as a transmitter of this transmitter chain with another regional program is started. To avoid this are two operating states for conventional RDS car radios the automatic change to alternative frequencies is provided, which can be manually selected by the user. In a first operating state of the RDS car radio designated as "REG.-ON-MODE" When selecting an AF and a subsequent PI test, the 2nd Nibbel considered, i.e. only then is there an automatic change to this AF if the PI codes of the one currently set on the RDS receiver Program also in regionalization (2nd nibble) with one PI codes of the program on the AF match. This prevents a switch to an AF with a regional program other than the one currently set on the RDS car radio.

The second is "REG.-OFF-MODE" the evaluation of the 2nd nibble is not provided. Here is then in favor a possible reception of a transmitter chain Switched from one regional program to another. This can happen in unfavorable locations, for example in mountainous areas, may be beneficial if reception is poor or No AF with identical PI has left the reception area can be.

A special position occupy local radio stations for which it is neither Alternative frequencies are still regional programs. Here is in the 2nd nibble a "0" entered.

Those in a sender landscape in which an RDS receiver (e.g. a RDS car radio) is currently located, programs that can be received by conventional RDS car radios in a sogn. Background memory stored and usually sorted by PI code. RDS car radios offer the possibility of the programs stored in this background memory sequentially at the user's request, for example at the push of a button. The programs are then in the order, in which they are stored in the background memory (e.g. ascending PI code), called one after the other. This process is called "Program sheets". However, this has the disadvantage that when sorting the programs in the background memory according to their PI code if necessary multiple receivable regional programs from a single broadcaster are stored successively in the background memory. As long as this actually broadcast regional programs with different content this is not a problem, but is a hindrance to quickly changing the program chain to select. However, once these programs become one, national program are interconnected, so no different If you have more content, you can scroll through the program several times the program seems to always be the same for the user jumped on, because he can not recognize that it is different regional channels, which is due to differences in 2. Nibbel have different PI codes. Instead, it comes before that the user has a broken in his RDS radio receiver supposed. But even if the user is aware of this problem it is annoying and uncomfortable for him to press the button several times to have to press to scroll through the program until finally another Program content is received.

In favored locations, for example in Bavaria, that six to eight different regional programs one Transmitter chain can be received and stored accordingly in the background memory are. These must then be "leafed through" one after the other to go from program BR1 to program BR3, for example.

Of these six regional programs, only one is for the Region in which the RDS car radio is located is actually valid. For a user who is only for the actually valid regional program interested there is the further disadvantage that he may have this must manually select when browsing through the program, whereby the actual Use of the RDS and its automation is lost. Such Conditions are also increasing in Austria and Great Britain to be found. Another example of this is the FFN program, which can be received several times with different PI codes and accordingly may have been entered several times in the background memory while the program content varies only a few minutes during the day are.

Presentation of the invention, task, solution, advantages

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of the type mentioned above, which provides the above Disadvantages eliminated and in particular a more comfortable program browsing through in the background memory of the RDS radio receiver stored radio programs allowed.

This task is accomplished by a procedure of the above. Kind with the in claim 1 marked features solved.

For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that in a predetermined Operating state of the RDS radio receiver depending on one Reception quality of a currently set on the RDS radio receiver first radio program when selecting a new one on the RDS radio receiver radio program to be set from the Background memory one or more in the background memory the first Radio program subsequently stored second radio programs, which differs from the first broadcast program in the PI code only by the Distinguish regional identifier, either skipped or one Receiving quality check and the second Broadcast program is set on the RDS broadcast receiver, which has the best reception quality.

This has the advantage that, for example, with a manual program scrolling only started such programs again by the user which actually have a different program content. However, due to a change, such as deterioration, the reception quality of the radio program currently set if a change is necessary, the program scrolls not necessarily to change the transmitter chain, but in this case there will also be regional relatives of that channel takes into account which to that on the RDS radio receiver currently tuned broadcast stations belong without the user first manually an operating state of the RDS radio receiver must change regardless of the regional mode. So there are advantages observance of the regional identifier in the PI code evaluation one sogn. REG.-ON-MODES, which also sharply separates regional stations a single channel chain, with the advantages of one Disregard for the regional identification of a sogn. REG.-OFF modes that concern a larger AF selection in unfavorable reception situations, in one single operating state of the RDS radio receiver connected.

Further developments of the device are preferred in the claims 2 to 13 described.

In a preferred embodiment, the skip is exceeded a predetermined reception quality and the reception quality check when falling below a predetermined reception quality of the first radio program selected.

For example, in the reception quality check, a field strength check is a multipath test, an adjacent channel selection test and / or an RDS signal error rate check, wherein the Reception quality, in particular a field strength, a multipath quality, includes an adjacent channel selection and / or an RDS signal error rate.

An attitude of the regional radio program which with great probability for the region in which the RDS radio receiver is located is actually valid, is achieved by Check when setting a new radio program from the background memory, whether subsequently saved in the background memory there are further radio programs which are different from the new one Differentiate broadcasting programs in the PI code only by the regional identifier, Perform a reception quality check on this group differing from each other only in the regional identifier Radio programs and setting of the radio program, which has the best reception quality.

The method according to the invention is expediently used with manual Browsing (program browsing) performed by a user, so that here always radio programs with different content be jumped to. A multiple repetition of radio programs with different PI codes but nationally the same content is thus effectively avoided when browsing through the program.

Local stations have a special position in that Broadcast programs, which are stored as a local identifier, such as Broadcaster with national or supranational identification, while browsing through the program always be browsed, regardless of whether they have the same program identifier have or on the RDS radio receiver an evaluation of the Region code is activated (REG.-ON-MODE) or not (REG.-OFF-MODE).

The predetermined operating state can then, for example, automatically be activated if in at least one PI code a receivable A predetermined country code is included in the broadcast program for example those for Great Britain and / or Austria indicates.

The predetermined operating state is expediently manual or can be activated automatically.

An automatic activation of the predetermined operating state is then particularly advantageous if an operating state on the RDS radio receiver is activated in which the regional identifier is used for the evaluation of the PI code is taken into account (REG.-ON mode).

In a preferred development of the method according to the invention is below a predetermined reception quality of the first Broadcast program automatically another one in the background memory stored radio program of the same transmitter chain on the RDS radio receiver set or, if no such radio program the next broadcast program is stored in the background memory set on the RDS radio receiver.

If there are several stored in the background memory regional radio programs of the same broadcaster, these are in subjected to a reception quality check in a particularly advantageous manner and it will be the radio program on the RDS radio receiver which has the best reception quality.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing explained. In the single figure, this shows a flow chart of a preferred one Embodiment of a method according to the invention using the example manual program scrolling by a user.

Best way to carry out the invention

The ones commonly found in RDS (Radio Data System) broadcast receivers Regional-ON or Regional-OFF function denotes two operating states REG.-ON-MODE or REG.-OFF-MODE, whereby in REG.-ON-MODE when selecting an alternative frequency (AF) one in one Program identification code (PI code) of an RDS signal available Regional identifier is also evaluated. This separates from different radio programs, which one and the same Belong to transmitter chain, but possibly at least temporarily regionally broadcast different program content. Such radio programs The only difference in the PI code is in the regional identifier.

A background memory provided in RDS radio receivers for example, radio programs stored according to PI codes can be done manually by a user, for example by sequential Pressing a key can be scrolled sequentially. This are called program sheets.

According to the aforementioned REG.-ON or REG.-OFF function also included for program browsing and for example automatically activated depending on a country code of the PI code or deactivated. The automatic activation is especially in such Transmitter landscapes make sense in which many regional locations Broadcast programs of a transmitter chain with regionally different Program content can be received, such as in Great Britain or Austria.

In the REG.-ON mode of the RDS radio receiver either only that The first regional program in the background memory was browsed and no other radio program, which is only in the PI code differs in the regional identifier, or it is derived from the set of radio programs differing only in the regional identification of the PI code selected the one that has the best reception quality, for example greatest field strength or lowest RDS error rate, having. The radio program which has the greatest field strength is received with high probability, for example the one that is for this region in which the RDS radio receiver broadcasts a valid regional program.

If the RDS radio receiver is in REG.-OFF mode, then with manual program scrolling all stored in the background memory Radio programs scrolled sequentially.

According to the invention, a radio program is stored in the background memory is saved as a local identifier, always scrolled, regardless of whether the RDS radio receiver is in REG.-ON or REG: -OFF-MODE is located. So so-called local channels, for which there is no alternative frequency list (AF list), always scrolled (various local programs) and therefore have a special position on.

Is the RDS radio receiver in REG.-ON-MODE at a reception area limit arrived and only a switch to a regional Neighbor program of the same channel chain possible to get a best reception to secure, then sets an automatic according to the invention Select another radio program from the same channel chain. This automatic function is dependent on a reception quality, for example a reception field strength, one at the moment RDS radio receiver set the first radio program activated. The reception quality or the reception field strength is minimal Value undershot, and is in accordance with the regional code of the PI code does not have a better AF, so the program scrolls by the user not the radio program following in the memory jumped to with a different regional identifier in the PI code instead, a best selection from those stored in the background memory, related radio programs carried out by the first broadcast program in the PI code only through the regional identifier differentiate.

The only figure illustrates a preferred one in a flow chart Embodiment of a method according to the invention using the example of a manual program scrolling by a user. However, this is only exemplary to understand, since it is also within the scope of the invention lies, the inventive method with an automatic selection a related radio program stored in the background memory to use. For example, the method starts in step 10 when switching on the RDS radio receiver, a first Radio program is set on the RDS radio receiver. In writing 12 is checked whether there is a radio program in the background memory a country code is saved in the PI code for Great Britain or Austria is. If this is the case, the REG.-ON-MODE is automatically set in font 14 activated, otherwise in REG. 14 the REG.-OFF-MODE activated if REG.-ON mode was previously activated. Otherwise in Step 16 checked for a program sheet button on the RDS radio receiver was operated manually by a user. Is this if not, the system returns to Scripture 12. Otherwise it is in writing 18 checked whether the RDS radio receiver is in the REG-ON or REG.-OFF mode. In REG.-OFF mode, the 20 Background memory following the first radio program Broadcast program set on RDS radio receiver and closed Scripture 12 returned. In REG.-ON-MODE it is checked in Scripture 22, whether the first broadcast program has a predetermined reception field strength exceeds or not. If this is the case, the one in Background memory stored after the first broadcast program Broadcast program set on the RDS broadcast receiver, which in the PI code also in the region code of the first radio program distinguished and returned to Scripture 12. Otherwise is a reception field strength test of all the first in Scripture 26 Broadcasting program in the background memory of the following second Broadcasting programs carried out, which differ from the first broadcasting program distinguish in the PI code only in the regional identifier. In step 28 then becomes the second radio program on the RDS radio receiver which is the best reception field strength having. In addition or as an alternative to the reception field strength, a alternative embodiment, at 26, an RDS signal error rate or multipath disorders are checked and optimized. If in Step 26 turns out that there is no other broadcast program in the background memory is included, which differs from the first radio program only differs in the regional code in the PI code, so in Step 28 that in the background memory of the first radio program subsequently stored radio program on the RDS radio receiver set. According to Scripture 28, the process returns Step 12 back.

Claims (13)

Method for selecting a radio program from radio programs stored in a background memory of an RDS (radio data system) radio receiver with different program identification codes (PI codes), the PI code comprising at least one country code, one regional code and one program code,
characterized in that
in a predetermined operating state of the RDS radio receiver, depending on a reception quality of a first radio program currently set on the RDS radio receiver when selecting a radio program to be newly set on the RDS radio receiver from the background memory, one or more second radio programs stored in the background memory following the first radio program, which differ from the first broadcast program in the PI code only by the regional identifier, are either skipped or subjected to a reception quality check and the second broadcast program, characterized by regional affinity, is set on the RDS broadcast receiver that has the best reception quality. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the skipping when a predetermined reception quality is exceeded and the reception quality check when the reception radio falls below a predetermined reception quality of the first radio program is selected. The method of claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
a field strength test, a multipath test, an adjacent channel selection test, and / or an RDS signal error rate test is carried out in the reception quality test. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the reception quality comprises a field strength, a multipath quality, an adjacent channel selection and / or an RDS signal error rate. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
marked by,
When setting a new radio program from the background memory, check whether there are other radio programs that are subsequently stored in the background memory and which differ from the new radio program in the PI code only in the regional code Broadcast programs and setting the broadcast program that has the best reception quality. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
this is done when a user browses manually (program scrolls). Method according to claim 6,
characterized in that
Broadcast programs that are stored as local identifiers are always scrolled when browsing through the program, regardless of whether they have the same program identifier or whether an evaluation of the regional identifier is activated on the RDS radio receiver (REG.-ON-MODE) or not (REG.-OFF-MODE ). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the predetermined operating state is automatically activated when a predetermined country code is determined in at least one PI code of a receivable radio program. A method according to claim 8,
characterized in that
the predetermined country code is, for example, that for Great Britain and / or Austria. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the predetermined operating state can be activated manually or automatically. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the predetermined operating state can be activated automatically when the RDS radio receiver is in an operating state in which the regional identifier is taken into account when evaluating the PI code (REG.-ON mode). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
if the reception quality of the first radio program falls below a predetermined one, another regional radio program of the same transmitter chain stored in the background memory is automatically set on the RDS radio receiver or, if no such radio program is stored, the next program on the RDS radio receiver is set in the background memory. Method according to claim 12,
characterized in that
in the presence of several regional radio programs stored in the background memory of the same transmitter chain, these are subjected to a reception quality check and the radio program that has the best reception quality is set on the RDS radio receiver.

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