Patent Description:
The technology described in this patent document relates to systems and methods for providing supplemental data (e.g., metadata) that is associated with over-the-air radio broadcast signals.

Over-the-air radio broadcast signals are commonly used to deliver a variety of programming content (e.g., audio, etc.) to radio receiver systems. Such over-the-air radio broadcast signals can include conventional AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) analog broadcast signals, digital radio broadcast signals, or other broadcast signals. Digital radio broadcasting technology delivers digital audio and data services to mobile, portable, and fixed receivers. One type of digital radio broadcasting, referred to as in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital audio broadcasting (DAB), uses terrestrial transmitters in the existing Medium Frequency (MF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radio bands.

Service data that includes multimedia programming can be included in IBOC DAB radio. The broadcast of the service data may be contracted by companies to include multimedia content associated with primary or main radio program content. Information related to the play of the multimedia content may be of interest to the companies.

Document <CIT> discloses a radio terminal apparatus for receiving a broadcast carrying audio content. The radio terminal apparatus scans and records audio files of discrete radio transmissions. The radio terminal apparatus generates a corresponding transmission report of the discrete radio transmission which includes the channel identity, a transmission time, and the network address at which the corresponding audio content is stored. The radio terminal apparatus communicates the transmission report through the network interface to an external network terminal, thereby enabling the selection and request for audio content through the network.

Document <CIT> discloses a method of constructing and handling a request for a desired data file relating to a broadcast segment of a broadcast signal.

Document <CIT> discloses a system for recording and playing back a data stream, wherein the system includes an internet radio receiver, a decoder, a recorder, and a player.

The invention provides for a system for processing audio files for radio broadcast, a radio receiver and a computer readable storage medium in accordance with the features of the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are identified in the dependent claims.

Over-the-air radio broadcast signals are commonly used to deliver a variety of programming content (e.g., audio, etc.) to radio receiver systems. Main program service (MPS) data and supplemental program service (SPS) data can be provided to radio broadcast receiver systems. Metadata associated with the programming content can be delivered in the MPS data or SPS data via the over-the-air radio broadcast signals. The metadata can be included in a sub-carrier of the main radio signal. In IBOC radio, the radio broadcast can be a hybrid radio signal that may include a streamed analog broadcast and a digital audio broadcast. Sub-carriers of the main channel broadcast can include digital information such as text or numeric information, and the metadata can be included in the digital information of the sub-carriers. Thus, a hybrid over-the-air radio broadcast can include an analog audio broadcast, a digital audio broadcast, and other text and numeric digital information such as metadata streamed with the over-the-air broadcast. The programming content may be broadcast according to the DAB standard, the digital radio mondiale (DRM) standard, radio data system (RDS) protocol, or the radio broadcast data system (RBDS) protocol.

In IBOC radio, the radio broadcast can also be an all-digital radio broadcast in which primary digital sidebands, and lower-power secondary sidebands in the spectrum vacated by the analog signal, are used to transmit main program service data and supplemental program service data.

Hybrid radio systems can provide a user with an enhanced experience (e.g., an enhanced listening experience) regardless of the type of terrestrial broadcast signal that is received at the user's radio receiver system. For example, conventionally, a user receiving a conventional analog AM or FM radio broadcast signal is provided little, if any, metadata in addition to the received audio (e.g., a user's automotive receiver may display only a song title and artist name). By contrast, hybrid radio enhances the user's experience by providing a variety of different metadata in concert with the primary programming content. For example, users receiving radio broadcast signals at a receiver system may view images, videos, multimedia displays, text, etc., that is related to the programming content received in metadata via the over-the-air radio broadcast signals.

The metadata can include both "static" metadata and "dynamic" metadata. Static metadata changes infrequently or does not change. The static metadata may include the radio station's call sign, name, logo (e.g., higher or lower logo resolutions), slogan, station format, station genre, language, web page uniform resource locator (URL), URL for social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), phone number, short message service (SMS) number, SMS short code, program identification (PI) code, country, or other information.

Dynamic metadata changes relatively frequently. The dynamic metadata may include a song name, artist name, album name, artist image (e.g., related to content currently being played on the broadcast), advertisements, enhanced advertisements (e.g., title, tag line, image, phone number, SMS number, URL, search terms), program schedules (image, timeframe, title, artist name, DJ name, phone number, URL), service following data, or other information. When the radio receiver system is receiving an over-the-air radio broadcast signal from a particular radio station, the receiver system may receive both static metadata and dynamic metadata.

It is desirable for companies, advertisers, and radio stations to have a means to independently track the play of their advertisements and to track the impact of the advertisements on listeners. This feedback would allow the companies, advertisers, and radio stations to better allocate their advertising resources.

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific examples to enable those skilled in the art to understand the specific embodiment. Other examples may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. The embodiments of the invention are defined by the appended claims.

<FIG> is an illustration of portions of an example of a radio broadcast system that transmits over-the-air radio broadcast signals to one or more radio broadcast receivers. The system <NUM> provides an information infrastructure to track the playing of advertisements and the impact of the advertisements on radio listeners. The information generated by the radio system can be accessible by third parties, such as an advertising agency, a company that has engaged the advertising agency, or a radio station engaged to place advertisements in the radio broadcast.

The system <NUM> includes a radio broadcast transmitter <NUM> that transmits an over-the-air radio broadcast signal to a radio broadcast receiver <NUM>. The over-the-air radio broadcast is a one-way broadcast that can include a hybrid IBOC radio signal or an all-digital IBOC radio signal. The system <NUM> also includes a service controller <NUM>. The service controller <NUM> can be a server that can send formatted digital data suitable for transmission by the radio broadcast transmitter <NUM>. The service controller <NUM> can also communicate data with the radio broadcast receiver <NUM> over an intermediate communication platform <NUM> such as, among other things, a telematics network, the Internet, or a cellular network.

Third parties can upload advertisement files for placement in the over-the-air radio broadcast. The advertisement files can be uploaded to the service controller <NUM> using the intermediate communication platform <NUM> or the cloud <NUM>. The radio broadcast receiver <NUM> returns information related to the playing of advertisements by the radio broadcast receiver <NUM> to the service controller <NUM> via the intermediate communication platform <NUM>. The service controller <NUM> can process the information (e.g., to perform analytics on the information) which can be uploaded by third parties. In certain embodiments, the service controller <NUM> can store the returned information in association with the advertisement files. The returned information can be downloaded by third parties to perform the analytics.

<FIG> is a functional block diagram of a portion of an example of the components of a studio site <NUM>, an FM transmitter site <NUM>, and a studio transmitter link (STL) <NUM> that can be used to broadcast an FM IBOC DAB signal. The studio site includes, among other things, studio automation equipment <NUM>, an Ensemble Operations Center (EOC) <NUM> that includes an importer <NUM>, an exporter <NUM>, an exciter auxiliary service unit (EASU) <NUM>, and an STL transmitter <NUM>. The transmitter site includes an STL receiver <NUM>, a digital exciter <NUM> that includes an exciter engine (exgine) subsystem <NUM>, and may include an analog exciter <NUM>. While in <FIG>, the exporter is resident at a radio station's studio site and the exciter is located at the transmission site, these elements may be co-located at the transmission site.

At the studio site, the studio automation equipment <NUM> supplies MPS audio <NUM> to the EASU, MPS data <NUM> to the exporter, SPS audio <NUM> to the importer, and SPS data <NUM> to the importer. MPS audio serves as the main audio programming source. In hybrid radio modes, it preserves the existing analog radio programming formats in both the analog and digital transmissions. MPS data, also known as program service data (PSD), includes information such as music title, artist, album name, etc. Supplemental program service can include supplementary audio content (SPS audio) as well as program-associated data (SPS data).

The importer contains hardware and software for supplying advanced application services (AAS). A "service" is content that is delivered to users via an IBOC DAB broadcast, and AAS can include any type of data that is not classified as MPS, SPS, or Station Information Service (SIS). SIS provides station information, such as call sign, absolute time, position correlated to GPS, etc. Examples of AAS data include real-time traffic and weather information, navigation map updates or other images, electronic program guides, multimedia programming, other audio services, and other content. The content for AAS can be supplied by service providers <NUM>, which provide service data <NUM> to the importer via an application program interface (API). The service providers <NUM> may be a broadcaster located at the studio site or externally sourced third-party providers of services and content.

The importer <NUM> can establish session connections between multiple service providers. The importer <NUM> encodes and multiplexes service data <NUM>, SPS audio <NUM>, and SPS data <NUM> to produce exporter link data <NUM>, which is output to the exporter via a data link. One or both of the studio automation equipment <NUM> and importer <NUM> can be included in the service controller <NUM> of <FIG>. In certain embodiments, one or both of the studio automation equipment <NUM> and importer <NUM> can be included in one or more servers. Metadata can be included in one or more of the SPS audio, SPS data, or AAS data.

The exporter <NUM> contains the hardware and software necessary to supply the main program service and SIS for broadcasting. The exporter accepts digital MPS audio <NUM> over an audio interface and compresses the audio. The exporter also multiplexes MPS data <NUM>, exporter link data <NUM>, and the compressed digital MPS audio to produce exciter link data <NUM>. In addition, the exporter accepts analog MPS audio <NUM> over its audio interface and applies a pre-programmed delay to the analog audio to produce a delayed analog MPS audio signal <NUM>. This analog audio can be broadcast as a backup channel for hybrid IBOC DAB broadcasts. The delay compensates for the system delay of the digital MPS audio, allowing receivers to blend between the digital and analog program without a shift in time. In an AM transmission system, the delayed analog MPS audio signal <NUM> is converted by the exporter to a mono signal and sent directly to the STL as part of the exciter link data <NUM>.

The EASU <NUM> accepts MPS audio <NUM> from the studio automation equipment, rate converts it to the proper system clock, and may output two copies of the audio signal, one digital (<NUM>) and one analog (<NUM>). The EASU includes a GPS receiver that is connected to an antenna <NUM>. The GPS receiver allows the EASU to derive a master clock signal, which is synchronized to the exciter's clock by use of GPS units. The EASU provides the master system clock used by the exporter. The EASU is also used to bypass (or redirect) the analog MPS audio from being passed through the exporter in the event the exporter has a catastrophic fault and is no longer operational. The bypassed audio <NUM> can be fed directly into the STL transmitter, eliminating a dead-air event.

STL transmitter <NUM> receives delayed analog MPS audio <NUM> and exciter link data <NUM>. It outputs exciter link data and delayed analog MPS audio over STL link <NUM>, which may be either unidirectional or bidirectional. The STL link may be a digital microwave or Ethernet link, for example, and may use the standard User Datagram Protocol or the standard TCP/IP.

The transmitter site includes an STL receiver <NUM>, an exciter <NUM> and an analog exciter <NUM>. The STL receiver <NUM> receives exciter link data, including audio and data signals as well as command and control messages, over the STL link <NUM>. The exciter link data is passed to the exciter <NUM>, which produces the IBOC DAB waveform. The exciter includes a host processor, digital up-converter, RF up-converter, and exgine subsystem <NUM>. The exgine accepts exciter link data and modulates the digital portion of the IBOC DAB waveform. The digital up-converter of exciter <NUM> converts from digital-to-analog the baseband portion of the exgine output. The digital-to-analog conversion is based on a GPS clock, common to that of the exporter's GPS-based clock derived from the EASU. Thus, the exciter <NUM> can include a GPS unit and antenna <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a system for processing audio files for radio broadcast. The system <NUM> includes a server <NUM> and an Internet network interface <NUM> (I/F). The Internet network interface <NUM> can be an interface to the cloud <NUM> in <FIG> or an interface to the intermediate communication platform <NUM> in <FIG>. The server <NUM> may perform one or more of the functions of the studio automation equipment <NUM> or importer <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The server <NUM> includes a first port <NUM> operatively coupled to the Internet network interface <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the Internet network interface <NUM> includes an Internet access point (e.g., a modem), and the port <NUM> can include (among other options) a communication (COMM) port, or a universal serial bus (USB) port.

The server <NUM> also includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a service application <NUM> for execution by the processor <NUM>. The service application <NUM> can comprise software that operates using the operating system software of the server <NUM>. The service application <NUM> receives a digital audio file and associated radio broadcast information via the Internet network interface. The content of the digital audio file can be an advertisement or other audio for play in association with a radio broadcast.

The radio broadcast information received with the digital audio file can include one or more of a date of the radio broadcast of the digital audio file and a geographical region where the digital audio file is to be broadcast. The radio broadcast information can also include one or more identifiers of radio broadcasters to broadcast the digital audio file. The radio broadcast information can further include a date range for which radio reception information is collected at the radio receivers and returned. The digital audio file and radio broadcast information may be uploaded to the server <NUM> by a company, advertiser, or radio station using a telematics network, the Internet, a cellular network, or cloud. In certain embodiments, the digital audio file and associated radio broadcast information is uploaded by a service provider.

The service application <NUM> obtains an audio file identifier using a segment of the digital audio file. As an illustrative example intended to be nonlimiting, the audio file identifier may include a digital fingerprint for the digital audio file or a digital watermark for the digital audio file. The service application <NUM> may store the audio file identifier (e.g., in memory <NUM>).

In certain embodiments, the service application <NUM> produces the audio file identifier. In other embodiments, the service application <NUM> sends the digital audio file to a second server (e.g., via the cloud <NUM> in <FIG>), and receives the audio file from a second server. The term "cloud" is used herein to refer to a hardware abstraction. Instead of one dedicated server processing the digital audio file and returning the audio file identifier (e.g., the digital fingerprint or the digital watermark), sending the digital audio file to the cloud can include sending the digital audio file to a data center or processing center. The actual server used to process the digital audio file is interchangeable at the data center or processing center.

The service application <NUM> forwards the digital audio file to a radio broadcast system for broadcast according to the radio broadcast information. In certain embodiments, the service application <NUM> includes the digital audio file in SPS audio, SPS data, or AAS data and forwards the digital audio file in metadata to an exporter of the radio broadcast system. The server may include a second port (not shown) operatively coupled to the exporter. In certain embodiments, the service application <NUM> forwards the digital audio file to the radio broadcast system via the Internet interface. The digital audio file is received at a radio broadcast transmitter site according to one or more of a radio station identifier, a geographical location, or a date for the broadcast. The digital audio file can then be broadcast such as by using an IBOC DAB radio signal for reception by radio receivers.

One or more radio receivers that receive the digital audio file extract the digital audio segment used to produce the audio file identifier. The radio receivers send the digital audio segment with associated radio reception information back to the server <NUM>. The radio receivers may send the digital audio segment and radio reception information using the intermediate communication platform <NUM> or the cloud <NUM> in <FIG>. The server may receive the digital audio segment and radio reception information via the Internet network interface <NUM>. The service application <NUM> identifies the digital audio file using the received file segment. To identify the digital audio file, the audio file identifier can be re-obtained by service application <NUM> by reproducing the audio file identifier or using a service to reproduce the audio file identifier. The service application records the radio reception information for the identified digital audio file.

The radio reception information is information collected by a radio receiver in response to receiving the digital audio file. The radio reception information can be collected when the digital audio file is received and played by the radio receiver. In certain embodiments, the radio receiver may include multiple tuners and may be able to initiate collecting of the radio reception information without the digital audio file being played by the user of the radio receiver. The radio reception information can be collected when one of the multiple tuners is tuned to the broadcast and the radio receiver receives the digital audio file or the segment of the digital audio file.

The radio reception information can include one or more of the Internet protocol (IP) address of the radio receiver, an identifier of the radio station from which the radio receiver received the digital audio file segment, a date the radio receiver received the digital audio file segment, a time the radio receiver received the digital audio file segment, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the radio receiver location when receiving the digital audio file segment, and GPS coordinates of one or more locations of the radio receiver following the reception of the digital audio file segment.

The radio reception information can be recorded by storing the information in memory in association with the audio file identifier. A user can then access the radio reception information for the digital audio file from storage. The user may be a company that engaged an advertiser or radio station to implement an advertising campaign over broadcast radio. The company can use the radio reception information to independently determine the success of advertising campaigns without relying on the advertisers or the radio stations that are compensated for running the advertising campaigns.

Radio reception information received from multiple radio receivers can be used to create a database of advertisements that were received and played, and correlating the time, date and number of listeners. The information can be collected regionally or nationally. This correlated data can be used to determine the success of an advertising campaign. For example, the success of an advertising campaign can be determined based on the number of radio receivers that were tuned to the broadcast and received the advertisement. This can be determined using the number of copies of the audio file data segments received or the number of Internet protocol (IP) addresses received. The advertising campaign can be optimized by determining the date, time, radio station, and location that were associated with the most receptions of the digital audio file.

In another example, the success of an advertising campaign can be determined based on subsequent actions by the users of the radio receivers as recorded in the radio reception information. The metadata that includes the digital audio file may also include purchase information that can be displayed on the radio receivers. The radio receivers may include a user interface that enables users to make purchases via the intermediate platform. The IP addresses of the radio reception information can be correlated with the IP addresses of the purchase information to determine a measure of success of the advertising campaign. This correlation data may be produced by the service application and stored (e.g., in the server memory), or the correlation data may be determined by another device after radio reception information is downloaded from memory.

In another example, the radio broadcast information can include GPS coordinates of one or more locations related to the content of the digital audio file. These may be locations to purchase goods or services related to the content of the digital audio file, such as participating stores for example. The radio reception information can include GPS coordinates of one or more locations of a radio receiver following reception of the digital audio file segment by the radio receiver. Correlating the GPS coordinates of the radio broadcast information with the subsequent GPS coordinates of the radio reception information can indicate the number of users that acted on the advertising of the digital audio file by visiting the locations of the broadcast coordinates. The time between playing the audio digital file and the arrival at the broadcast coordinates may also be recorded. Again, this correlation data may be produced using the service application and stored, or the correlation data may be determined by another device after radio reception information is downloaded from memory. In certain embodiments, upon reception of the digital audio file segment, the service application forwards previously received radio reception information associated with the digital audio file to the source that uploaded the digital audio file to the server.

The radio reception information received by the server can be used to target additional advertising to the users of the radio receivers. Based on the IP address of a radio receiver and the reception of the digital audio file, the service application <NUM> may select an additional digital audio file to forward to the radio receiver via the Internet network interface <NUM>. The service application may also select the additional digital audio file using one or both of purchase information and GPS coordinates of the radio receiver.

In another example, the radio receiver identifies and selects the additional advertising played to the user. The radio receiver may select certain advertisements within the radio broadcast signal for replacement by other advertisements in the radio broadcast. The replacement advertisements may be local digital audio that replaces the advertisements in the broadcast. The radio receiver may identify the advertisements to be replaced based on instructions received from the service application <NUM>. The advertisements to be replaced may be identified based on the audio file identifiers or the radio receiver may perform analysis of the broadcast signal to identify the advertisements to be replaced. The replacement advertisements may be pre-delivered to the radio receivers by the service application based on the radio broadcast information or the radio reception information sent by the radio receiver. In certain examples, the radio receiver stores digital audio files sent by the service application <NUM>. To the listener of the radio receiver, the replacement advertisements would appear to be integrated into the radio broadcast and the audio output of the radio receiver.

<FIG> is a block diagram of portions of an example IBOC DAB receiver. The radio receiver <NUM> may be a component of the radio broadcast receiver <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The radio receiver <NUM> includes a wireless Internet network interface for receiving metadata via wireless IP and other components for receiving over-the-air radio broadcast signals. The Internet network interface <NUM> and receiver controller <NUM> may be collectively referred to as a wireless internet protocol hardware communication module of the radio receiver.

The radio receiver <NUM> includes radio frequency (RF) receiver circuitry including tuner <NUM> that has an input <NUM> connected to an antenna <NUM>. The antenna <NUM>, tuner4, and baseband processor <NUM> may be collectively referred to as an over-the-air radio broadcast hardware communication module.

Within the baseband processor <NUM>, an intermediate frequency signal <NUM> from the tuner <NUM> is provided to an analog-to-digital converter and digital down converter <NUM> to produce a baseband signal at output <NUM> comprising a series of complex signal samples. The signal samples are complex in that each sample comprises a "real" component and an "imaginary" component. An analog demodulator <NUM> demodulates the analog modulated portion of the baseband signal to produce an analog audio signal on line <NUM>. The digitally modulated portion of the sampled baseband signal is filtered by isolation filter <NUM>, which has a pass-band frequency response comprising the collective set of subcarriers f<NUM>-fn present in the received OFDM signal. First adjacent canceller (F AC) <NUM> suppresses the effects of a first-adjacent interferer. Complex signal <NUM> is routed to the input of acquisition module <NUM>, which acquires or recovers OFDM symbol timing offset/error and carrier frequency offset/error from the received OFDM symbols as represented in received complex signal <NUM>. Acquisition module <NUM> develops a symbol timing offset Δt and carrier frequency offset Δf, as well as status and control information. The signal is then demodulated (block <NUM>) to demodulate the digitally modulated portion of the baseband signal. The digital signal is de-interleaved by a de-interleaver <NUM>, and decoded by a Viterbi decoder <NUM>. A service de-multiplexer <NUM> separates main and supplemental program signals from data signals. The supplemental program signals may include a digital audio file received in an IBOC DAB radio broadcast signal.

The wireless Internet network interface may be managed by the receiver controller <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the Internet network interface <NUM> and the receiver controller <NUM> are operatively coupled via a line <NUM>, and data transmitted between the Internet network interface <NUM> and the receiver controller <NUM> is sent over this line <NUM>. A selector <NUM> may connect to receiver controller <NUM> via line <NUM> to select specific data received from the Internet network interface <NUM>. The data may include metadata (e.g., text, images, video, etc.), and may be rendered at substantially the same time that primary or supplemental programming content received over-the-air in the IBOC DAB radio signal is rendered.

An audio processor <NUM> processes received signal s to produce an audio signal on line <NUM> and MPSD/SPSD <NUM>. In embodiments, analog and main digital audio signals are blended as shown in block <NUM>, or the supplemental program signal is passed through, to produce an audio output on line <NUM>. A data processor <NUM> processes received data signals and produces data output signals on lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The data lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be multiplexed together onto a suitable bus such as an I<NUM>c, SPI, UART, or USB. The data signals can include, for example, data representing the metadata to be rendered at the radio receiver.

The receiver controller <NUM> receives and processes the data signals. The receiver controller <NUM> may include a microcontroller that is operatively coupled to the user interface <NUM> and memory <NUM>. The microcontroller may be an <NUM>-bit RISC microcontroller, an advanced RISC machine <NUM>-bit microcontroller, or any other suitable microcontroller. Additionally, a portion or all of the functions of the receiver controller <NUM> could be performed in a baseband processor (e.g., the audio processor <NUM> and/or data processor <NUM>). The user interface <NUM> may include input/output (I/O) processor that controls the display, which may be any suitable visual display such as an LCD or LED display. In certain embodiments, the user interface <NUM> may also control user input components via a touch-screen display. In certain embodiments, the user interface <NUM> may also control user input from a keyboard, dials, knobs or other suitable inputs. The memory <NUM> may include any suitable data storage medium such as RAM, Flash ROM (e.g., an SD memory card), and/or a hard disk drive. The radio receiver <NUM> also includes a GPS receiver <NUM> to receive GPS coordinates.

As explained previously herein, a digital audio file can be received via the RF receiver circuitry. The digital audio file can be processed as SPS audio, SPS data, or AAS data. The receiver controller <NUM> initiates play of the digital audio file in response to an input received via the user interface <NUM>. The receiver controller <NUM> also sends a segment of digital audio file and associated radio reception information to a destination via the Internet network interface <NUM>.

The receiver controller <NUM> collects the radio reception information and may forward the information to a service controller <NUM> as in <FIG>. Some examples of the radio reception information were described previously herein, and can include GPS coordinates received after the digital audio file is played at the receiver.

The radio receiver <NUM> may receive an additional digital audio file via the Internet network interface <NUM>. The additional digital audio file may be received from a radio broadcast system in response to sending the radio reception information. The receiver controller <NUM> may initiate play of the additional digital audio file when it is received. In certain embodiments, the receiver controller <NUM> may store the additional audio file in memory <NUM>. The radio controller may initiate play of the additional digital audio file according to the collected radio reception information. For example, the additional digital audio file may be played when certain GPS coordinates are received by the GPS receiver <NUM>. In another example, the additional digital audio file may be played based on purchase information entered into the radio receiver. In a further example, digital audio file may be played in place of an advertisement contained within the broadcast signal.

The systems, devices, and methods described permit companies, advertisers, and radio stations a means to independently track the play of radio advertisements in particular regions or nationally. Information collected by the systems, devices, and methods can be useful to track the listenership of the certain radio advertisements and the listener impressions of certain radio advertisements. The information can be processed independent of third parties that may have a compensation interest in the reporting. The information allows the third parties to independently track consumer conversion of certain radio advertisements in particular regions or nationally by identifying the number of consumers who listened to the radio broadcast of the advertisements and went to a certain geographical location associated with the advertisement. The information also may be helpful to target additional advertising to be served to the consumers. It can be seen upon reading the detailed description that the systems, devices, and methods can allow for improved allocation of advertising resources.

Claim 1:
A system for processing audio files for radio broadcast, the system comprising:
an Internet network interface (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a first server (<NUM>) including: a first port (<NUM>) operatively coupled to the Internet network interface (<NUM>, <NUM>), a memory (<NUM>), a processor (<NUM>), and a service application (<NUM>) for execution by the processor (<NUM>), wherein the service application is configured to:
receive a digital audio file and associated radio broadcast information via the Internet network interface (<NUM>, <NUM>);
obtain an audio file identifier using a segment of the digital audio file;
forward the digital audio file to a radio broadcast system (<NUM>) according to the radio broadcast information;
receive the segment of the digital audio file and associated radio reception information via the internet network interface (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
identify the digital audio file and record the radio reception information for the identified digital audio file.