TRANSMITTING AND DISPLAYING ON A RECEIVER INFORMATION DESCRIBING BROADCAST PROGRAMS

Abstract: A receiver (46) identifies and describes the source and content of programs transmitted from different radio stations (24). The radio stations transmit program codes (38) that are processed independently from an associated broadcast program. The audio portion of the radio transmission can then be turned on and off according to the type of information contained in the associated program code. The program codes also contain graphic data describing the associated program and the radio station.

Description: TRANSMITTING AND DISPLAYING ON A RECEIVER INFORMATION DESCRIBING BROADCAST PROGRAMS Background of the Invention: This invention relates generally to radio broadcasting and more particularly to a system for identifying and displaying information describing the programs broadcast from different radio stations. It is well known that information can be transmitted by means of a subcarner contained on FM broadcast radio waves. FIG. 1 shows spectral components of FM signals used in transmissions of both analog radio station broadcasts and digital paging messages. Most FM broadcast radio stations use the baseband frequencies from 50 hertz (Hz) to 53 kilohertz (kHz) to transmit stereo program material. Subcarrier 16 is used for carrying digitally encoded paging messages and has a center frequency at 66.5 kHz and a bandwidth that extends from approximately 57 kHz to 75 kHz and. Subcarrier 20 is used to transmit messages using a protocol know in the art as Radio Data Services or more usually as "RDS". Various issued patents and pending applications including Patents 4.713,808 and 4.897,835 (both by Gaskill), Patent 5.187,470 (King) and pending application serial number 08/046,112, filed 04/09/93 show systems where digital data is transmitted on an FM subcarrier 16 and modulated on the FM baseband shown in FIG. 1. The type of information which is generally transmitted on RDS systems includes information such as an indication that the particular station periodically transmits traffic information, an indication that the station is now transmitting traffic information, or an indication of the type of programming which a station normally transmits. Some RDS receivers have a light which is activated to show that the station to which the receiver is tuned is also transmitting information using the RDS system. However, data in subcarrier 20 only identifies the type of radio station and does not describe the different programs broadcast from each radio station. Thus, a radio receiver will tune to the radio station regardless of whether the station is currently broadcasting a program containing music or a program containing, for example, a commercial. The present invention provides a system that includes a receiver which gives an indication of the different programs transmitted from an FM radio station. Summary of the Invention: The present invention includes a receiver which identifies and describes the source and content of programs transmitted from different radio stations. The radio stations transmit program codes on a subcarrier that is transmitted along with an associated audio program. The program codes transmitted on the subcarrier allow the receiver to perform functions related to the associated audio programs. For example, the receiver's audio can be turned on and off by the information contained in the associated program code. The program codes can also contain graphic data that further describes the audio programs and the radio stations. The graphic data can contain radio station logos, names, program information, advertising, etc. that is presented on a display even while the receiver's audio speaker is shut off. The receiver includes a programmable controller that controls the speaker and the display according to both the program codes and inputs from category select buttons. Thus, a listener can program the receiver to only play programs within preselected program categories. For example, the speaker can be programmed to turn on only during sports programs. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings: FIG. 1 is a graph showing a prior art FM baseband transmitted by a FM radio station. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an FM transmitter and receiver system according to the invention that broadcasts and receives programs and associated program codes. FIG. 3 is a schematic showing data fields contained in the program codes transmitted from the system in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a method of operation for the receiver shown in FIG. 2. FIG 5 is a diagram of a front panel with a display for the receiver shown in FIG 2 FIG 6 is an enlarged diagram of the display shown in FIG 5 showing a station logo, selectable program categories and program text information FIG 7 is the diagram of the display shown in FIG 6 showing program broadcast times and listener category selections Detailed Description: FIG 2 is a schematic diagram of an FM transmitter and receiver system 22 according to the invention that broadcasts and receives audio programs and associated program codes An FM radio station 24 broadcasts multiple audio programs 1-3 each including an associated set of codes 26, 28, and 30 respectively Each code describes the associated audio program For example code 30 contains data that identifies and describes audio program 1 A program selector 32 selects between the available audio programs for broadcasting from an FM transmitter 34 An encoder 38 receives digital data which includes the codes 26, 28 and 30 output from program selector 32 transmitter information from a transmitter identification device 36 and pager messages from other transmitters 42 via a paging system 44 The encoder 38 encodes the digital data from the three separate sources onto a subcarrier that is modulated with the associated audio program output from program selector 32 The subcarrier and audio signals are then transmitted together from antenna 40 The encoder 38 is either part of an existing paging system 44 or is built specifically for encoding codes 26-30 onto a subcarrier. A paging system that encodes and transmits digital paging messages in a manner similar to encoder 24 is described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,713.808 and 4.897,835 (both by Gaskill) and is herein incorporated by reference. An FM receiver 46 includes an antenna 48 that receives the broadcast signal from radio station 24. A frequency selector 50 tunes the receiver to the different transmission frequencies of different radio stations. The broadcast signal of the tuned radio station is demodulated by demodulator 52 down to the FM baseband shown in FIG. 1. The audio channel is filtered from the baseband by an audio recovery circuit 56 and selectively output from speaker 54. A code recovery circuit 58 filters the subcarrier component 16 (FIG. 1 ) from the baseband and decodes the program code. The data in the program code is then input into a controller 62 along with inputs from category select buttons 64. The controller 62 outputs control signals and data to both audio recovery circuit 56 and a display 60. Auxiliary audio sources 65 such as a compact disk player or a tape deck are selectively coupled to speaker 54 through audio recovery circuit 56. A memory 63 is coupled to controller 62 and stores portions of each program code. The data stored in memory 63 is presented on display 60 according to the presently tuned radio station. Each time the receiver is tuned to a new radio station, the data in memory 63 associated with the tuned radio station is updated with new data from the current program code. The audio recovery circuit 56 is a standard audio filter that extracts the audio channel components 12 and 14 (FIG. 1 ) from the rest of the baseband and selectively outputs the audio signal from speaker 54. Audio recovery circuit 56 also includes a switch (not shown) that couples either the auxiliary audio source 65 or the audio signal from the FM baseband to speaker 54 according to the control signal from controller 62. The code recovery circuit 58 filters and decodes the program code from the subcarrier component 16 of the FM baseband (FIG. 1 ). The controller 62 reads various data fields contained in the program code (see FIG. 3) and accordingly turn on and turn off audio recovery circuit 56. Controller 62 also outputs graphic data from display 60 and stores data from different program codes in memory 63 as described above. The method for encoding digital data onto a subcarrier, transmitting the subcarrier with an FM audio channel, decoding the encoded digital and displaying the digital data is shown in Patents 4,713.808 and 4,897,835 both by Gaskill which are, herein incorporated by reference. The operations performed by controller 62 are implemented using a programmable microprocessor which are described in detail below in FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing various data fields 68 contained in the program codes broadcast from radio station 24. The program codes contain a broadcaster identification (ID) field 70, a station ID field 72, a program ID field 74, program information 76. station information 78, pager messages 80 and any additional control or display fields required by receiver 46. The broadcaster ID field 70, station ID field 72 and the station information 78 is generated from transmitter identification device 36 (FIG. 2) which in the present embodiment is a memory device that contains prestored transmitter information. The program ID field 74 and the program information 76 are contained in the codes 26, 28, and 30 (FIG. 2) which describe programs 1 , 2, and 3, respectively. The pager message field 80 is generated from paging system 44 and contains pager messages that are output from the FM radio display 60. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing the functions performed by the controller 62 shown in FIG. 2. In step 82 the controller 62 receives the program code 68 for the audio program currently transmitted from radio station 24. Decision step 84 compares the program ID field 74 (FIG. 3) with any preselected program category input from category select buttons 64 (FIG. 2). If the program ID field 74 matches any program category preselected with category select buttons 64, decision step 86 determines whether the radio is presently selected for operation. For example, the speaker 54 may currently be connected to the auxiliary audio source 65. If the auxiliary audio source 65 is currently operating, step 88 interrupts the output signal from the auxiliary audio source 65 by connecting the speaker 54 to the FM receiver 46. Decision step 90 determines the speaker on/off condition and. if necessary, turns the speaker on in step 92. For example, the receiver 54 may not be disconnected from either auxiliary audio source 65 or the FM receiver 46. Step 92 accordingly connects the speaker to the FM receiver 46. Thus, the radio listener can program the radio receiver 46 to play audio programs from speaker 54 only when preselected program categories are transmitted from radio station 24. Decision step 94 checks the program information 76 and station information 78 for any graphic data describing the program broadcaster, radio station program or pager messages. The graphic data is output from display 60 in step 96. Memory 63 stores portions of the program codes from each radio station. The data fields of the stored program code for the presently tuned frequency can then be output from display 60. If necessary, the program codes stored in memory 63 are updated with new data fields from the program codes received from the currently turned radio station. Decision step 94 also checks for pager messages contained in pager message field 80 (FIG. 3). If a pager message exists, the message is output from display 60 in step 96. After the graphic data is output from display 60, the controller 62 returns and waits for the next transmitted program code. Referring back to decision step 84. if the program ID field does not match any of the pre-selected program categories, step 85 returns the speaker to its previous condition before the last received program code. For example, the auxiliary audio source 65 may have been coupled to speaker 54 before the last program code was received. The auxiliary audio source is then reconnected to the speaker in step 85. Alternatively, the speaker may have been disconnected from both auxiliary audio source 65 and the FM radio receiver 46 prior to the last audio program. Step 85 then disables speaker 54 when the current audio program is over. Decision step 94 then searches the program code for any new graphic data and, if necessary, updates the data output from display panel 60 in step 96. It is important to note that the graphic data can be output regardless of whether the FM receiver is presently selected for operation or whether the speaker 56 is turned on. Thus, radio stations can transmit graphic data regardless of the present output state of the FM receiver. The graphical aspects of the invention are discussed in more detail below. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a front panel 100 for the FM radio receiver 46 shown in FIG. 2. The front panel 100 contains the category select buttons 64 which are used to select between different program categories visually output on display 60. The front panel 100 also includes a standard volume knob 101 and channel tuning buttons 103. FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the display 60 shown in FIG. 5. The controller 62 (FIG. 2) graphically outputs a station logo 106 for the presently tuned radio station. A set of selectable program categories 102 (news, sports, weather, and traffic) are displayed in the upper right hand corner of display 60. The program categories 102 and the station logo 106 for each radio station are stored in memory 63 and are periodically updated with new data fields from the transmitted program codes for the currently tuned audio program. When selected, the category select buttons 64 (FIG. 5) direct the controller 62 to turn on speaker 54 when an audio program matches the preselected program category. The selected program categories 102 are also illuminated. For example, when button 64A is depressed, the program category "news" is illuminated brighter than the remaining non-selected program categories. Controller 62, in turn, searches each received program code for a program ID field 74 that identifies the associated audio program as a "news program". If the controller 62 identifies an program ID field for "news", speaker 54 is connected to the FM radio receiver 46, in turn, playing the associated audio program. After the news program is completed, speaker 54 returns to its condition prior to the broadcast program. Display panel 60 also outputs text information 104 that further describes the audio program. For example, text information 104 visually describes a composer and a performer for a musical piece currently transmitted from radio station 24. The text information 104 is transmitted in the program information field 76. Again, the text information 104 can be displayed when the speaker 54 is turned off and when the transmitted program is different than any pre-selected program category (news). The broadcaster ID field 70 (FIG. 3) can be used to automatically retune the receiver to different radio stations transmitting the same broadcast data. For example, a public broadcast station (PBS) is transmitted from different radio stations in different geographical locations. The receiver can move out of a given transmission area for the presently tuned radio station. The receiver 46 is programmable to automatically retune to the radio station in different transmission areas having a broadcaster ID field 70 for PBS. When the receiver is tuned to another radio station, the station logo 106 is automatically updated. Since the new radio station may also transmit different programs, the program categories 102 are automatically updated on display panel 60. Thus, the program category associated with button 64A (FIG.5) can change from news to, for example, jazz. As stated above, the program categories are stored in memory 63 and are periodically updated with data fields from the currently received program code. The text information 104 can also contain commercials. The commercial is overlaid over previously displayed program text information. Thus, the system described above allows radio stations to advertise products without interrupting the currently played audio program. Further, the station logo 106 can be continuously displayed even while the advertisement is graphically displayed. The radio stations achieve increased viewer recognition by continuously displaying station logo 106. FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic of the display 60 shown in FIG. 6. In addition to station logo 106 and program categories 102, the display 60 shows program broadcast times 108 and pre-selected listener program category text 110. The program broadcast times 108 visually indicate the next scheduled broadcasts for the displayed program categories 102. As opposed to illuminating the program categories as shown in FIG. 6, display text 110 indicates textually which of the program categories 102 have been pre-selected. While the system is described in the context of FM radio systems, the invention is equally applicable to any system that broadcasts different programs For example, the invention described above can be used to automatically play and describe different television programs Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles I claim all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims

Claims: I claim: 1. A system for transmitting and displaying broadcast information, comprising: a transmitter for broadcasting multiple programs and multiple program codes, each program code describing an associated program; means for receiving both the programs and the associated program codes: a speaker coupled to the receiver means for selectively outputting the received programs: a display for visually outputting information contained in the program codes: and a controller coupled between the receiver means, the speaker and the display, the controller outputting the received programs according to the associated program codes. 2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the programs are transmitted on an audio channel and the codes are transmitted with the audio channel on a subcarrier. 3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter includes means for encoding transmitter identification information with the program codes. 4. A system according to claim 3 including a category selector coupled to the controller for pre-selecting subject matter of programs output from the speaker. 5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the category selector comprises buttons associated with program titles output on the display. 6. A system according to claim 2 wherein the transmitter includes an encoder coupled to a paging system for generating paging messages, the encoder encoding the program codes and the paging messages on the subcarrier. 7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the program codes include the following: a broadcaster identification field, a station identification field, a program identification field, and program description data. 8. A system according to claim 1 including an audio recovery circuit coupled between the receiver means and the speaker and a code recovery circuit coupled between the receiver and the controller, the audio receiver circuit selectively coupled to the receiver means according to the program codes. 9. A system according to claim 8 including an auxiliary audio output medium selectively coupled to the audio recovery circuit according to the program code. 10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver includes a frequency selector for tuning to different radio station broadcasts. 11. A method for identifying different broadcast programs, comprising: transmitting the different broadcast programs with associated program codes. each program code containing information describing the associated broadcast program: receiving both the broadcast programs and the program codes; selectively outputting the broadcast programs from the receiver according to the associated program codes: and visually displaying information contained in the program codes describing the currently received broadcast program independently of the selected output condition of the broadcast programs. 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the program codes associated with each broadcast program contains multiple data fields including at least one of the following; a broadcaster identification field, a transmitter identification field. a program identification field, and program information, 13. A method according to claim 11 including transmitting the broadcast programs on an audio channel and transmitting the program codes with the audio channel on a subcarrier. 14. A method according to claim 13 including encoding the program codes with paging messages on a subcarrier. 15. A method according to claim 11 including displaying various program titles, selecting at least one of the displayed program titles, and only outputting broadcast programs matching the selected program titles. 16. A method according to claim 11 including visually indicating when different broadcast program categories will be transmitted. 17. A method according to claim 11 including storing available program titles for a given radio station in memory and periodically updating the available program titles with new titles transmitted from the given radio station. 18. A method according to claim 12 wherein more than one of the fields is graphically output at the same time while audibly outputting the associated broadcast program. 19. A transmitter and receiver system for outputting and displaying broadcast information, comprising: multiple FM radio stations each transmitting multiple broadcast programs along with associated program codes, each program code including digitally encoded data fields that describe the associated broadcast program; an audio recovery circuit for selectively receiving and audibly outputting the broadcast programs for the multiple FM radio stations; a code recovery circuit for receiving and decoding the program codes; and a controller coupled to both the audio recovery circuit and the code recovery circuit for selectively outputting the broadcast programs according to the data fields of the associated program codes. 20. A system according to claim 19 wherein the code recovery circuit outputs a logo identifying the radio station transmitting the received broadcast program and outputs a graphic description of the broadcast program.

Inventors: DIMITRIADIS DIMITRI, RICHARTZ JOHN, DIMITRIADIS, DIMITRI, RICHARTZ, JOHN
Applicants: SEIKO COMM SYS INC, SEIKO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H04B7
IPC codes: H04B1, H04H20, H04H60