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Claims  |
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What I claim is:
1. Receiving apparatus for enabling a listener to obtain certain
information associated with program material transmitted over a broadcast
carrier to which the apparatus is tuned, comprising:
tuner/demodulator means for responding to the broadcast carrier when the
tuner/demodulator means is tuned to receive the broadcast carrier;
decoding means associated with said tuner/demodulator means for decoding
information item data associated with the broadcast carrier, wherein said
information item data is related to the program material transmitted over
the broadcast carrier;
print memory means for storing the decoded information item data related to
the program material as desired;
address control means coupled to said print memory means for controlling
write and read operations for addresses of the print memory means
selectively in response to a memory command signal and to a recall command
signal;
memory button means coupled to the address control means for producing said
memory command signal when said memory button means is operated;
recall button means coupled to said address control means for producing
said recall command signal when said recall button means is operated; and
print buffer/control means for enabling printing on a printer unit of the
decoded information item data stored in said print memory means in
response to a print command signal.
2. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print
buffer/control means includes means for enabling the information item data
to be output to the printer unit in the form of successive frames each
having a determined number of print lines.
3. Receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print lines of a
frame relate to identification of a title of the transmitted program
material.
4. Receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print lines of a
frame relate to an advertisement.
5. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, including display means
arranged to be coupled to an output of said decoding means for displaying
the decoded information item data, said display means including a display
panel and means for displaying on said display panel the information item
data decoded from the broadcast carrier by said decoding means.
6. Receiving apparatus according to claim 5, including display data select
means coupled to said output of said decoding means and to an output of
said print memory means for selecting one of a first and a second display
mode for the display means, wherein said display data select means
comprises;
means for displaying on said display means the information item data when
decoded rom the broadcast carrier by said decoding means, when the first
display mode is selected, and
means for displaying on said display means the decoded information item
data stored in said print memory means in response to said recall command
signal when the second display mode is selected.
7. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, including;
means for locally generating supplemental information data for
supplementing the decoded information item data; and
means coupled to an output of said locally generating means and to an
output of said decoding means for providing both of the locally generated
supplemental information data and the decoded information item data to a
data input of said print memory means.
8. Receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said locally
generating means includes means for generating frequency data
corresponding to a station frequency to which the apparatus is tuned.
9. Receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said locally
generating means includes means for generating time data corresponding to
a current time of day.
10. Receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said locally
generating means includes means for generating date data corresponding to
a current date.
11. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print memory
comprises a detachable memory card.
12. A system for receiving broadcast program material, wherein certain
information associated with the program material can be stored for later
retrieval, comprising:
a receiver including;
tuner/demodulator means for responding to a broadcast carrier when the
tuner/demodulator means is tuned to received the broadcast carrier,
decoding means associated with said tuner/demodulator means for decoding
information item data associated with the broadcast carrier, wherein said
information item data is related to program material transmitted over the
broadcast carrier,
detachable print memory means for storing the decoded information item data
related to the program material, as desired, and
first connector means for accepting said print memory means and for
coupling the print memory means to said decoding means; and
a printer and control unit including;
second connector means for accepting said detachable print memory means,
address control means coupled to said second connector means for
controlling addressing of the print memory means when inserted in said
second connector means,
a printer, and
print/buffer control means for enabling printing by said printer of the
decoded information item data stored in said print memory means in
response to a print command signal.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein said print memory means is in the form
of a detachable memory card.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the address control means of said
printer and control unit includes means for clearing memory storage
addresses of said print memory means when inserted in said second
connector means, for enabling subsequent storage of new information item
data when the print memory means is inserted in the first connector means
of said receiver.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein said printer/buffer control means
includes means for enabling the information item data to be output to the
printer in the form of successive frames each having a determined number
of print lines.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the print lines of a frame relate to
identification of a title of the transmitted program material.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the print lines of a frame relate to an
advertisement.
18. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, comprising
display means arranged to be coupled to an output of said decoding means
for displaying the decoded information item data;
playback means for reproducing program material and encoded information
item data recorded on a recording media, and for producing a corresponding
output signal; and
means for coupling the output signal from said playback means to an input
of said decoding means so that the information item data encoded on said
recording media can be decoded for display on said display means.
19. Receiving apparatus according to claim 18, including print memory means
arranged to be coupled to said decoding means for storing the decoded
information item data as desired.
20. Receiving apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said print memory
means comprises a detachable memory card. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates generally to broadcasting systems, and more
particularly to broadcast receiving apparatus in which supplemental data
inserted in a broadcast carrier to which the apparatus is tuned, is
decoded and presented to the listener via a visual display and/or a
printer unit.
II. Discussion of the Known Art.
Listeners of all kinds of music frequently wish they can remember the name,
artist or other pertinent information relating to a musical piece or
selection they heard during a recent broadcast. If the listener happens to
hear an announcer identify the piece before or after it is played over the
broadcast station, he or she may note the information down with pencil and
paper if convenient. Usually, however, the selection is first heard by the
listener while driving or under some other condition where it is not
possible or practical to jot down identifying information so as to enable
the selection to be later purchased at a retail store.
Broadcast stations often transmit a number of musical pieces one right
after the other, by various artists and without any narration or other
means of identifying the title or performer of each piece just before or
after it is played. Thus, when an announcer finally identifies each of,
e.g., five selections that were played successively over the past 15
minutes, the listener cannot be sure which title and name identifies a
particular selection he or she may have especially liked.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,610 issued on Nov. 5, 1991, discloses a broadcasting
system and receiver that afford the listener an opportunity to identify,
by means of supplemental information encoded in the broadcast carrier
signal, items such as the artist and title of a musical selection. The
supplemental information can be displayed simultaneously with the
broadcast by way of a display panel on the receiver, and the information
can also be stored in a receiver memory to be displayed or printed out at
a later time for the listener's convenience.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,308 (Dec. 12, 1989) relates to a broadcast data storage
and retrieval system including a memory for storing information encoded
with a broadcast, and a display for presentation of the stored information
at a later time. A frequency-modulation (FM) broadcasting system has also
been proposed in which auxiliary tuning and program information is
inserted into a monophonic or stereophonic FM broadcast in the commercial
FM band of 88 to 108 MHz. See Specifications of the Radio Data System RDS
for VHF/FM Sound Broadcasting, European Broadcasting Union, Tech. 3244-E
(March 1984), referred to hereafter as "the EBU system".
In the EBU system, blocks of character data are continuously inserted, in
synchronized fashion, in a 57 KHz subcarrier of a FM broadcast signal. The
blocks of data may correspond to (1) the country from which the broadcast
originates, (2) the area of coverage, viz., international, national or
regional, and (3) the type of program such as traffic information, sports,
pop music or the like. Circuitry within specially designed automobile
receivers would, upon decoding the data blocks, cause the receiver either
to stay tuned to the received station, or to scan for another station that
is transmitting a certain kind of program information pre-selected by the
driver. The EBU system does contemplate transmissions of text material
(Radiotext) addressed primarily to new home receivers. It is acknowledged
that a changing message display on an automobile receiver could divert the
driver's attention from the road and thus present a safety hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,217 issued Feb. 14, 1989. discloses set with a playback
function. A portion of an audio signal that is reproduced by a receiver
can be stored in a digital memory, for later recall by the listener.
Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,724 issued May 19, 1981, and U.S. Pat. No.
4,488,273 issued Dec. 11, 1984, disclose systems in which a received radio
broadcast program is first recorded on a continuous loop of magnetic tape
prior to being audibly reproduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a broadcast receiving unit that
allows listeners safely to view and record selected auxiliary information
transmitted during a broadcast.
Another object of the invention is to provide a broadcast receiver or
monitor system wherein supplemental information pertaining to broadcast
program material and encoded for transmission with the program material is
decoded, and can be immediately displayed, stored and later viewed and/or
printed out at the listener's convenience.
A further object of the invention is to provide a broadcast receiver or
monitor system in which items of identifying information encoded for
transmission with program material from a broadcasting station, are
decoded and stored in a detachable memory card which, when removed from
the receiver, can be coupled to a printer unit to obtain a hard copy or
"coupon" that displays the stored information.
Another object of the invention is to provide a broadcast receiver or
monitor system that enables listeners to view simultaneously instructional
text or song lyrics while music or a song is being broadcast.
According to the invention, receiving apparatus for enabling a listener to
obtain certain information associated with program material transmitted
over a broadcast carrier signal to which the apparatus is tuned, includes
tuner/demodulator means for detecting a broadcast carrier when the
tuner/demodulator means is tuned to receive the carrier, and decoding
means associated with the tuner/demodulator means for decoding information
item data associated with the broadcast carrier, the information item data
being related to the program material that is transmitted over the
carrier. Print memory means is provided to store desired decoded
information item data related to the program material, and address control
means is coupled to the print memory means for controlling read and write
operations for addresses of the print memory means. Memory button means
and recall button means are coupled to the address control means for
producing a memory command signal and a recall command signal to which the
address control means responds. Print buffer/control means enables
printing on a printer unit of decoded information item data that is stored
in the memory means.
The various features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the
present disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its
operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference
should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which
there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention
.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of a receiver and
printer arrangement according to the present invention:
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of a second
embodiment of the receiver in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view of two frames of printed identification text as may be
obtained with the printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a view of two frames of advertising text as may be obtained from
the printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the configuration of a broadcasting
station according to the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of the configuration of a receiver
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receiver 10 and an associated printer
device 12 arranged according to the invention. Receiver 10 may, for
example, be dimensioned to fit in the dashboard of an automobile, and
includes connectors on its back panel (not shown) for mating with an
antenna cable 14 and a pair of speaker cables 16a, 16b. A connector J1 for
a printer cable 18a is also provided at a convenient location on the face
of the receiver 10. If the receiver 10 is removable, it may desirable to
locate the printer cable connector J1 on the rear apron of the receiver
chassis, together with the connectors for the antenna cable 14 and speaker
cables 16a, 16b.
Receiver 10 has a front panel 20 on which an on/off volume control 22,
treble control 24, and bass control 26 are arranged. In the illustrated
embodiment, the receiver 10 is an FM broadcast receiver, and broadcast
stations are tuned in by scanning either upwardly or downwardly in
frequency by way of corresponding scan buttons 28a, 28b. Either the
tuned-in station frequency, or the current time, is displayed via a liquid
crystal (LC) display panel 30. Selection of the display of either the
tuned-in station frequency or the current time, is made via FREQ/TIME
button 31.
Another LC display panel 32 is provided on the receiver front panel 20, and
allows for display of information decoded from the station carrier signal.
As shown in FIG. 1, display panel 32 presents up to 3 lines of
alpha-numeric text. Each line may allow for display of up to, for example,
16 characters. The top or first line 32a of the display panel 32 displays
a title, "Route 66", that identifies a broadcast musical piece. The center
or second line 32b of the panel 32 displays the artist's name, and the
bottom or third line 32c of the LC display panel 32 is adapted to display
a corresponding record, tape or compact disk (CD) catalogue number to
facilitate the purchase of the musical piece by a listener.
A memory button 34 is arranged in the vicinity of the LC display panel 32.
When memory button 34 is operated or depressed, various information items
displayed by the lines 32a, 32b and 32c are stored in a receiver memory,
as explained in detail below with respect to FIG. 6. A recall button 36,
also near the display panel 32, operates to enable the recall of
previously stored information items for display and/or printing. A print
button 38 operates to cause the printing of the recalled information items
via the printer device 12 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4.
Also, a display select button 40 arranged next to the panel 32 operates to
select either an "on-line" display of decoded information items, or a
display of successive sets of stored information items when the items are
recalled from memory by operating the button 36.
FIG. 2 is a view of a second embodiment of the receiver 10 in FIG. 1.
Corresponding components have similar reference characters. Instead of
being in the form of an automobile radio, receiver 10' is adapted to be a
portable unit and is powered, for example, either by a conventional
self-contained battery or via an AC wall adapter (neither of which appears
in the drawing). A receiver according to the present invention can also be
in the form of a home table top or a cabinet mounted unit, and respond to
broadcasts in the commercial AM and short-wave bands as well.
The receiver 10' of FIG. 2 may be of the kind having its sound output
coupled to earphones EP adapted to be worn by a person while relaxing,
walking, jogging or the like.
Receiver 10' can also act as a "monitor" to be used in conjunction with
existing home or automobile radios which lack the information data
decoding and storage stages described below in connection with FIG. 6.
That is, in order for a listener to realize the full benefit of the
present broadcasting system, he or she need only keep the monitor receiver
10' of FIG. 2 on hand. When hearing a musical piece or advertisement of
interest broadcast over the existing radio, the receiver 10' is then
turned on and tuned to the broadcasting station frequency. The listener
then can view and store any encoded information data transmitted at the
time in his or her own monitor receiver, and recall the data later on as
desired. If used in such a fashion, the receiver or monitor 10' need not
include circuitry for demodulating and reproducing the broadcast program
material through a loudspeaker or earphones.
FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of a paper strip 50 on which characters have
been printed by the printer device 12. In addition to the three lines of
identification information displayed by the LC display panel 32, a date, a
station frequency and a time of day appear at the uppermost two lines of
successive frames 52, 54 printed on the portion of the paper strip 50
shown in FIG. 3.
Specifically, print frame 52 indicates that on Jan. 10, 1989, while tuned
to an FM station broadcasting with a carrier frequency of 96.7 MHz, the
listener activated memory button 34 on the receiver 10 while listening to
a musical piece entitled "Route 66" performed by "Bob Smith" and having a
record catalogue number "LP 01234". Further, as shown at the end of the
second line from the top of frame 52, memory button 34 was operated at
8:30 AM, the time of day during which the musical piece was actually being
broadcast.
Frame 54 on the paper strip 50 indicates that on the same day, Jan. 10,
1989, but at 10:45 AM, the listener activated the memory button 34 while
tuned to an FM station transmitting at a carrier frequency of 101.9 MHz
and broadcasting a piece entitled "Poinciana" as performed by "Jim Jones",
and having a compact disc (CD) catalogue number "CD 98765".
The two print frames 52, 54 which appear successively on the portion of the
paper strip 50 shown in FIG. 3, are obtained as follows. Display button 40
is operated to set the receiver 10 in a store/print mode. Recall button 36
is then operated and, for example, the most recent set of identification
data that was stored by operation of the memory button 34 is displayed on
the LC display panel 32. Next, printer device 12 is connected to the
receiver 10, and print button 38 is operated. Sets of stored
identification data are then printed successively in the form of the
frames 52, 54, and so on, on the paper strip 50 by the printer device 12.
As mentioned, date, time and station frequency information are included in
the frames 52, 54, so that the listener can correctly associate the
printed data with the piece that was being broadcast when the memory
button 34 was operated.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, at the beginning of the line identifying the
title of a musical piece, a prefix symbol or flag "T/" appears. The
symbol, which stands for "Title", identifies the information on the line
and the following lines as information pertaining to the title of a piece
which was broadcast when the memory button 34 was activated.
The present invention contemplates that in addition to providing
information regarding the identification of a broadcast musical piece, a
broadcasting station can transmit character text for purposes of
advertising.
FIG. 4 shows a portion of a paper strip 50' on which advertising text is
printed by the printer device 12 when the receiver 10 has been set in the
print mode by operation of the recall button 36 and the print button 38.
During those periods when no pre-recorded program material is broadcast by
a station and the station announcer is reading an advertisement, related
advertising text may be encoded in the broadcast carrier signal and
transmitted to the receiver 10. With the display button 40 set in the
on-line mode, three lines of the advertising text are displayed
simultaneously with reception of the broadcast signal by the LC display
panel 32. The advertising text, as shown by the last three lines in the
print frames 56, 58 in FIG. 4, provides essential information in regard to
a typical advertisement, such as the advertiser name, business and
location. At the beginning of the first line of the advertising text, a
prefix symbol or flag "A/" is provided to designate the information on the
line and the following lines of each frame as advertising material.
If the listener hears an advertisement of interest announced over a
broadcast station, and would like to record essential information relating
to the advertisement, he or she need only depress the memory button 34
while the receiver 10 is in the on-line mode. When the receiver 10 is
later set in the print mode by operating recall and print buttons 36, 38
and the printer device 12 is connected, sets of advertising text stored by
the receiver are printed on the paper strip 50, together with the date,
time and frequency of the originating broadcast station.
The above so-called advertising text may also include various sorts of
messages originating directly from the announcer during intervals between
music broadcasts, e.g., "Radio Ronald says don't forget Valentine's Day".
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an FM radio broadcast station 100
equipped to transmit encoded information text together with the broadcast
carrier signal, according the invention.
A studio control and processing unit 102 is provided to control operations
of various components comprising the broadcast station 100. The control
and processing unit 102 includes one or more central processing units
(CPUs), program and working memories and input/output devices, as are
ordinarily required in accordance with standard engineering practice.
Since program source material may be the form of analog media such as long
playing records (LPs) or tapes; or digital media such as CDs or digital
audio tapes (DATs), an analog source select switching unit 104 and a
separate digital source select switching unit 106 are provided. Depending
on the particular program source material, one of the source select
switching units 104, 106 is enabled via control and processing unit 102.
During periods when the studio microphone is "live", an announcer or other
person's voice is picked-up by a microphone (MIC) coupled to the analog
source select switching unit 104, the output of which is coupled to one
input of analog switch 108. Digital source select switching unit 106 has
an output bus coupled to an input of a digital-to-analog converter circuit
(DAC) 110 the analog output of which is coupled to another input of the
analog switch 108. At least part of the output bus from the digital source
select unit 106 is coupled to an input of an information item extractor
circuit 112 the purpose of which is as follows.
The auxiliary or identifying information text to be encoded for
transmission with a broadcast carrier signal by the station 100,
preferably has a digital format. It is therefore contemplated that various
sources of musical program material such as CDs and DATs will provide, in
addition to pre-recorded musical program material, identification
information or data in digital form which data corresponds to that
described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3 for purposes of identifying the
title, artist and catalogue number pertaining to the prerecorded material.
Such identification text, hereafter referred to as "information items" is
capable of being detected separately during play of the encoded digital
source material by the information item extractor circuit 112 which
provides the extracted data to one input of a data select switch 114. The
"T/" prefix which appears in the display and print formats shown and
described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3, may be encoded in the digital
program source material together with the information item data, or can be
appended to that data when output from the extractor circuit 112.
Since the currently available program source material, whether analog or
digital, will not have encoded information item data, data corresponding
to that represented in FIGS. 1-4 is inserted at the broadcast station 100
via a studio information item entry keyboard 116. The keyboard 116 is
controlled and its output is buffered by keyboard controller-buffer
circuitry 118. Keyboard entries made by the studio announcer or other
personnel are monitored via an information item keyboard monitor 120.
Information item data entered by the keyboard 116 is supplied through the
buffer circuitry 118 to a data encode/insert stage 122. Accordingly,
character data entered via the keyboard is, prior to insertion in a
broadcast carrier signal produced by the station 100, encoded to conform
with a determined standard format adopted for the information items as
transmitted with the carrier signal. An output of the data encode/insert
stage 122 is coupled to another input of the data select switch 114.
Information item data to be transmitted, whether originating from a digital
program material source or by manual entry from the keyboard 116, is
output from the data select switch 114 through a suitable interface (not
shown) into an information item data memory 124. Addressing of the data
memory 124, and read or write control of the memory 124 is performed by a
data memory controller 126 which in turn is subject to the control of
studio control and processing unit 102. The output of the data memory 124
is supplied through a buffer stage 128 to digital-to-analog convertor or
interface 130 an output of which is supplied through appropriate buffer
circuitry (not shown) to a sub-carrier modulator 132.
The sub-carrier modulator 132 may, for example, amplitude-modulate a 57 KHz
sub-carrier transmitted by the station 100 with the broadcast carrier
signal while stereophonic program material is frequency-modulated on the
carrier in accordance with established broadcast standards. In the United
States, FM broadcast radio standards are prescribed by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) at 47 C.F.R. .sctn..sctn.73.201 to 73.333.
All pertinent portions of the FCC broadcast standards are incorporated by
reference herein.
Specifically, 47 C.F.R. .sctn.73.319 permits the use during either
monophonic or stereophonic program broadcasting, of a sub-carrier that may
be modulated in any form to transmit information supplemental to the
regular broadcast signals. For stereophonic sound program transmissions
which require insertion of a stereophonic sub-carrier at 38 KHz, the
frequency of the multiplex sub-carrier must lie within the range of 53 KHz
to 99 KHz. 47 C.F.R. .sctn..sctn.73.319 & 73.323. In the illustrated
embodiment of the broadcast station 100 in FIG. 5, a 57 KHz multiplex
sub-carrier is employed, this frequency being the third harmonic of a 19
KHz pilot sub-carrier which is required to be inserted on FM stereophonic
sound transmissions.
Reproduced program source material or live studio microphone audio output
from the analog switch 108 is applied to the input of an FM stereo encode
circuit 134. Left (L) and right (R) sum and difference signals are output
from the stereo encode circuit 134 to be supplied as input signals to an
FM broadcast transmitter 136 through a combining network 138. The 19 KHz
pilot sub-carrier signal is produced within the stereo encode circuit 134
and a sample of the 19 KHz signal is supplied to a frequency tripler 140
to generate a coherent 57 KHz sub-carrier signal which, in turn, is
applied to an input of the sub-carrier modulator 132. The 57 KHz
sub-carrier signal is, for example, double side-band (DSB) modulated by
the information item data present at the output of the interface circuit
130. The modulated 57 KHz sub-carrier is supplied to another input of the
combining network 138 to be combined with the broadcast carrier signal
generated by the broadcast transmitter 136 and radiated from an antenna
installation 142.
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic circuit configuration
200 for the receiver 10 or 10' of FIGS. 1 and 2. A receiver control and
timing circuit 202 includes one or more CPUs, program and working memories
and input/output devices, as are ordinarily required in accordance wi | | |
