Multichannel DAB Receiver Content Navigation via Circular Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
AM and FM radio stations face declining listenership due to competition from satellite radio, portable media players, and internet-based radio services, as listeners lack interactivity to skip undesired content segments without changing channels, leading to reduced time-spent-listening and revenue for broadcasters.
Innovation Solution
A multichannel receiver system that enables listeners to navigate and skip commercial content within a single broadcast channel using a processor and circular buffer, allowing selective access to commercial, non-commercial, and supplemental content without channel changes, leveraging IBOC technology for enhanced interactivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If listeners change channels to skip undesired content segments, then they can avoid commercial content, but they miss the beginning of new audio segments and broadcasters lose listeners
Solution Approach 1:
The broadcast channel is segmented into multiple discrete audio segments (commercial content and non-commercial content) that can be independently selected and navigated. The receiver divides the continuous broadcast stream into identifiable segments with markers, allowing listeners to jump between segments without changing channels, thus maintaining listener retention while enabling content skipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal navigation dimension to the traditional linear broadcast experience. By implementing a circular buffer that stores multiple seconds of broadcast content and allowing forward/backward navigation within this buffer, the system creates a new dimension of control beyond simple channel changing, enabling listeners to skip content while staying on the same channel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If AM and FM radio stations maintain traditional broadcast format, then they ensure commercial integrity, but they suffer from reduced listenership due to lack of interactivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the broadcast delivery based on listener interactions. The circular buffer continuously receives and stores incoming broadcast content, and the navigation system dynamically selects which segments to play back to the listener. This dynamic approach maintains commercial integrity (commercials are still delivered) while adding interactivity (listeners can skip and navigate), thereby increasing adaptability and time-spent-listening.
Solution Approach 2:
The circular buffer acts as an intermediary between the traditional broadcast signal and the listener. It captures the incoming broadcast, stores it temporarily, and then delivers it to the listener with added navigation capabilities. This intermediary layer preserves the original commercial content while enabling interactive skipping and navigation, thus maintaining commercial integrity while enhancing interactivity.
3Ease of operation
If listeners use portable media players or internet-based radio, then they gain instant navigation of content, but they leave terrestrial radio for competing services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the terrestrial radio receiver multi-functional by combining traditional broadcast reception with digital buffer storage and navigation capabilities. The receiver now serves both as a conventional radio and as an interactive content navigation device, eliminating the need for listeners to switch to portable media players or internet-based services. This universality retains listenership while providing comparable interactivity to competing services.
Data Source
AI summary
A low cost DAB multichannel receiver comprising a simplified buffering method for buffering content segments from multiple streams contained within the DAB channel, where the receiver enables the listener to navigate buffered content segments from multiple streams within the DAB channel while enabling the broadcaster to control the timeshift of commercial content to the receiver output stream. The receiver's buffered content grows over time and is cleared when tuning away from the channel, thus encouraging listeners desiring to tune in to new content to instead navigate to new buffered segments. Broadcaster control of the listener experience may be enabled by setting content control fields which are observed in the broadcast by the multichannel receivers. Additional embodiments are disclosed.