PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8843056-B2
Application Number: US-201313895844-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Systems, methods, and devices for associating a contact identifier with a broadcast source

Abstract:
A media device including a broadcast receiver that receives broadcast media from a plurality of broadcast sources where the broadcast receiver is tunable to a first broadcast source. The media device also includes a data store that stores a list of contact identifiers where each contact identifier is associated with a broadcast source. The media device includes a user interface that: i) provides a prompt to a user to enable the user to initiate contact with the first broadcast source, and ii) receives a user indication to initiate contact with the first broadcast source. The media device further includes a transceiver that initiates the contact with the first broadcast source by sending a communications session request via a communications network to the first broadcast source that includes a contact identifier associated with the first broadcast source.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A media device comprising:
 a broadcast receiver to receive broadcast media and media data from a broadcast source, wherein the media data is digital information embedded within the broadcast media; 
 a transceiver configured to:
 transmit, via a communications network to a media server using the received media data, a request for a contact identifier associated with the broadcast source, and 
 receive from the media server in response to the request, the contact identifier, and; 
 
 a communications circuitry configured to use the received contact identifier to establish a communications connection with the broadcast source via the communications network, wherein the communications circuitry is configured to continuously initiate contact with the broadcast source until the occurrence of a specified communications connection event. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the communications network includes at least one of a PSTN, a wireless data network, a data network, and the Internet. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the communications connection includes one of a circuit-switched and packet-switched connection. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the contact identifier comprises at least one of an IP address, a domain name, and a URL. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the media data includes at least one of Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) data and Radio Data System (RDS) data. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface to receive a user indication to initiate contact with the broadcast source, wherein the device provides a prompt to the user to initiate contact with the broadcast source. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the prompt includes at least one of an icon, text, audio indication, visual indication, alert, and vibration. 
     
     
       8. The media device of  claim 1 , wherein the communications event comprises one of: the communications connection is established at a specified time, or the communications connection is established as being a specified caller number in a sequence of callers received by the broadcast source. 
     
     
       9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions executable by a media device to cause the media device to perform a method for requesting a communications connection with a broadcast source, the method comprising:
 receiving broadcast media and media data from the broadcast source, wherein the media data is digital information embedded within the broadcast media, 
 transmitting a request for a contact identifier associated with the broadcast source from a media server, via a communications network to a media server using the received media data, 
 receiving the contact identifier from the media server in response to the request, and 
 using the received contact identifier to establish the communications connection with the broadcast source via the communications network, wherein establishing a communications connection comprises continuously initiating contact with the broadcast source until the occurrence of a specified communications connection event. 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the communications network includes at least one of a PSTN, a wireless data network, a data network, and the Internet. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the communications connection includes one of a circuit-switched and packet-switched connection. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the broadcast source includes at least one of a radio station, a television station, and a satellite. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the media includes a video, an image, audio, an audio file, a song, music, multimedia, a movie, and television data. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the contact identifier includes at least one of a telephone number, an IP address, a domain name, and a URL. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the media server includes at least one of a clearinghouse server, a web server, and a broadcast source server. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the media data includes at least one of Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) data and Radio Data System (RDS) data. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , the method further comprising providing a user interface to receive a user indication to initiate contact with the broadcast source, wherein the media device provides a prompt to the user to initiate contact with the broadcast source. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the prompt includes at least one of an icon, text, audio indication, visual indication, alert, and vibration. 
     
     
       19. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving broadcast media and media data from the broadcast source, wherein the media data is digital information embedded within the broadcast media, 
 transmitting, via a communications network to a media server using the received media data, a request for a contact identifier associated with the broadcast source from a media server, 
 receiving, from the media server in response to the request, the contact identifier, and 
 establishing a communications connection with the broadcast source via the communications network using the received contact identifier, wherein establishing a communications connection comprises continuously initiating contact with the broadcast source until the occurrence of a specified communications connection event. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the contact identifier includes at least one of a telephone number, an IP address, a domain name, and a URL. 
     
     
       21. The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the media data includes at least one of Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) data and Radio Data System (RDS) data.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/237,261, filed on Sep. 24, 2008. This application is related to the following: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/237,247, filed on Sep. 24, 2008, entitled “Systems, Methods, And Devices For Providing Broadcast Media From A Selected Source”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/237,264, filed on Sep. 24, 2008, and entitled “Media Device With Enhanced Data Retrieval Feature”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/237,259, filed on Sep. 24, 2008, and entitled “Systems, Methods, And Devices For Retrieving Local Broadcast Source Presets.” The entire contents of the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to media devices capable of retrieving contact information for a selected broadcast source and providing a user with the ability to initiate a communication with the broadcast source. 
     Traditional media devices, e.g., an MP3 player, typically connect with a headset to enable a user to listen to music. Other media devices may include a display that displays videos. Many types of media devices are portable and have compact form factors to enable efficient handling and use by a user. Certain media devices include a radio broadcast receiver capable of receiving amplitude modulated (AM), frequency modulated (FM), or satellite broadcast media. The media can typically include a song, video, news program, or radio show. Certain media devices, e.g., cellular telephones, include wireless transceivers capable of exchanging data with a public land mobile network (PLMN) or wireless data network that may be linked with the Internet or other data networks. Other media devices are capable of interfacing with personal area networks (PAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), satellite data networks (SAN), and other data networks including, for example, Wi-fi (802.x) networks. 
     In addition to providing broadcast media (e.g., songs, video, television programs, and radio shows), certain broadcast media sources can supplement the broadcast media with broadcast media data. The broadcast media data can include media metadata (e.g., information about a particular song) or data about the broadcast source (e.g., the name of the broadcasting radio station). 
     The Radio Data System (RDS) is a communications standard developed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that enables the transmission of small amounts of broadcast media data using FM radio broadcasts. RDS can send various types of broadcast media data including: time, track title, track artist, and station identification. RDS has been used in Europe and South America since the early 1990s. 
     The Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) is the name for the North American version of RDS, and is also often referred to simply as “RDS.” The North American and European versions are nearly identical. Both RDS versions use a 5/Hz sub carrier to carry broadcast media data at 1187.5 bits per second. 
     Radio stations often promote contests and other promotions where listeners are encouraged to call into the radio station to win prizes. Many radio stations broadcast talk shows where listeners are encouraged to call in to participate in the talk show. 
     One problem with participating in radio broadcast contests, talk shows, or listener-participant broadcasts, is that listeners are typically given a relatively small amount of time to call into the show. Even when the radio station announces its telephone number, a listener must typically find his telephone and then dial the number. This process can be inconvenient, time-consuming, and even dangerous, depending on the current activity of the user. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a listener of a broadcast media program with a convenient mechanism to acquire the broadcast source contact information and initiate a communication with the broadcast source. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention, in various embodiments, addresses deficiencies in the prior art by providing systems, methods and devices that enable a media device to retrieve contact data associated with a select broadcast source and provide a user with the capability to quickly and conveniently initiate a communication with the broadcast source. 
     In one aspect, a media device includes a broadcast receiver that receives broadcast media from a plurality of broadcast sources where the broadcast receiver is tunable to a first broadcast source. The media device also includes a data store that stores a list of contact identifiers where each contact identifier is associated with a broadcast source. The media device includes a user interface that: i) provides a prompt to a user to enable the user to initiate contact with the first broadcast source, and ii) receives a user indication to initiate contact with the first broadcast source. The media device further includes a transceiver that initiates the contact with the first broadcast source by sending a communications session request via a communications network to the first broadcast source that includes a contact identifier associated with the first broadcast source. 
     In one configuration, the transceiver can continuously initiate the contact, e.g., continuously call a specified telephone number of a broadcast source, until the media device is connected at the desired and/or requested time or calling event, e.g., being the tenth caller to a radio station. 
     In one feature, at least one contact identifier is provided by the user to the data store via the user interface. The broadcast receiver may receive broadcast media data where the broadcast media data includes at least one contact identifier, e.g., via RDS data. At least one contact identifier may be provided via the received media data to the data store. 
     In certain configurations, the media device includes a transceiver that: i) sends a query to a media data server for at least one contact identifier associated with the first broadcast source, ii) retrieves at least one contact identifier via a data network, and iii) provides at least one contact identifier to the data store. The media data server may be a clearinghouse server, a web server, or a broadcast source server. 
     The user interface may include a display, a keypad, a touch screen, clickwheel, touch pad, speaker, and/or microphone. The prompt to a user may include an icon, display button, image, visual indicator, audio indicator, vibration, and the like. The broadcast source may include a radio station, television station, satellite source, and the like. 
     The contact identifier may include a telephone number, an IP address, a domain name, and/or a URL. In one feature, the broadcast media data may include an IP address, domain name, and/or URL which the media device uses to retrieve the contact identifier from a media server. The media device may retrieve the contact identifier from a clearinghouse server, web server, and/or broadcast source server. 
     The user indication may include clicking an icon, depressing a button, saying a phrase or word, and/or performing a movement of the media device. In one feature, the media device is tunable to a frequency setting. The media may include a video, an image, audio, audio file, a song, music, multimedia, movie, and/or television data. The communications network may include the PSTN, a wireless data network, a data network, and/or the Internet. 
     In another feature, a media device includes a broadcast receiver that receives media from a broadcast source. The media device also includes a transceiver that: i) requests and receives a contact identifier associated with the broadcast source via a communications network from a media server, and ii) sends a connection request including the contact identifier associated with the broadcast source to establish a communications connection with the broadcast source via the communications network. The communications connection may include a circuit-switched and/or packet-switched connection. 
     In a further aspect, a media device includes a broadcast receiver for receiving media and media data from a broadcast source where the media data includes a contact identifier associated with the broadcast source. The media device includes a data store that stores the contact identifier associated with the broadcast source and a user interface that receives a user indication to initiate contact with the broadcast source. The media device also includes a transceiver that sends a connection request, in response to the user indication, which includes the contact identifier associated with the broadcast source to establish a communications connection with the broadcast source via a communications network. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects and a is of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a media device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of a media device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a communications topology including a media device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a simplified functional block diagram of a media device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a diagram of a distribution system for media and media data according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a diagram of a public land mobile network (PLMN) data distribution system according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a diagram at a wireless access network including an access point according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of a computer processing environment including various applications or routines running within a media device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a database according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flow diagram of a process for distributing broadcast source preset data according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a media device  100  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The device  100  includes a housing  102 , a first housing portion  104 , a second housing portion  106 , a display  108 , a keypad  110 , a speaker housing aperture  112 , a microphone housing aperture  114 , a headphone jack  116 , and frame sidewall  122 . In certain embodiments, the frame sidewall  122  is the exposed portion of a frame residing within or adjacent to the housing  102  that provides structural support for the media device  100  and various internal components. 
     In one embodiment, the housing  102  includes a first housing portion  104  and a second housing portion  106  that are fastened together and/or to the frame sidewall  122  to encase various components of the media device  100 . The housing  102  and its housing portions  104  and  106  may include polymer-based materials that are formed by, for example, injection molding to define the form factor of the media device  100 . In one embodiment, the housing  102  surrounds and/or supports internal components such as, for example, a display  108 , one or more circuit boards having integrated circuit, components, internal radio frequency (RF) circuitry, an internal antenna, a speaker, a microphone, a hard drive, a processor, and other components. Further details regarding certain internal components are discussed herein with respect to  FIG. 4 . The housing  102  provides for mounting of a display  108 , keypad  110 , external jack  116 , data connectors, or other external interface elements. The housing  102  may include one or more housing apertures  112  to facilitate delivery of sound, including voice and music, to a user from a speaker within the housing  102 . The housing  102  may include one or more housing apertures  111  to facilitate the reception of sounds, such as voice, for an internal microphone from a device user. 
     Personal computing devices and/or media devices of this type may include a touchscreen control, such as a Pronto made available by Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands or a GPS receiver made available by Garmin International, Inc. of Olathe, Kans. In certain embodiments, the display  108  includes a graphical user interface (GUI) to enable a user to interact with the device  100 . The personal computing device  100  may also include an image sensor such as a camera capable of capturing photographic images and/or video images. 
       FIG. 2  is a view of another personal media device  200  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The media device  200  includes a display  202  showing a status bar  208  and video image  204 , which may include, for example, a music video, a movie, video clip, or like video images. In one embodiment, a GUI of the display  202  includes an interface  206  that enables the media device  200  user to play, pause, fast forward, reverse, or monitor, via a slider  210 , the progress of the video displayed on the display  202  or audio being played by the media device  200 . The media device  200  includes a housing base  212 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a communications topology including a computer  308 , media device  300 , and a headset  302 . Media device  300  may communicate with computer  308  via communications channel  310 . Media device  300  may communicate with the headset  302  via communications channel  312 . In one embodiment, communications channel  312  is a wired communication channel. Alternatively, the communications channel  312  may be wireless. 
     Media device  300  may take any form. For example, media device  300  may be a portable media player such as a portable music player. Media device  300  may also include, for example, a mobile telephone that may play downloaded media. Media may be downloaded directly to the media device  300  or may be downloaded to computer  306  and transferred to the media device  300  via communications channel  310 . 
     The media device  300  may include a wireless communications device such as a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, cordless telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), pager, portable computer, or any other device capable of wireless communications. In fact,  FIG. 2  snows an exemplary cellular telephone version of a broad category of media device  300 . The media device  30  may be compact, portable, mobile, personal, and/or transportable. 
     The media device  300  may also be integrated within the packaging of other devices or structures such as a vehicle, video game system, appliance, clothing, helmet, glasses, wearable apparel, stereo system, computer system, entertainment system, or other portable devices. In certain embodiments, the media device  300  may be docked or connected to a wireless (e.g., a wi-fi docking system) and/or radio enabling accessory system (e.g., AM/FM or satellite radio receiver) that provides the media device  300  with short-range communicating functionality and/or radio reception capability. Alternative types of media devices  300  may include, for example, a media player such as an iPod®, iPod® Nano, iPod® Shuffle, or Apple® iPhone available by Apple Inc., of Cupertino, Calif., pocket-sized personal computers such as an iPAQ® Pocket PC available by Hewlett Packard Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif. and any other device capable of communicating wirelessly (with or without the aid of a wireless enabling accessory system). 
     In certain embodiments, the media device  300  may synchronize with, for example, a remote computing system or server, e.g., computer  308 , to receive media (using either wireless or wireline communications paths). Wireless syncing enables the media device  200  to transmit and receive media and data without requiring a wired connection. Media may include, without limitation, sound or audio files, music, video, multi-media, and digital data, in streaming and/or discrete (e.g., files and packets) formats. 
     During synchronization, a host system, e.g., device  308 , may provide media to a client system or software application embedded within the media device  300 . In certain embodiments, media and/or data is “downloaded” to the media device  300 . In other embodiments, the media device  300  is capable of uploading media to a remote host or other client system. 
     The headset  302  may be utilized to provide an audio functionality associated with media device  300 . The headset  302  may include speakers  304  and  306  as well as a microphone. 
       FIG. 4  shows a simplified functional block diagram of a media device  400  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The block diagram provides a generalized block diagram of a computer system such as may be employed, without limitation, by the media devices  100 ,  200 , and  300 . The media device  400  may include a processor  402 , storage device  404 , user interface  406 , display  410 , CODEC  412 , bus  418 , memory  420 , communications circuitry  422 , a speaker or transducer  424 , a microphone  426 , a location sensor  430 , a radio receiver  432 , a radio receiver decoder  434 , and communications circuitry to facilitate communications with a headset  302 , other media device, or other system via a communications network. Processor  402  may control the operation of many functions and other circuitry included in media device  400 . Processor  402  may drive display  410  and may receive user inputs from the user interface  406 . 
     Storage device  404  may store media (e.g., music and video files), software (e.g., for implementing functions on device  400 ), preference information (e.g., media playback preferences), lifestyle information (e.g., food preferences), personal information (e.g., information obtained by exercise monitoring equipment), transaction information (e.g., information such as credit card information), word processing information, personal productivity information, wireless connection information (e.g., information that may enable media device  400  to establish wireless communication with another device), subscription information (e.g., information that keeps tracks of podcasts or television shows or other media that a user subscribes to), radio station broadcast source information, and any other suitable data. Storage device  404  may include one more storage mediums, including for example, a hard-drive, permanent memory such as ROM, semi-permanent memory such as RAM, or cache. 
     Memory  420  may include one or more different types of memory which may be used for performing device functions. For example, memory  420  may include cache, ROM, and/or RAM. Bus  418  may provide a data transfer path for transferring data to, from, or between at least storage device  404 , memory  420 , and processor  402 . Coder/decoder (CODEC)  412  may be included to convert digital audio signals into analog signals for driving the speaker  424  to produce sound including voice, music, and other like audio. The CODEC  412  may also convert audio inputs from the microphone  426  into digital audio signals. The CODEC  412  may include a video CODEC for processing digital and/or analog video signals. 
     User interface  406  may allow a user to interact with the media device  400 . For example, the user interface  406  can take a variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, a click wheel, or a touch screen. Communications circuitry  422  may include circuitry for wireless communication (e.g., short-range and/or long range communication). For example, the wireless communication circuitry may be Wi-Fi enabling circuitry that permits wireless communication according to one of the 802.1x standards. Other wireless network protocol standards could also be used, either in alternative to the identified protocols or in addition to the identified protocols. Other network standards may include Bluetooth, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), and long-term evolution (LTE) based wireless protocols. Communications circuitry  422  may also include circuitry that enables the media device  400  to be electrically coupled to another device (e.g., a computer or an accessory device) and communicate with that other device. 
     In one embodiment, the media device  400  may be a portable computing device dedicated to processing media such as audio and video. For example, the media device  400  may be a media device such as a media player (e.g., MP3 player), a game player, a remote controller, a portable communication device, a remote ordering interface, an audio tour player, or other suitable media device. The media device  400  may be battery-operated and highly portable so as to allow a user to listen to music, play games or video, record video or take pictures, communicate with others, and/or control other devices. In addition, the media device  400  may be sized such that it fits relatively easily into a pocket or hand of the user. By being handheld, the media device  400  (or media devices  100 ,  200 , and  300 ) is relatively small and easily handled and utilized by its user and thus may be taken practically anywhere the user travels. 
     The media device  400  may employ a location sensor  430  to enable the media device to determine its geographic location in support of location-based services and other services. The location sensor  430  may include a global position system (GPS) receiver. The location sensor  430  may include one or more radio receivers that perform radio doppler and/or triangulation sensing to determine the media device  400  location. In certain embodiments, the location sensor  430  may be integrated with the communications circuitry  422 . In one embodiment, the location sensor  430  may include a data decoder such as decoder  434  that decodes a source identifier broadcast by a radio source (e.g., radio station identifier or cellular network system identifier (SID)). 
       FIG. 5  shows a diagram of a media distribution system  500  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The media distribution system  500  includes a media device  502 , a broadcast radio station  504 , a broadcast radio station  524 , a public land mobile network (PLMN)  530 , a PLMN  542 , an access point (AP)  540 , and AP  504 , a data network  510 , a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  552 , and a clearinghouse server  516 . The network  510  may include the Internet. The radio station  504  may include a radio station tower  520  that facilitates the broadcast of a broadcast radio signal  522  tap a plurality of media devices including media device  502 . Also, the radio station  524  may include a radio station tower  526  that facilitates the broadcast of a broadcast radio signal  528  to a plurality of media devices including media device  502 . 
     The broadcast radio signal may be, without limitation, frequency modulated (FM) or amplitude modulated (AM). The interfaces  522  and  528  may operate in an AM frequency band of about 500-1500 kHz. The interfaces  522  and  528  may operate in an FM and/or television frequency band of about 54-1600 MHz. The interfaces  522  and  528  may operate in any number of frequency bands such as, for example, a satellite frequency band. The radio station  504  may be associated with a radio station server  506  that includes a database  508  for storing media and/or media data. The radio station  524  may be associated with a radio station server  512  that includes a database  514  for storing media and/or media data. 
     The PLMNs  530  and  542  may include a cellular telephone network. The PLMNs  530  and  542  may utilize a plurality of cellular radio towers  532 ,  538 ,  544 , and  548  respectively. The media device  502  may exchange data and other communications with the PLMN  530  and/or  542  via a wireless communications channel  536  and/or  546  respectively. The media device  502  may exchange data and other communications with the AP  540  and/or AP  504  via a wireless communications channel  534  and  550  respectively. The clearinghouse media data server  516  may include a database  518  for storing media and/or media data. 
       FIG. 6  shows a diagram of a public land mobile network (PLMN)  600  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. A PLMN may include a wireless telecommunications network and/or a cellular telephone network such as a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), cdma2000 system, ANSI-136 TDMA system, LTE, and like wireless communications networks. These networks may also provide data communications services such as Evolution-data only (EV-DO), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), wireless application protocol (WAP), cellular digital packet data (CDPD), and like wireless data services. 
     PLMN networks are generally referred to as cellular networks because they employ a frequency re-use architecture in which wireless access channels are grouped into geographically-located cells and sectors. The size of each cell depends on the output power of the network base station (BS) transceiver, e.g., BS  602 , associated with each cellular tower  532  and cell. Each access channel uses a certain frequency band in one geographic cell that is re-used in another cell, geographically separated from the first cell, by another access channel where the likelihood of interference is minimized. 
     These networks also use a centralized switch or server such as the mobile switching center (MSC)  604  to enable a wireless device to move from cell to cell while maintaining a persistent data connection. In the United States, cellular and Personal Communications Service (PCS) networks operate in the licensed commercial 800-900 Mhz and 1900-2100 Mhz ranges. Access data channels, however, may be bandwidth limited to 30 khz, 200 khz, or 1.21 Mhz depending en the wireless air interface standard used. 
     PLMN networks primarily provide voice communications while also providing relatively low rate data communications (e.g., 9.6-140 kbps). PLMN networks such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and cdma2000 provide a Short Message Service (SMS) that enables telephone users to send relatively short, e.g., about 160 bytes, messages to other cellular telephones or to traditional electronic mail (e-mail) accounts within land-based IP networks. 
     A Short Message Server Center (SMSC)  606  typically coordinates with the MSC  604  to distribute SMS messages to cellular telephones and/or media devices  502 . The SMSC may also interface with a wireless data server  600  to send SMS messages with destination addresses, e.g., e-mail addresses, external to the PLMN  600 . The SMSC may include a mail server and/or other functionality to convert SMS messages to the proper e-mail format if necessary. Alternatively, the wireless data server may include a mail server such as a POP and/or Exchange server to facilitate the delivery of e-mail messages to and from the PLMN  600 . 
     SMS messages may be transmitted over the air interface  120  via the traffic and/or control channels of the PLMN  600  network. While SMS messages are typically limited to about 160 bytes in length, longer text messages may be sent to or received by a media device  502 . This may be performed by breaking a larger message into multiple SMS messages for delivery and then re-assembling the multiple SMS messages into the original message upon receipt. Multimedia message services (MMS) may also be employed having messages that include text, video, pictures, and audio. 
     Recently, PLMN providers have launched higher bandwidth data networks such as cdma2000 Evolution Data Only (EVDO) networks that provide up to 2 Mbps and Third Generation GSM (3GSM) networks that provide approximately 300 kbps data rates. These higher rate data services may employ point-to-point (PPP), simple IP and/or mobile IP (MIP) protocols to more efficiently interface with traditional IP networks such as network  510  and/or the Internet. The wireless data server  608  may function as a cdma2000 and/or GPRS Packet Data Server Node (PDSN), MIP Home Agent, MIP Foreign agent, wireless data gateway, and like systems to facilitate data communications with an external data network such as the network  510 . 
     Using circuit-switched and/or packet-switched data services, the PLMN  600 ,  530 , and  542  enables a media device  502  to act like a network interface to another data network such as the Internet. Thus, media device  502  may employ any of the applications and features of a standard workstation and/or home personal computer, subject to the processing speed, power, and memory constraints of a compact an mobile device. For example, the media device  502  may utilize a WWW browser employing HTML, WML, XML, and like markup language to facilitate access to a remote web server, e.g., server  552 ,  506 ,  512 , and/or  516 , via the network  510 . The media device  502  may utilize certain applications that enable the exchange of data with remote data servers connected to the network  510 . Data may be transported to and from the network  510  via the wireless data server  608 . In these instances, the wireless data server  608  exchanges data with the BS  602 . The BO  602 , in turn, transmits data to and/or receives data from the media device  502  via one or more data traffic channels on the air interface  536  or  546 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a diagram of a wireless access network  700  including an access point (AP)  540  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. A wireless access network may include any wireless network that facilitates communications from one communications device to another or to another network such as the Internet. Typical wireless access networks include 802.11, WiFi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, proprietary wireless LANs, wide area wireless networks, and like wireless access networks. 
     The wireless access network  700  includes an AP  540 , a wireless LAN (WLAN)  702 , router  701 , and lone area network (LAN)  706 . The LAN may be connected to network  510  via one or more data networks. The WLAN  702  may be connected to the PSTN  552  via one or more network interfaces. The AP  540  may connect with one or more media devices  502 . WLAN networks, such as WLAN  702 , employ wireless APs  540  to communicate with multiple wireless devices, e.g., media device  502 , simultaneously via a set of wireless access channels. 
     While the wireless access network  70 C may not support SMS messaging as with the PLMN  600 , the wireless access network  700  is capable of supporting relatively high data rate communications between a media device  502  and the network  510 . Furthermore, the wireless access network  700  can support higher layer protocols such as TCP/IP, HTTP, and UDP, which enable the use of a web browser and other applications at the media device  502 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 5 , in operation, the media device  502  may move from one geographic location in the vicinity of certain wireless communications infrastructure elements to another geographic location in the vicinity of other wireless communications infrastructure elements. For example,  FIG. 5  refers to media device  502  as media device  502   a  while the device is in the vicinity of radio station  504 , but then refers to media device  502  as media device  502   b  when the device is in the vicinity of radio station  524 . In other embodiments, the terms  502   a  and  502   b  can refer to different media devices. 
     As discussed previously, a media device  502  may include a broadcast radio receiver, e.g., radio receiver  432 , that enables the media device  502  to receive media from a plurality of radio stations, e.g., radio station  504 , within its vicinity. The media device  502  may include the capability to enable a user to configure a set of favorite radio stations and/or radio station frequencies so that the user can conveniently tune the broadcast radio receiver  432  to a favorite radio station. 
     In addition to the radio receiver  432 , the media device  502  may include a data transceiver as part of its communications circuitry  422  to facilitate the exchange of data with a PLMN, e.g., PLMN  530 , a wireless access network, e.g., via AP  540 , or another like wireless data network. In certain embodiments, the media device  502  may utilize a data transceiver to supplement broadcast media and/or media data received from a radio station such as radio stations  504  and  524 . In one embodiment, the media device  502  is capable of querying a clearinghouse media data server  516  via a wireless data network (e.g., PLMN or wireless access network) to obtain media and/or media data. A clearinghouse server  516  may include one or more data servers and systems that perform a network-based services via, for example, the Internet. One example of a clearinghouse media data server  512  is the iTunes® music downloading service, made available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Media data may include metadata and/or data about or related to media. For example, media data may include an image such as album cover art related to a song. Media data may also include information related to a broadcast source of the media such as the name of a radio station playing a song. In certain embodiments, the media device  502  can retrieve media and/or media data from a radio station server  504  and/or its associated database  508 , the clearinghouse server  516  and/or its associated database  518 , a remote web server  552 , and any other data source in communication with the network  510 . The broadcast sources  504  and  524  may utilize the RDS system to provide a limited amount of information such as a song title, artist name, 64-character text, station call sign, radio station music categories (e.g., rock, country, classical, and so on), and other information. 
     Radio stations often promote contests or provide other promotions where listeners are encouraged to call into the radio station to win prizes. Many radio stations also broadcast talk shows where listeners are encouraged to call in to the radio station to participate in the talk show. 
     One problem with participating in radio broadcast contests, talk shows, or listener-participant broadcasts, is that listeners are typically given a relatively small amount of time to call into the show. Alternatively, the listener must call at a particular time, in a particular sequence, and/or be at a particular point in a queue of callers (e.g., the fifth caller). Even when the radio station announces its telephone number, a listen must typically find his telephone and then dial the number. This process can be inconvenient, time-consuming, and even dangerous, depending on the current activity of the user. Thus, the present invention addresses this problem by advantageously enabling a listener of a broadcast media program to use a convenient mechanism to acquire the broadcast source contact information and initiate a communication with the broadcast source. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram of a computer processing environment including various functions running within a media device  800  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The media device  800  may include a media source contact data retriever application  802  and a media source contactor application  804 . 
     In one embodiment, the media device  800  and/or  502  includes a broadcast receiver that receives broadcast media from a plurality of broadcast sources  504  and  524  where the broadcast receiver is tunable to a first broadcast source, e.g., radio station  504 . In certain embodiments, the media device  800  includes a data retriever application  802  that controls a transceiver such that the transceiver requests and retrieves one or more contact identifiers from a media server  516 . Alternatively, the media device  800  may receive one or more contact identifiers from broadcast media data, e.g., RDS data, associated with broadcast media. The media device  800  may also receive one or more contact identifiers from a user via the user interface such as user interface  422 . The media device  800  may includes a data store  900  that stores a list of contact identifiers where each contact identifier is associated with a broadcast source  902 ,  904 , and  906 . 
       FIG. 9  includes a database and/or list  900  of broadcast source contact information  908 ,  910 , and  912  that is associated with broadcast sources  902 ,  904 , and  906 , respectively, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The contact information may include one or more contact identifiers such as, without limitation, a telephone number, an IP address, a domain name, a URL, and/or electronic address of an entity. In one embodiment, a portion of the database  900  is located remotely at, for example, media server  516 . In another embodiment, the database  900  is included within the media device  800 , and is periodically updated with information from a remote server such as media server  516 . 
     The media device  800  may include a user interface that provides a prompt to a user to enable the user to initiate contact with a first broadcast source, e.g., radio station  504 . The user interface may provide the prompt when the media device  800  is tuned to the broadcast source  504 . The user interface may then receive a user indication to initiate contact with the first broadcast source  504 . The media device  800  may include a media source contactor application  804  that controls the operation of the transceiver. The transceiver may initiate contact with the first broadcast source  504  by sending a communications session request via a communications network, e.g., PLMN  530 , to the first broadcast source  504  that includes a contact identifier  908  associated with the first broadcast source  902  or  504 . 
     The transceiver, e.g., communications circuitry  422 , can continuously initiate the contact, e.g., continuously call a specified telephone number of the broadcast source  504 , until the media device  800  is connected at a desired and/or requested time or calling event, e.g., when connecting as the tenth caller to the radio station  504 . 
     At least one contact identifier  908  may be provided by the user to the data store  900  via the user interface, e.g., user interface  406 . The broadcast receiver, e.g., radio receiver  402 , may receive broadcast media data where the broadcast media data includes at least one contact identifier  902 , e.g., via RDS data, that is then provided to the data store  900 . 
     In certain embodiments, the media device  800  includes a transceiver that: i) sends a query to a media data server  516  for at least one contact identifier  902  associated with the first broadcast source  504 , ii) retrieves at least one contact identifier  902  via a data network  530 ,  540 , and/or  510 , and iii) provides at least one contact identifier  902  to the data store  900 . The media data server may include a clearinghouse server  516 , a web server  522 , and/or a broadcast source server  506 . 
     The user interface  406  may include a display, keypad, a touch screen, clickwheel, touch pad, speaker, and/or microphone. The prompt to a user may includes an icon, display button, image, visual indicator, audio indicator, vibration, and the like. The broadcast source  504  may include a radio station, television station, satellite source, and the like. 
     In one embodiment, the broadcast media data may include and IP address, domain name, and and/or URL which the media device  800  uses to retrieve the contact identifier  902  from a media server  516 . The media device  800  may retrieve the contact identifier  902  from the clearinghouse server  516 , web server  522 , and/or broadcast source server  506 . 
     The user indication may include clicking an icon, depressing a button, saying a phrase or word, and/or performing a movement of the media device  800 . In one embodiment, the media device  800  is tunable to a frequency setting associated with a broadcast source. The media may include a video, an image, audio, audio file, a song, music, multimedia, movie, and/or television data. The communications network may include the PSTN  552 , a wireless data network  540 , a data network  530  and/or  510 , and/or the Internet. 
     In another embodiment, the media device  800  includes a broadcast receiver  432  that receives media from a broadcast source  504 . The media device  800  also includes a transceiver that: i) requests and receives a contact identifier  902  associated with the broadcast source  504  via a communications network, e.g., network  510 , from a media server  516 , and ii) sends a connection request including the contact identifier  902  associated with the broadcast source  504  to establish a communications connection with the broadcast source  504 , e.g, at server  506 , via the communications network  510 . The communications connection may include a circuit-switched and/or packet-switched connection. 
       FIG. 10  is a flow diagram of a process  1000  for initiating contact with a broadcast source  504  from a media device  502 . First, the media device  502  receives broadcast media front a plurality of broadcast sources, e.g., radio stations  504  and  524  using a broadcast receiver where the broadcast receiver is tunable to a first broadcast source  504  (Step  1002 ). Then, the media device stores a list of contact identifiers  908 ,  910 , and  912  where each contact identifier is associated with one of the plurality of broadcast sources  902 ,  904 , and  906  (Step  1004 ). The media device  800  provides a prompt so a user to enable the user to initiate contact with the first broadcast source  504  (Step  1006 ). The media device  502  then receives a user indication to initiate contact with the first broadcast source  504  (Step  1008 ). Then, the media device  502  initiates contact with the first broadcast source  504  by sending a communications session request to the first broadcast source  501  including a contact identifier  902  associated with the first broadcast source  504  and/or  902  (Step  1010 ). 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the various configurations described herein may be combined without departing from the present invention. It will also be recognized that the invention may take many forms other than those disclosed in this specification. Accordingly, it is emphasized that the invention is not limited to the disclosed methods, systems and apparatuses, but is intended to include variations to and modifications thereof which are within the spirit of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20130516
Publication Date: 20140923
Grant Date: 20140923
Priority Date: 20080924
Inventors: HAUGHAY, JR. ALLEN P.
PERRY RYAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04H20/93", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/33", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/91", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/27", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/64", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/82", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/74", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/82", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72442", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H20/38", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H40/27", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/74", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H40/27", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H20/38", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/94", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/27", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/91", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72442", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/11", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/64", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H20/93", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H40/18", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/11", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/94", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/33", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H40/18", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H20/38", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/91", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72558", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/64", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H20/93", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/82", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/74", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/27", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/94", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H40/27", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04H60/33", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42038170