Patent ID: 7043215

Claim:
A method of performing a fast tune in a receiver for a hybrid broadcast station, wherein said hybrid broadcast station provides an audio broadcast signal at a target frequency channel, wherein said audio broadcast signal contains an analog data signal and a digital data signal, said receiver includes a tuner for selecting said frequency range of said hybrid broadcast station, a digital decoder for decoding said digital data signal and an analog decoder for decoding said analog data signal, wherein said analog data signal may contain an identifying data and said digital data signal contains said identifying data, wherein said identifying data relates to a station and programming content of said audio broadcast signal, said method comprising the steps of: identifying said target frequency channel for potentially receiving said hybrid broadcast station; tuning to said target frequency channel; attempting to decode said analog data signal; receiving said identifying data from said analog data signal when said analog data signal is present; detecting a digital broadcast station in response to said identifying data from said analog data signal; attempting to decode said digital data signal when said identifying data is not present in said analog data signal, wherein if said digital data signal is present, then said target frequency channel includes a digital main audio program; and repeating said foregoing steps using a next successive target frequency channel when neither identifying data of said analog or digital data signal are present.