Broadcasting system with supplemental data transmission and storge

A broadcast receiver or monitor unit receives and decodes items of information pertaining to broadcast program material, such as the title of a broadcast musical piece, the artist name, tape/CD catalog number, and the like. The information items can be displayed on a panel simultaneously with the broadcast. Upon entry of a memory command, the receiver stores the decoded items of information data in a memory. Sets of stored information data relating to selected broadcasts can later be retrieved from the memory and recorded in a predetermined format on paper strips or coupons by a printer device.

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 
.

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 with 
standard engineering practice. Circuit 202 controls the operations of 
various components that comprise the receiver circuit configuration 200. 
Signals detected by a receiving antenna 204 are input to a 
tuner/demodulator unit 206 which can take the form of a conventional FM 
stereo tuner. Demodulated 1 and R audio signals are supplied to a pair of 
amplifiers 208a, 208b for sound reproduction by corresponding speakers 
210a, 210b. A sample of the 19 KHz pilot signal as demodulated by the unit 
206, is supplied to control and timing circuit 202 for purposes of 
synchronization. The 19 KHz pilot signal is also input to a tripler 
circuit 210 from which a 57 KHz signal is derived by generator 212 in 
synchronism with the 57 KHz multiplex sub-carrier inserted into the 
broadcast carrier signal at the station 100. The broadcast DSB modulated 
57 KHz sub-carrier is detected and output from the demodulator unit 206 
through a bandpass filter 214 to an input of a balanced demodulator 
circuit 216. The output of demodulator 216 passes through low-pass filter 
218 to the input of an information item data decode stage 220. The decode 
stage 220 converts the DSB modulated information item data into a form 
suitable for processing, display and printing (e.g., an ASCII format) by 
the data handling stages of the receiver 10 (or 10'). That is, the data 
decode stage 220 performs a conversion operation that is inverse to the 
one performed by the data encode/insert stage 122 at the broadcast station 
100. 
The output of the data decode stage 220 is suitably buffered by 
conventional means, and corresponds to the last three lines of the print 
frames 52, 54, or 56, 58 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. That is, information data 
that identifies or pertains to currently broadcast program material, which 
information may be prefaced by the "T/" or "A/" flag, is output from the 
data decode stage 220 under the control of receiver control and timing 
circuit 202. 
Receiver 10 (or 10') has an internal calendar circuit 222 which may be, for 
example, quartz crystal controlled to supply data corresponding to the 
present date and time in 24-hour format. Output date and time data is 
buffered at 224 and routed to one input of frequency-time switch circuit 
31. Frequency data corresponding to an FM broadcast frequency to which the 
tuner/demodulator 206 is presently set, is buffered at 226 and supplied to 
the other input of the frequency-time switch circuit 31. Depending on the 
setting of t he switch 31, the LC display panel 30 on the front of the 
receiver will display either the current time (and date), or the main 
carrier frequency of a received broadcast station as illustrated in FIG. 
6. 
The date and time data from the buffer 224, and the frequency data from the 
buffer 226 are also supplied to an input bus of a print memory 228. 
Information item data as decoded and output from the decode stage 220 is 
also supplied to the input bus of the print memory 228, so that data 
corresponding to the current date, time and station frequency are 
continuously appended to the decoded information item data obtained from 
the tuner/demodulator unit 206 of the receiver 10, whenever the 
information item data is written at selected addresses of the print memory 
228. 
Address selector circuit 230 is coupled to the print memory 228 and selects 
sets of, e.g., five memory addresses for storage of each set of 
information item data. Read/write circuit 232 coupled to the address 
circuit 230 and the print memory 228 sets the print memory in either a 
store/write mode in response to operation of memory button 34, or a 
read/print mode in response to operation of the recall button 36. The 
output of print memory 228 is supplied to a print buffer/control circuit 
234 which is responsive to operation of the print button 38 on the front 
of the receiver. The buffer/control circuit 234 is adapted to supply, for 
example, successive five-line frames of text to the printer device 12 
through a suitable connector arrangement J1, P1 when the print button 38 
is operated. The output of print memory 228 is also routed to one input of 
display data select circuit 236. The 3-line, decoded information item data 
from the decode stage 220 is supplied to the other input of data select 
circuit 236, so as to enable either on-line information item data from the 
decode stage 220, or previously stored information item data from the 
output of the print memory 228, to be selected in response to operation of 
button 40 on the front of the receiver. A display buffer stage 238 
arranges the information item data output from the select circuit 236 in 
suitable form for the three-line text display provided by the receiver LC 
display panel 32. 
Operation of the present broadcasting system proceeds as follows. 
A source of musical program material is selected at the radio broadcast 
station 100 by the announcer or other person in charge. If the program 
source material has not been previously encoded with information item data 
as defined herein, such data is entered at the studio by way of the 
keyboard 116 or other equivalent means and supplied to the data 
encode/insert stage 122 in FIG. 5. Data select switch 114 is set to 
receive the encoded information item data, with the "T/" prefix in the 
case of musical program material (or the "A/" prefix in the case of an 
advertising message) and the encoded data is written into the data memory 
124 under the control of the data memory controller 126. At the time or 
soon after the selected program material is selected and encoded for 
stereo transmission at 134, the information item data stored in the data 
memory 124 is read out through the buffer stage 128 and the interface 
circuit 130 to modulate the 57 KHz sub-carrier inserted in the broadcast 
carrier signal by the transmitter 136. In the event the information item 
data is pre-recorded with the program source material on a digital 
recording medium such as a CD or a DAT, the data is extracted at 112 and 
routed by the data select switch 114 to be written in the information item 
data memory 124 at the appropriate time during reproduction of the program 
material. A listener receiving the broadcast program from the station 100 
with the receiver 10 (or 10'), upon hearing a musical piece or an 
advertisement of particular interest, operates the memory button 34 so as 
to enable information item data modulated on the 57 KHz multiplex 
sub-carrier to be decoded at 220 and stored with the current date, time 
and station frequency at predetermined addresses of the print memory 228. 
If the display panel 32 on the receiver is set to the on-line mode by the 
button 40, the listener can view the text of the information item data 
that he or she is concurrently storing. 
When the listener wishes to obtain a printed list of sets of information 
item data stored during a previous time interval, he or she operates the 
recall button 36 which enables the read/write circuit 232 to cause, for 
example, the most recently stored set of information item data in the 
print memory 228 to be read out to the print buffer/control circuit 234 
and the display data select circuit 236. Button 40 may then be operated to 
allow the read-out data to be selected by the circuit 236 for display on 
the panel 32 of the receiver, while a printed record is obtained including 
the date, time and station frequency, by operating print button 38 which 
enables the buffer/control circuit 234 to output a 5-line frame of text to 
the printer device 12. 
Alternatively, read/write circuit 232 may be programmed to cause the oldest 
stored set of information item data to be read out first from the print 
memory 228, proceeding to the most recently stored set of data upon 
successive operations of the recall button 36. 
Because of its information storage capability, the receiver in the present 
broadcasting system does not pose a safety hazard if installed in a 
vehicle. In order to note pertinent text transmitted simultaneously with a 
broadcast program, the driver need only press the memory button 34. A 
permanent record of the text then can be obtained after the vehicle is 
safely parked, at the listener's convenience. 
The print memory 228 may be in the form of a conventional detachable random 
access memory (RAM) card capable of being removed from the chassis of the 
receiver 10 in FIG. 1 after information item data is stored at 
predetermined addresses of the memory 228. Such a configuration is 
well-suited to automobile radio installations where it is not especially 
convenient or economical to provide the separate printer unit 12 with 
associated power and paper supply. For example, after a driver stores one 
or more sets of information item data in his or her automobile receiver 10 
by operating the memory button 34 during the course of a day, the memory 
card is detached and withdrawn through a convenient opening or door (not 
shown) in the receiver cabinet. The memory card is then inserted into a 
printing and control unit located in the listener's home or other 
convenient location, at which time the memory contents can be retrieved 
and printed out in the same fashion as occurs with the printing 
configuration of FIG. 6. The separate printing and control unit preferably 
includes a socket connector or equivalent interface for establishing 
electrical contract with the memory card, memory read/write and address 
circuits similar to the circuits 230, 232, a print buffer/control circuit 
similar to the circuit 234, and a printing section to enable paper strips 
or coupons, like the strips 50, 50' in FIGS. 3 and 4 to be produced. Once 
all of the memory card contents are retrieved and printed, all memory 
storage addresses may be cleared by the printing and control unit to place 
the memory in condition for replacement in an associated socket connector 
or interface in the receiver 10, and for subsequent storage of new 
information item data that the user wishes to refer to later on. 
In those instances where the encoded text comprises advertising material, a 
particular advertiser whose name will appear on a printed-out coupon strip 
50' in FIG. 4 may wish to offer listeners a certain "bonus" or discount if 
they present the relevant frames of the coupon strip, showing the date, 
time and station over which the listener heard the advertisement, and the 
advertiser's own text. The advertiser will therefore have a means of 
readily determining the effectiveness of each "coupon" advertisement it 
places with that station. 
It will also be appreciated that the text encoded on the broadcast carrier 
signal need not correspond just to the title of a musical piece being 
played or to an advertisement. For example, instructional or educational 
text may be transmitted for display on the panel 32 simultaneously with 
audible lessons covering various subjects including music appreciation, 
wherein technical terms for certain kinds of music passages or beats can 
be displayed during actual play. Moreover, song lyrics can be encoded for 
display while a song is being played, and text to enable the listener to 
"sing along" can also be encoded for display while only background music 
is broadcast. 
Further, the receiver 10 or 10' may also include a tape cassette or CD 
player as is now customary in most FM radios. For musical pieces that are 
pre-recorded on cassettes or CD's, it is possible to encode relevant 
information item data such as a title and artist name in digital form or 
otherwise, for example, on a subcarrier signal in the recording media. It 
is therefore contemplated that for such pre-recorded media, the 
information item data decoding stages shown in FIG. 6 or other suitable 
decoding stages can be switched or coupled to the output of a tape or CD 
playback head, to enable a simultaneous display of the information items 
on the panel 32. 
Although the embodiments disclosed herein describe an FM radio broadcasting 
system, it will be understood that the present invention can be embodied 
in other systems such as AM, shortwave and television broadcasting. 
While the foregoing description represents a preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that 
various changes and modifications may be made, without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the present invention as pointed out by the following 
claims.