Telecommunications – Receiver or analog modulated signal frequency converter – Signal selection based on frequency
Patent
1994-05-25
1995-12-12
Urban, Edward F.
Telecommunications
Receiver or analog modulated signal frequency converter
Signal selection based on frequency
4551861, H04B 116
Patent
active
054758742
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a method for the tuning of a broadcast radio receiver to a transmitter of a certain type of program using RDS information.
Using information provided by the RDS (radio data system) the user of a broadcast radio receiver in principle has the possibility of only selecting those transmitters which are able to be received at the site of reception and which broadcast a particular type of program. Such information includes PTY information (program type information), which by means of a standardized characteristic indicates the type of program, which is broadcast by the respective transmitter, as for instance news services, sporting news, entertainment music or classical music.
In order to employ RDS information for the selection of a certain program type it is necessary for the listener to operate some sort of control element of the radio set with which the set may be adjusted to the desired program type. For this purpose it is possible to use, for instance, a switch able to be changed over between different program types, each type of program being indicated in a display panel. Such a method of setting may well be suitable for stationary broadcast receivers; in the case of a mobile radio receiver, however, more particularly a car radio, its operation requires too much effort and attention, since a systematic selection is scarcely feasible without reading the indicated type of program.
While the tuning method in accordance with the invention is more especially suitable for mobile broadcast receivers such as car radios, it is however also advantageous when applied to stationary broadcast receivers in order to simplify the operation thereof.
In the method in accordance with the invention for the tuning of a broadcast radio receiver to a transmitter of a particular type of program using RDS information firstly the broadcast radio receiver, for instance by means of a sweep search, is tuned to any convenient transmitter which has a program meeting the wishes of the listener. From RDS information, which is broadcast by the selected transmitter along with the program, the information indicating the type of program (PTY information) is obtained. By the operation of an associated control knob a filter is then set, whose filter condition is in agreement with the information characterizing such a type of program. When then later tuning the broadcast radio receiver to another transmitter, for instance again by means of a sweep search, information thereof as well characterizing the type of program is obtained. Finally each and every transmitter then tuned in is solely taken into account as being suitable for reception, if it complies with the filter condition.
In the case of this method the listener does not have to know the selected type of program. If for example he has set the filter while tuned to a transmitter broadcasting sporting news, then in the course of an ensuing search sweep only those transmitters will be offered as are also transmitting sporting news.
Preferably such a set filter may be disabled by renewed operation of the control element.
The method in accordance with the invention renders it possible to tune a broadcast radio receiver systematically to a desired type of program by only operating two control elements, for example a knob with which a station search sweep is commenced, and a knob, with which the filter is enabled or disabled. For instance it is possible for a car radio receiver to be equipped with only two such control elements, which may be operated quickly and easily without looking at them, instead of with a plurality of control elements.
It is convenient if the condition of the filter (i.e. enabled or disabled) is indicated by means of a separate indicating element, as for example by means of an indicating lamp integrated in a control knob.
The method in accordance with the invention opens up various possibilities for advantageous developments.
In accordance with a first advantageous development the invention a table of alternative transmitters is written in the bro
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Supplement 3 to Tech.3244-3, European Broadcasting Union, Jul. 1989, Brussels, BE, pp. 1-3.
Friedman, Herb: Radio Data System. In: Radio Electronics, H. 12, 1988, S.65-68, u.76; vgl. insb. Fig. 3a.
N.N.: Orientierung im Senderwald. In: ELO, Apr. 1989, S.97-98.
Banks-Harold Marsha D.
Becker GmbH
Ferguson Jr. Gerald J.
Robinson Eric J.
Urban Edward F.
LandOfFree
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