GB2299245A

GB2299245A - A method of recording traffic announcement messages

Info

Publication number: GB2299245A
Application number: GB9605492A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stefan Rychlak
Original assignee: Blaupunkt Werke GmbH
Current assignee: Blaupunkt Werke GmbH
Priority date: 1995-03-21
Filing date: 1996-03-15
Publication date: 1996-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-15
Also published as: GB2299245B; FR2732175B1; FR2732175A1; DE19510219A1; GB9605492D0

Description

1 2299245 A Method of Recordinq Traffic Announcement Messages

The subject of the protection right is a method of recording traffic announcement messages according to the preamble of Claim 1 and a broadcast receiver for the implementation of the method according to the preamble of Claim 6.

Such broadcast devices are known i.a. through the Blaupunkt Stockholm RCR 42 car radio. In this car radio the traffic messages are recorded in accordance with the method according to the preamble of Claim 1.

The method according tothe invention differs from this mode of operation of the devices according to the prior art by virtue of the characterising features of Claim 1.

This method offers the advantage that in the event of an intentional change from one traffic announcement transmitter to another, it is made known whether at this time a traffic announcement message is being recorded when simultaneously another signal source is connected to the playback unit.

The methods according to Claims 2 and 3 disclose alternative means of making known the recording of traffic announcement messages. In a particularly simple manner the method according to Claim 4 combines the desired change of transmitter with the recording of a traffic message. The method according to Claim 5 gives precedence to the interruption of the recording in progress.

Claims

Claims 6 and 7 relate to circuit arrangements which are adapted in a

particularly simple manner for the implementation of the method according to the invention.

2 The invention will be explained in detail in the form of the exemplary embodiment of a broadcast receiver illustrated in the drawing.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a block circuit diagram of the main modules of a broadcast receiver relevant to the method according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the control unit indicated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a block circuit diagram of an erasing device.

The traffic announcement transmitter set via the tuner 2 is received with the antenna 1 in Fig. 1. Its signals are amplified in the HF stage 3 and converted into the intermediate-frequency position. At the output of the IF stage 4 the modulation of the set transmitter is available as its MM signal. The 57-kHz- auxiliary carrier is filtered out of this MPX signal in the traffic announcement stage 5. Demodulation of the auxiliary carrier for the analysis of the codes takes place therein.

The low-frequency useful signal of the traffic announcement transmitter in the MPX signal is rendered audible via a LF input stage 6, source change-over switch 7 and LF end stage 8 and via the loudspeaker 9.

In parallel thereto, the low-frequency useful signal is recorded by a recording unit 10 when the latter has been released for this purpose by the traffic announcement stage 5 on the basis of the analyzed code.

The source change-over switch 7 is connected not only to the LF input stage 6 but also to the outputs of the recording unit 10, and the outputs of a cassette player 11 and a CD player 12. The traffic announcement stage 5 is designed 3 either as decoder for the code frequencies or as decoder for the RDS data. For the transmission of the analysis result, the traffic announcement stage 5 is also connected to the tuner 2.

The tuner 2 comprises a plurality of station keys which are referenced 13. These can also include a transmitter search key or other setting means suitable for changing the transmitter. The tuner 2 also comprises a display unit 14 for displaying the frequency or transmitter.

For the implementation of the method according to the ay invention - as shown in Fig. 2 - the input of the disp. unit 14 is connectible via a first change-over switch 15 selectively to the output of a character generator 16 which relates to the cassette operation. The other input of the first change-over switch 15 is connected to the output of a second change-over switch 17, whose first input is connected to a character generator 18 for an announcement code, while the second input of the second change-over switch 17 is connected to a character generator 19 for the set frequency or for the name of the set transmitter.

The displayed frequency corresponds to the actuation state of one of the station keys 13A to 13C which, via the selection switch 20, determine the frequency of the mixing oscillator 21.

In the case of cassette operation the first change-aver switch 15 normally occupies its first position on the left in Fig. 2. If, in this operating state, one of the station keys 13 is actuated, then a key position sensor 22 for three different key positions which is integrated in each of the station keys leaves its rest position zero and in its first operating position I indicates that a change of transmitter has been initiated. The sensor output signal switches the 4 first change-over switch 15 into its second position on the right in Fig. 2. As a result, the display unit 14 now displays the frequency or the name of the transmitter assigned to the station key or the existence of a traffic announcement message and the recording thereof. The second change- over switch 17 is controlled by the traffic announcement stage 5. As soon as the traffic announcement stage has recognised an announcement code, the second change-over switch 17 is switched over into its second position on the left in Fig. 2 for reproduction of the reference to the announcement and the recording thereof. The switch-over can also take place in intermittent fashion.

If the listener does not wish to interrupt this recording, he does not repeat the actuation of the new station key 13. If on the other hand the listener gives priority to the transmitter change-over he must bring the key position sensor 22 into its second operating position II by repeated actuation of the station key. In this case the recording of the still incomplete traffic announcement message can also be erased. This will be discussed further with reference to the description of Fig. 3.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the message code is additionally recorded in a delay stage 23 which automatically reselects the station when the announcement code has been extinguished; i.e. only thereafter does it bring the station key into the second operating position.

At this moment the oscillator 21 is set at the new frequency which is also displayed in the display unit, optionally in alternation with the announcement code when at this time the new transmitter likewise transmits a traffic message.

In some cases the newly set transmitter belongs to a chain of transmitters broadcasting the same program as the previously set transmitter. The transmitters of such chains are distributed throughout the country since the range of UKW transmitters is limited. If the traffic announcement transmitters selectable by means of the station keys are RDS transmitters, the erasure of the previous recording, which has remained incomplete when priority was given to the setting of the second operating position of the key changeover sensor 22, can be suppressed if a comparison of the PI codes of the transmitter which has been left and the newly set transmitter is carried out and the comparison indicates identity. Then the recording of the traffic message is continued.

Figure 3 illustrates the switching stages required for this purpose. The length of the transition time from the first into the second operating position is measured in a timer 24. If this length of time is shorter than the life of the timer 24, the erasure of the last recorded data item in the recording unit 10 is initiated. If, however, the RDS traffic announcement stage 5 recognises identity between the PI code of the newly set transmitter and that of the transmitter which has been left, then the erase command emitted by the timer 24 is blocked via the blocking stage 25.

6 Claims 1. A method of recording traffic announcement messages in a broadcast receiver comprising a display unit and a recording unit in which a number of traffic announcement messages of the set transmitter characterised by an announcement code can be recorded and in which the playback unit is connectible via a low-frequency signal source change-over switch selectively to the LF input stage, the recording unit or to further low- frequency signal sources, wherein the connected signal source is displayed in the display unit, characterised in that when the connection of one of the further signal sources (11, 12) to the playback unit (8, 9) is displayed and at the same time a change of transmitter is initiated during the recording of a traffic announcement message, this state of the recording unit (10) is temporarily displayed.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the display takes place in the display unit (14).
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the display takes place in an acoustic fashion.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the initiated change of transmitter takes place automatically after the end of the recording in progress.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the termination of the initiated change of transmitter and the discontinuation of the recording in progress can be confirmed by repeated key depression.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the length of time between the first and the repeated key actuation is measured in a timer (24) and in the event of 7 the undershooting of a predetermined setpoint time, the recording of the traffic message, which has remained incomplete, is erased.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the erasure is blocked when the transmitter which has been left and the newly selected transmitter have the same RDS-PI code.
8. A broadcast receiver for the implementation of the method claimed in Claim 1, the playback unit of which is connectible via a signal source change-over switch (7) to a recording unit (10) for traffic messages, and the display unit (14) of which can display the operative signal source (6, 10, 11, 12) and, when a change of transmitter is initiated via a first change-over switch (15), the still set transmitter, characterised in that an output of a traffic announcement stage (5) whiCh displays the reception of the announcement code is connected to the control input of a second change-over switch (17) which is connected in series with that input of the first change-over switch (15) assigned to the display of the set transmitter, that the first input of the second change-over switch (17) is connected to the character generator (19) for the display of the set transmitter and the second input of the second change-over switch (17) is connected to a character generator (18) for the display of an announcement code.
9. A method of recording traffic announcement messages in a broadcast receiver substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A broadcast receiver substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.