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`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
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`(43) International Publication Date
`29 August 2002 (29.08.2002)
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`
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`PCT
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`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 02/067447 A2
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`(51) International Patent Classification7: H04B 1/20, 1/38
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`(21) International Application Number:
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`PCT/USO2/05039
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`(22) International Filing Date: 20 February 2002 (20.02.2002)
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`(25) Filing Language:
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`(26) Publication Language:
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`English
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`English
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`(30) Priority Data:
`60/270,463
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`20 February 2001 (20.02.2001)
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`US
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`(71) Applicants and
`(72) Inventors: ELLIS, Caron, S. [US/US]; 1300 Kingwood
`Place, Boulder, CO 80304 (US). ELLIS, D., Michael
`[US/US]; 1300 Kingwood Place, Boulder, CO 80304 (US).
`
`(74) Agent: MARTIN, Rick; Patent Law Offices of Rick Mar—
`tin, PC, 416 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO 80501 (US).
`
`(54) Title: ENHANCED RADIO SYSTEMS AND METHODS
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`(81) Designated States (national): AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU,
`AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU,
`CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH,
`GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC,
`LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW,
`MX, MZ, NO, NZ, OM, PH, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG,
`SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ,
`VN, YU, ZA, ZM, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW),
`Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
`European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FT, FR,
`GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OAPI patent
`(BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR,
`NE, SN, TD, TG).
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`[Continued on next page]
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`(57) Abstract: We have disclosed an enhanced radio
`system that provides for the capture and playback of one
`or more radio stations. The user may tune to a station, or
`scan through stations, rewind to hear what was missed,
`and fast—forward through undesired content. The system
`allows a user to rate content, and to be notified when that
`content is being played on any station. The system may
`make radio station recommendations. The system al—
`lows the user to respond easily to radio content, down—
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`user. The system may provide other radio related and
`radio content related information. The system may pro—
`vide a karaoke mode. The system may also allow the
`user to integrate a telephone with the radio. The system
`may report usage information to a collection facilty.
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` load audio content, and send radio content to another
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`WO02/067447A2
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`Petitioner Hyundai EX-1007, 0001
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`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1007, 0001
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`W0 02/067447 A2
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`|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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`Published:
`7 without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report
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`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the ”Guid-
`ance Notes on Codes andAbbreviations ” appearing at the begin-
`ning ofeach regular issue ofthe PCT Gazette.
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`Petitioner Hyundai EX-1007, 0002
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`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1007, 0002
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`TITLE
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`ENHANCED RADIO SYSTEMS AND METHODS
`
`CROSS REFERENCE T0 RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application
`
`No. 60/270,463, filed February 20, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference
`
`herein in its entirety.
`
`FIELD OF INVENTION
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`Our invention relates to radio systems and methods. In particular this invention
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`relates to enhanced radio reception and processing features, utilizing multiple radio
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`receivers, digital storage of radio content, independent control of radio reception and
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`playback, listener profiles, and two—way communication features.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`Radio is a very popular entertainment source today. It is used in many locations —
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`in the home, in the automobile, at the office, and on the go. Sources available today
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`include broadcast (AM and FM), Internet, and satellite. However, radio functions have
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`been fairly constant for years.
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`New technologies have become available in recent years. These include less
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`expensive tuners, less expensive memory, and better quality analog to digital conversion.
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`These technologies make possible an enhanced radio system.
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`Some improvements have been made in television systems recently. Personal
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`video recorders, such as those manufactured by TiVo, allow a user to easily record a
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`television program, and also provide VCR—like controls for television programs. For
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`example, see US. Patent No. 6,259,441 (2001) to Ahmad et al., "Display pause with
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`elastic playback," US. Patent No. 6,327,418 (2001) to Barton, "Method and apparatus
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`implementing random access and time—based functions on a continuous stream of
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`formatted digital data," and US. Patent No. 6,233,389 (2001) to Barton et a1.,
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`"Multimedia time warping system". However, these types of improvements have been
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`optimized for the needs of the television viewer. For instance, this prior art focuses on
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`improving the viewing of specific television programs.
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`Radio listeners typically have different needs than television Viewers. For
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`example, television viewing typically happens in a fixed environment in a home, while
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`radio listening often happens in varied, often mobile, environments. People may listen to
`the radio in a shower. People often listen to radio in a car, or carry a radio on their person
`as they pursue other activities. A television Viewer may sit and watch a program through ‘
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`its completion. A radio listener more often listens casually while pursuing other
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`activities, and may often switch between stations based on hearing a short duration item,
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`such as a song, commercial, or traffic/weather report. Program schedules are quire
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`important to television viewers, but are rarely used by radio listeners.
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`A system is needed that allows a radio listener to better control the audio content
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`she hears. For example, a listener may need a way to easily back up and hear something
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`again. This might include, for example, repeating a piece of information from a weather
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`report or a traffic report, a phone number or other item in an advertisement, a favorite
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`song, or information about a radio contest.
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`A radio listener may also need a way to pause the radio content while doing
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`something else. For example, a listener in a car may wish to pause a song while
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`concentrating on traffic or talking to someone else in the car. After resuming the song,
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`the listener may listen to the remainder of the song and then may subsequently wish to
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`fast-forward through commercials to catch up to the real-time broadcast.
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`US Patent No. 5,345,430 (1994) to Moe, "Recovery recorder system, particularly
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`commercial radio/TV broadcast recovery recorder system," discloses continuously
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`recording the last few minutes of a program being monitored to a short—term memory, and
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`transferring it, on operator command, to a long-term storage media. US. Patent No.
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`5,448,534 (1995) to Okada, "Radio with recording and reproducing function," discloses
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`detecting a desired program and starting a recording device to record the program.
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`However, this prior art requires a user to select a specific radio station or program to
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`record.
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`Because digitized audio content requires much less memory than digitized video
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`content, it is less expensive to store a significant amount of radio content. A radio tuner
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`is also less costly than a television tuner, so a system that monitors multiple radio stations
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`at once is quite feasible. Because a radio listener is quite likely to be interested in the
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`programming on multiple radio stations at the same time, a system with multiple tuners
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`and significant but inexpensive memory is also quite useful.
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`For example, a system is needed that would allow auser to switch between
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`multiple favorite radio stations and rewind to the start of an interesting piece of content
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`that may have been missed, such as a favorite song or a traffic report. Because detailed
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`radio content schedules are not typically published in advance, it would also be useful to
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`have a system that allows a user to identify items of interest, that informs the user when
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`an item of interest is being broadcast on another station, and that allows the user to switch
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`to that station and rewind back to the start of the item.
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`Since radio listeners frequently sing along with favorite tunes in locations such as
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`the shower and the car, a user may wish to sing along with a radio in a karaoke mode.
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`A system is also needed to recommend a set of radio stations to a user. This
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`would be particularly useful for traveling users, or users new to an area. Such a system
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`might allow a radio listener in a rental car or hotel to automatically search a database of
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`radio stations and find one or more that matches his tastes. A driver on a long trip may
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`need a system that automatically monitors available radio stations and compares the
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`content with his likes.
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`Traveling listeners may also need a system to inform them of venues and events in
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`an unfamiliar local area. For example, a listener may be interested in finding out about
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`concerts, celebrity appearances, radio station events, concert venues, music stores, and the
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`like.
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`Radio listeners often listen in multiple environments — in different rooms of the
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`house, in the car, in the office, and using a portable system. These listeners need a system
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`that allows them to use the advanced radio features in all of these environments. They
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`need a way to transfer information, such as radio presets, favorite songs, and favorite
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`artists, from one environment to another. They need a way to update the functionality of
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`the radio without having to purchase a new system. They need a system that allows
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`downloading of favorite songs into a radio.
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`Radio listeners also need an Internet environment to coordinate their enhanced
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`radio listening activities. These activities might include finding out about music,
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`shopping for music related products, and finding out about radio stations. They may also
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`need a system that allows them to manage the information used in an enhanced radio
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`system, such as favorite stations, artists, and songs.
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`A radio listener may also need a way to more easily respond to radio content. For
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`example, a listener may wish to respond to an ad, enter a radio contest, call in to a radio
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`talk show, or make a song request. The user may need a system that allows a telephone to
`be used with the radio system.
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`A radio listener also needs a way to more easily communicate with other radio
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`listeners. A listener may Wish to send information heard on the radio to another person.
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`This information may include an invitation to or information about a concert or other
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`event, a link to a radio station or radio show, a song heard on the radio, or other radio-
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`related information.
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`In addition to radio listeners, radio service providers may also benefit from our
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`invention. Radio service providers need a system that allows them to monitor the habits
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`of their listeners' demographic profile such as which commercials they repeat, which
`artists they favor, etc., as well as what enhanced radio features their users may access.
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`SUMMARY
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`These and other advantages are provided by our enhanced radio system. A main
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`aspect of our invention is simultaneously storing the content from multiple radio
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`receivers. Another aspect of our invention is allowing the multiple receivers to be tuned
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`to radio stations based on stations chosen as favorites by the listener, based on recently
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`played stations, and based on scanning for new stations. Another aspect of our invention
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`is allowing a listener to quickly select output from the stored content of any of the
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`receivers. A further aspect is allowing a listener to pause, resume, or skip backwards or
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`forwards in time within any of the stored content, including allowing a listener to hear
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`radio content broadcast prior to switching to a station. Another aspect of our invention is
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`allowing a listener to record radio content, or download other audio content, and quickly
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`access it later. Yet another aspect of our invention relates to providing a karaoke feature,
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`with the removal of vocal tracks and the display of lyrics for broadcast songs.
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`Other aspects of our invention relate to the collection and use of user preferences.
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`A listener may be allowed to rate specific content or groups of content. The system may
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`recognize and notify the listener of preferred content when it is broadcast on a station that
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`the listener is not currently listening to. The system may recognize and automatically
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`skip over disliked content when it is played on a station the user is listening to. The
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`system may recommend radio stations to a listener. The system may recommend local
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`events and facilities to a listener.
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`Still further aspects of our invention relate to communications. Our invention
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`may interact with a mobile or stationary telephone, using the radio's sound system, and
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`may automatically pause or mute the radio during calls. Our invention may allow a
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`listener to send and receive messages with another listener, including recorded radio
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`content. Our invention may allow a listener to easily respond to radio content, such as
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`contests, requests, call-in shows, pledge drives, etc. A listener can purchase CDs, concert
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`tickets, and other products and services. Our invention may include an Internet website,
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`with additional radio features. And our invention may provide monitoring of listener
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`usage and habits to provide a ratings service.
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`Other aspects of our invention relate to portability and configurability. Our
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`enhanced radio system may be used at home, at the office, in the shower, on the go, in the
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`car, on the boat, or in any other environment. It may be used in multiple environments.
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`And user preferences and profiles may follow the listener in any of these environments,
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`from radio to radio.
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`This system can tune in one or more radio sources, such as broadcast radio,
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`satellite radio, Intemet radio, short-wave radio, and radio scanners. The system may
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`employ multiple receivers (e.g., antennas, tuners, etc), so that the system can monitor
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`multiple radio stations at the same time. If any of the input signals is analog, it is
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`digitized, and then the digital radio signal is stored in memory.
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`Our invention also includes a controller, such as a microprocessor with program
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`memory, to control the functions of the receivers, digitizers, and other parts of the system.
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`A user can control the functions of the controller using an input device such as a remote
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`control, a voice control, a front panel control, etc. There may also be a display to provide
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`visual feedback to the user.
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`Digital audio signals are retrieved from the memory on command from the user,
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`' converted to analog signals, and sent to an output device, which may include an amplifier,
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`speakers, and the like.
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`Our enhanced radio system may be operated in a home or office, in a shower, in a
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`car, truck or boat, or as a portable system carried or worn by the user. The system may
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`also be configurable so that it can operate in multiple environments by, for example,
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`allowing the user to use different input controls and different audio output devices.
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`Our invention may provide a number of features beyond what are provided by
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`standard radios today. For example, the system may allow the user to stop, rewind, fast—
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`forward, and resume playing the radio, While continuing to record the radio input. For
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`example, the user may rewind to replay a segment of interest, and then fast-forward to
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`continue playing the broadcast audio.
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`The system may allow the user to skip-back or forward a preset interval, such as
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`30 seconds. This may allow, for example, the user to skip over commercials in recorded
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`audio.
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`The system may provide different speed playing. When playing at reduced or
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`increased speeds, it may provide frequency compensation so that the sound is
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`recognizable.
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`Our invention may allow the user to record a portion of the radio input in memory
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`for later playback. Recording may be based on impulse/command, based on a published
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`schedule of radio content, based on a specific time/station, or on other criteria.
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`Recordings may also be stored or transferred to an external analog or digital storage
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`device.
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`The system may provide preset stations. Stored radio programs may be available
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`as preset stations separate from the stations from which they were recorded.
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`This invention may allow identification of specific pieces of audio content, such
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`as songs and commercials. The system may allow the user to indicate (e. g., by pressing a
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`button or other control) that a piece of content has begun or ended. The system may also
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`recognize the start or end of content based on silence, changes in audio characteristics, or
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`other cues in the audio. For example, the system may measure the frequency and power
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`content of the audio signal, and recognize new content based on changes in harmonic
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`content, rhythmic content, etc.
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`The system may recognize a piece of content that has previously been identified.
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`The user may be allowed, for example, to name a piece of content, and to identify the
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`type of content (song, commercial, talk, etc.) The system may create a unique signature
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`of the audio signal of a particular piece of content, and use that signature to recognize that
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`content on future occasions. Signatures may be created separately in an external system
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`and downloaded from the external system into the enhanced radio system. Also,
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`information sent either in-band with the audio or in a separate channel (e.g., over the
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`Internet) may identify the content currently being broadcast. The system may include a
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`separate receiver to receive the separate information signal.
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`The system may allow the user to rate a piece of content. For example, the user
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`may be able to specify a like or dislike for a particular song or commercial, or to indicate
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`a level of interest. The user may also to be able to rate a specific musical artist, station,
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`radio show, and other sets of content. The system may be configured to skip over
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`undesirable content.
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`Our invention may include multiple radio inputs. The radio signals from each
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`input may be simultaneously digitized and recorded. For example, the user may be
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`allowed five favorite stations in a system with six tuners. In this way the system may
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`always be recording the favorite stations and the most recently tuned station in addition to
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`whatever station the user is currently listening to. The user may tune to any of the
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`favorite stations at any time, and be able to rewind to content that may have been
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`otherwise missed. For example, the user could tune to a station in the middle of a song
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`and immediately rewind to the beginning of the song, as the audio from the song has
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`previously been digitized and stored to memory. Similarly, the user could rewind to hear
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`a traffic or weather report that was missed, clues and phone number for a radio contest,
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`details in an ad of interest, or any other content of interest. Our invention may also
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`provide a scan feature, briefly playing audio from the available radio stations in sequence,
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`allowing the user to stop when something of interest is heard, and allowing the user to
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`skip-back to the start of the item of interest.
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`The system may provide an alert when content of interest is being played on a
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`different station. For example, when a favorite song or artist is played on a station other
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`than the current station, the system may notify the user, who could tune to that station and
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`rewind to the beginning of the song. The system may provide a single button to tune to
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`the station with the most recent content of interest notification. Alternatively, the system
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`may automatically change to the station with the content of interest, and may
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`automatically rewind to the start of the content.
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`The system may compare information about the user's likes and dislikes with
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`information about radio stations to create recommendations. The user may enter
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`information about her likes and dislikes, or this information may be obtained
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`automatically by monitoring the content she listens to. For example, a recommendation
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`may be provided in any of the following ways:
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`there may be a list of stations that the user
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`can choose from; the system may automatically set one or more presets based on the
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`recommendations; or the system may automatically tune to the recommended stations:
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`Our invention may obtain information about stations in a number of ways. For
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`example, the information may be sent in-band with the radio signal or delivered
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`concurrently but over a separate communications channel. Information may be
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`downloaded into the system from a database of station characteristics using, for example,
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`a wireless Internet connection. Such a database may include, for example, stations,
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`format, geographical reach, program schedules, etc. The system may monitor the content
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`of the prospective station and compare its content with the signatures of the content the
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`user has rated.
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`Radio recommendations might be especially usefiil to a traveling user who is not
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`familiar with local stations. For example, these features may be built into a portable
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`enhanced radio system. A rental car radio may be equipped with an enhanced radio
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`system including these features. A user may insert a smart card or other device into the
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`radio to indicate preferences, and the system may automatically determine the best
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`matching local stations. Such a system may, for example, set the presets, automatically
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`tune, record, or otherwise make the recommended content available to the user. The
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`system may include a global positioning system (GPS) unit to determine the user’s current
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`location as an index into a database of radio stations, and then scan the database for
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`stations matching the user's criteria. The system may alternatively scan radio stations
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`using a tuner other than the one the user is currently listening to, and compare the content
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`on each station with signatures indicating the user's preferences.
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`The system may provide automatic notification of local concerts, performing artist
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`appearances, signings, radio station events, weather, and other events of interest. This
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`information may be of interest to all types of users, including those users who are
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`traveling in an unfamiliar region. Similarly, the system may provide information about
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`local music venues, stores, and other facilities and businesses.
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`Our invention may include a communications device, such as a radio frequency
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`transceiver, modem, portable memory device, or networking equipment. This device may
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`be used to allow the system to download a user's profile, download radio station data, and
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`synchronize information between a user's different enhanced radio systems in different
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`locations. The device may be used to update the software in the enhanced radio system,
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`to download songs into the enhanced radio system, and to report usage information to a
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`ratings service. The system may, for example, use the user’s telephone or mobile phone
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`as a link to access remote data.
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`The user may have multiple enhanced radio systems, to be used in different
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`environments. All of the user's various enhanced radio systems may be synchronized.
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`For example, likes, dislikes, and presets may be exchanged between the systems.
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`Synchronization may be Internet based, for example, by allowing the user to upload data
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`from an enhanced radio system to a web site, and to download data from the web site to
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`another enhanced radio system.
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`The user may access an enhanced radio web site using a web browser. The web
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`site may provide features such as a shopping for CDs and other products, concert
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`information and ticket buying, trivia questions, contests, music information databases,
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`etc. The web site may provide a computer desktop radio feature, allowing the user to
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`listen to radio on a personal computer while connected to the Internet. The Internet
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`website may also have advertisements, which may be based on user preferences, either as
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`determined by the web site, or as uploaded from an enhanced radio system.
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`The web site may also include access to radio station databases and schedules,
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`which may be downloaded to an enhanced radio system. Data may be loaded into a
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`mobile phone or personal digital assistant, which may be used to load information into an
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`enhanced radio system in, for example, a rental car. Data may include such information
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`as station names and frequencies, formats, play lists, signatures, schedules, geographical
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`reach, etc.
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`A two-way communication feature may be included as part of an enhanced radio
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`system and may provide a number of advantages. For example, the user may be able to
`respond directly to radio advertisements without having to telephone, or the system may
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`auto-dial a mobile telephone to a phone number included in the advertisement. Similarly,
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`the user may respond to contests and call-in shows, and make requests, either directly
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`Petitioner Hyundai Ex-1007, 0011
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`using the two-way communication feature, or the system may auto-dial the radio station
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`to support these features. The auto-dialed phone number may be hand-entered by the
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`user, part of the radio station database, or included in information sent as part of or
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`separately from the radio signal. In addition, the user may buy CDs, buy concert tickets,
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`participate in live chats, and other features. The user may select these features using a
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`voice command or other types of controls.
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`The system may also incorporate telephone functions. The system may connect
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`with a mobile telephone or a wired telephone service. The system may provide telephone
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`audio using the enhanced radio's voice input and audio output. The system may
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`automatically pause or mute the radio audio while a call is in progress.
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`The system may allow one enhanced radio user to send an instant message or
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`other electronic message to another enhanced radio user. The message may, for example,
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`be text, voice, or a combination. The message may include all or part of content from a
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`radio station, such as a song. The message may be otherwise related to radio content, for
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`example including a link allowing the recipient to easily tune to a specificstation or
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`show. It may include, for example, a signature of a specific song. The message may be,
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`for example, an invitation to a concert or other event.
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`The system may also provide a karaoke mode. In this mode,‘it may remove the
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`vocal component from the audio signal as it is being played. It may also display lyrics of
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`a song as it is being played.
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`Information may be loaded into an enhanced radio system by any number of
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`methods. For example, information may be received (and sent) over a wireless link, such
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`as a wireless telephone or paging link. Information may be loaded via prerecorded media,
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`such as a compact disk or digital versatile disk. Information may be loaded from a smart
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`card, PC Card, or other portable memory device. Information may be received and sent
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`via a telephone link. Information may be exchanged over the Internet. Information may
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`be entered by hand.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`Further features of our invention, its nature and various advantages will become
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`more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in
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`conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to
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`like parts throughout, and in which:
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`FIG. 1 is an illustrative block diagram of one embodiment of the enhanced radio
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`system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 2 is an illustrative block diagram of the controller of FIG. 1;
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`FIG. 3A is an illustrative block diagram of radio sources of FIG. 1;
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`FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C are further illustrative block diagrams of alternative
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`embodiments of a portion of FIG. 1;
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`FIG. 4 is an illustrative block diagram of the communications device of FIG. 1;
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`FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are illustrative flow charts of one embodiment of the
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`enhanced radio method of the present invention;
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`FIGS. 6A through 6D are illustrations of various embodiments of the enhanced
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`radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 7 is an illustrative flow chart showing configuration steps of the enhanced
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`radio method of the present invention;
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`FIG. 8 is an illustrative flow chart showing additional configuration steps of the
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`enhanced radio method of the present invention;
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`FIG. 9 is an illustrative flow chart showing audio control steps of the enhanced
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`radio method of the present invention;
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`FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are illustrative flow charts showing steps relating to
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`recording of radio content using the present invention;
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`FIG. 11 is an illustrative flow chart showing steps related to allowing audio
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`content to be downloaded into the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 12 shows an illustrative display screen that may be used for recording radio
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`content in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 13 is an illustrative flow chart showing steps related to selecting favorite
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`radio stations in the present invention;
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`‘
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`FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are illustrative flow charts showing steps related to
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`identifying an item of radio content in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 16 is an illustrative data structure that may be used in the identification of an
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`item ofradio content in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIGS. 17A through 17C are illustrative graphs of data that may be used to identify
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`items of radio content in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are illustrative flow charts showing steps related to grouping
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`items of radio content in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 20 is an illustrative display screen that may be used in the rating of groups of
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`radio content in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 21 through FIG. 24 are illustrative flow charts showing steps related to
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`recommending radio stations in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 are illustrative data structures that may be use in the
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`enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 27 is an illustrative display screen that may be used in the recommending of
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`radio stations in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 28A and FIG. 28B are illustrative flow charts showing steps related to
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`recommending local events and facilities in the enhanced radio system of the present
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`invention;
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`FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B are illustrative display screens that may be used in the
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`recommending of local events in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 30 is an illustrative flow chart showing steps related to communication
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`features in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 31 is an illustrative display screen that may be used in an enhanced radio
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`web site in the enhanced radio system of the present invention;
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`FIG. 32A and FIG. 323 are illustrative block diagrams showing how a portable
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`device may be used with a computer and the enhanced radio system of the present
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