US007379721B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 7,379,721 B2 Doudnikoff et al. (45) Date of Patent: May 27, 2008 (54) RADIO STATION PREFERENCE 6,374,177 B1 * 4/2002 Lee et al. ................... TO1,200 TRANSLATIONAL MAPPING 6,445,306 B1* 9/2002 Trovato et al. ........ 340/825.24 6,526,411 B1 2/2003 Ward .......................... 707/102 (75) Inventors: Gregory Michael Doudnikoff, Raleigh, 96.36W w R. 2. SRIllillale et . al.. ........... .4.s S. (US) past. y Esili 7,171,174 B2 * 1/2007 Ellis et al. ............ ... 455,132 1nes, ; Steven Vicnae VIIIer, 7.251,452 B2 * 7/2007 Stumphauzer, II ......... 455/3.06 Cary, NC (US) 2002/0142722 A1* 10, 2002 Gutta et al. ................... 455/45 2003, OO13425 A1* 1/2003 ... 455,186.1 (73) Assignee: International Business Machines 2003/0083028 A1* 5/2003 Williamson .............. 455,186.1 Corporation, Armonk, NY (US) * cited by examiner (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Primary Examiner Duc M Nguyen U.S.C. 154(b) by 443 days. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—VanLeeuwen & VanLeeuwen: Andre M. Gibbs (21) Appl. No.: 11/190,401 (57) ABSTRACT (22) Filed: Jul. 27, 2005 A user's media preferences can be obtained and stored for (65) Prior Publication Data later use in setting up a currently-available media device. The media device inputs are programmed based on the US 2007/OO37534 A1 Feb. 15, 2007 media device's capabilities and the available media sources (51) Int. Cl. forOr the particularpart1Cular geographigeograph1C area 1nin Whichwhich ththe uSer 1S H04B I/8 (2006.01) currently located. Media device inputs may be set by the H04H 60/09 (200801) media device itself or by a computer attached to the media H04O 7/20 (200 6. 01) device, either directly or via a network. Device data, includ 52) U.S. C 45.5/185.1455A186.1: ing information Such as the number of media device inputs (52) U.S. Cl. "455/304. S5/33 3. 455/4.563 to be programmed, and whether or not the media device • W is • - 3 inputs can be toggled between several stations, is obtained. (58) Field of Classification Search ............. 455/185.1, Station data, including available media Sources, is obtained 455/186.1, 3.03, 3.04. 432.3, 456.3 for the current geographic area. A user profile, including See application file for complete search history. information Such as input preference settings and genre (56) References Cited preferences, is also obtained. The media device inputs are then programmed based on the user profile, the station data U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS for the geographic area, and the media device capabilities. 5,633,484. A * 5/1997 Zancho et al. .............. 235,380 5,898,910 A * 4, 1999 Miyake et al. ........... 455,186.1 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets Start s Read Device Data, Including Number Of DeviceInputs 31) Read User Profile 520 User Wants. Since Station Per Device input Mo Program Single Station Per DeviceInput DeviceInputs Toggle-Enabled? No According To User 55 Genre Preference 580 (See Figure6) 570 Yes Program Multiple Stations, Single Genre Per input (See Figure 7) 590 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 1 of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Data Provider 110 Station Data Third Party 120 125 Customer Station Data Profiles Provider 135 115 V- - - - a or arror or or or r arrar or a ur row or rr worst we wror a or or or a u a rur a a Third Party Network(s) Computer e.g., Internet, Wireless, Radio, 130 etc. 100 Third Party Devices 140 Device Data User Computer 146 : 160 Portable Non Volatile Storage 170 User Profile 165 USerDevices 180 185 Figure 1 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 2 of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 -1 200 230 210 News: 99.3 FM, 870 AM, 102.3 FM, 98.7 FM, 1024 Sat Rock: 97.1 FM, 108.7 FM, 993.9 Sat, 855AM, 1620AM Jazz: 89.1 FM, 98.3 FM, 100.1 FM, 988.5 Sat, 1440 AM Country: 1220 AM, 91.1 FM, 83.8FM, 1665 AM, 805AM Figure 2 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 3 of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 User Profile Template 305 Stations Per Input- Single or Multiple 310 Genre Preference - Same Per Input (Specify) or Vary Per Input (List in Order) 320 User Profile - Joe Smith User Profile - Jane Miller 330 360 Stations Per Input- Single Stations Per Input - Multiple 340 370 Genre Preference - Same Per Input (Rock) Genre Preference - Vary Per Input (Rock, Jazz, 50 Country, News, Rock, Talk) 38 Figure 3 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 4 of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 Obtain Station Data for Geographic Area 410 Obtain User Profile 420 Obtain Device Data 430 Program Device inputs (See Figure 5) 440 Figure 4 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 5 of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 Read Device Data, Including Number Of Device inputs 510 Read User Profile 520 User Wants Single Station Per Device YeS Input? 530 540 NO Program Single Station Per Device input Device inputs According To User Toggle-Enabled? 550 Genre Preference 580 (See Figure6) 570 Program Multiple Stations, Single Genre Per input (See Figure 7) 590 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 6 of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 610 Does User Have More Than One No Read Genre Preference Genre Preference? 615 605 Set First Device input To Yes Most Popular Station For 645 Genre 620 Read First Genre Preference More Device 650 Inputs? 625 Set First Device input To Most Popular Station For First Genre Preference 640 655 Set Next Device Input To Next Most Popular Station For Genre More Device 635 Inputs? 660 No No 665 Read Next Genre Preference 675 Set Next Device input To Most Popular Station for Next Genre Preference 680 Figure 6 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 7 Of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 700 Read First USer Genre Preference 705 Read Stations For First Genre in Order According To Popularity 710 Set First Device input To Toggle Through Stations in Order Of Popularity 715 More Device Inputs? 720 725 Yes NO Read Next User Genre Preference 740 730 Read Stations For Next Genre in Order According To Popularity 750 Set Next Device input To Toggle Through Stations in Order Of Popularity Figure 7 760 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 8 of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 Rock Easy Country 105.9 FM 105.1 FM 106.5 FM Alt ROCk Country 92.5 FM 988.5 SAT 102.9 FM 101.5 FM 96.1 FM 98.7 FM 91.7 FM 100.7 FM 98.7 FM 810 AM 1190AM 88.9 FM 1349.3 SAT 103.5 FM 950 AM 1024.5 SAT 690 AM 104.7 FM 990.5 SAT 1152.7 SAT Device input Examples 800 U.S. Patent May 27, 2008 Sheet 9 Of 9 US 7,379,721 B2 922 901 JTAG/20 Busses Processor(s) 900 Level TWO Cache JAGI2Ctagic buse)Busses 904 Main Memory Host-to-PC JTAGI2C Busses 908 Bridge 906 JTAGI2C Busses Service Processor Interface & ISA ACCess Passthru 912 Service PrOCeSSOr PC-to-SA 916 US 7,379,721 B2 1. 2 RADIO STATION PREFERENCE Device data, including information Such as the number of TRANSLATIONAL MAPPNG media device inputs to be programmed, and whether or not the media device inputs can be toggled between several BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION stations, is obtained, typically from the device itself. The media device inputs are then programmed based on 1. Technical Field the user preference settings, the station data for the geo The present invention relates in general to a system and graphic area, and the media device capabilities. method for setting media device inputs according to user The media device inputs may be programmed in a variety preferences. In particular, the present invention maps radio of ways, depending on the user's preferences, the media station preferences to media device inputs based on user 10 device capabilities, and the available media sources. For preferences and media device capabilities. example, each media device input may be programmed for 2. Description of the Related Art input of the same genre. Alternately, each media device input In recent years, there has been a proliferation of media may be programmed for input from different genre types. If Sources available to users. Radio stations, including both the media device inputs are toggle-enabled, each media traditional and satellite radio stations, television stations, 15 device input may be programmed to toggle through multiple streaming media Sources, and the like are becoming very stations, of either the same or different genres. popular and, in most geographic areas, users have a multi The foregoing is a Summary and thus contains, by neces tude of media sources from which to choose. Many users sity, simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of also have a variety of media devices available to them. In detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate additional to traditional radios and televisions, users may that the Summary is illustrative only and is not intended to choose to listen to music, or receive other forms of multi be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, media entertainment, on a variety of devices, including and advantages of the present invention, as defined solely by pervasive devices Such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed cell phones, portable computers, etc.