Method and apparatus for vehicular ordering of radio-based programs

Abstract

A method of use provides an extremely efficient manner of ordering a radio program occurring at approximately the time presented, minimizing the need to remember any details: The method is embodied in a range of tactile and voice controls which people in motion need to have. Security options include voice signatures, button sequences and fingerprint identification. User feedback is embodied in both audio and visual display formats. A method of controlling a radio is claimed which provides for placing an order, querying the ordering system for additional information, initializing a user's identifying signature, initializing a session by identifying a user, if the user is not properly identified, blocking access to ordering, and in certain embodiments, calling the police. A radio device is claimed supporting an IF signal source containing essential information on the radio program, an embedded controller, user interface as well as a radio transceiver by which the ordering transaction is carried out.

1 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system comprising: 
 perceiving a radio program presentation;    selecting a radio program near the time of said radio program presentation;    perceiving a radio program selection confirmation; and    responding to said radio program selection confirmation.    
     
     
         2 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 1:   wherein selecting said radio program further comprises acoustic signaling selecting of said radio program.    
     
     
         3 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 1:   wherein selecting said radio program further comprises pushing at least one button to signal selecting of said radio program.    
     
     
         4 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 1:   wherein perceiving said radio program selection confirmation further comprises hearing a radio program selection description.    
     
     
         5 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 1:   wherein perceiving said radio program selection confirmation further comprises reading a radio program selection description.    
     
     
         6 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: identifying a vehicle owner.  
     
     
         7 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 1:   wherein responding to said radio program selection confirmation further comprises at least one of the collection comprising:    ordering said radio program selection; and    canceling said radio program selection.    
     
     
         8 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 7  wherein identifying said vehicle owner further comprises speaking an owner identifying signature sequence.  
     
     
         9 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 8  further comprising: initializing said owner identifying signature sequence.  
     
     
         10 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 7  wherein identifying said vehicle owner further comprises pushing an owner identifying button sequence.  
     
     
         11 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 10  further comprises: initializing said owner identifying button sequence.  
     
     
         12 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 7  wherein identifying said owner further comprises pressing a fingerprint scanner.  
     
     
         13 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 12  further comprises initially pressing said fingerprint scanner.  
     
     
         14 . A method of using a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 12   wherein ordering said radio program selection further comprises pressing said fingerprint scanner.    
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system comprising: 
 receiving a coded radio program data channel;    sensing a radio program;    determining selection of said sensed radio program;    displaying said radio program confirmation from said received coded radio program data channel whenever said radio program is sensed; and    sensing a response to said displayed radio program confirmation and said selection of said sensed radio program.    
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 15   wherein receiving a coded radio program data channel further comprises 
 sensing an internal radio program data channel; and  
 processing said sensed internal radio program data channel to create a radio program data descriptor stream.  
   
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 16   wherein sensing said radio program further comprises 
 sensing a radio program channel number to create a sensed radio channel number; and  
 decoding said radio program data descriptor stream based upon said sensed radio channel number to create a radio program data descriptor for said sensed radio program.  
   
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering as recited in  claim 15   wherein displaying said radio program confirmation further comprises generating a radio program confirmation text; and    displaying said radio program confirmation text.    
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering as recited in  claim 18   wherein sensing said response to said displayed radio program confirmation further comprises at least one of a collection comprising    determining to order said selected radio program further comprising    sending a radio program buy message for said selected radio program whenever determining to order said selected radio program is asserted; and    determining to cancel said selected radio program.    
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 19  further comprising 
 sensing a vehicle internal audio feedback channel to create a sensed vehicle audio feedback stream; and  
 processing said sensed vehicle audio feedback to create a processed vehicle audio feedback; and  
 wherein determining selection of said sensed radio program further comprises  
 determining said processed vehicle audio feedback to create said determined selection of said sensed radio program.  
 
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 20   wherein determining to order said selected radio program further comprises    determining said processed vehicle audio feedback to create said determined ordering of said selected radio program.    
     
     
         22 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 19   wherein displaying said radio program confirmation text further comprises audio processing said radio program confirmation text to create an audio radio program confirmation script; and    sending said audio radio program confirmation script to an audio output device.    
     
     
         23 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 19   wherein displaying said radio program confirmation text further comprises sending a buy query for said selected radio program;    receiving a response to said selected radio program buy query; and    generating said radio program confirmation text from said selected radio program buy query response.    
     
     
         24 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 19   wherein displaying said radio program confirmation text further comprises presenting said radio program confirmation text to a visual output device.    
     
     
         25 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 15  further comprising at least one of the collection comprising: 
 initializing use for a specific user to create a signature for said specific user; and  
 initializing a usage session for a first user utilizing said signature for said specific user.  
 
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 25   wherein initializing a usage session for said first user further comprises sampling said first user response to create a first user signature;    comparing said first user signature with said signature of said specific user to create a signature comparison;    blocking access by said first user whenever said comparison is non-matching.    
     
     
         27 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 26   wherein blocking access by said first user whenever said comparison is non-matching further comprises    sending a stolen device report based upon said first user signature.    
     
     
         28 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 15  implemented as a computer program residing in computer readable memory.  
     
     
         29 . A method of controlling a vehicular radio-based program selection and ordering system as recited in  claim 28  wherein said computer readable memory resides in a removable storage device which when engaged by a removable storage interface may be accessed by a computer.  
     
     
         30 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions comprising 
 an embedded controller further comprising a computer readable memory containing a writeable non-volatile memory component;    a receiver of said radio program data channel coupled to said embedded controller generating a radio program data channel stream readably accessible by said embedded controller;    a radio transceiver coupled to said embedded controller receiving from said embedded controller transaction output messages; and    a user interface circuit coupled to said embedded controller generating user selection data readably accessible by said embedded controller;    wherein said radio transceiver generates a transaction input stream readably accessible by said embedded controller; and    wherein said user interface circuit receives from said embedded controller user output data.    
     
     
         31 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 30   further comprising an external IF signal input port; and    wherein said radio program data channel receiver includes a radio program data channel isolator containing an input port coupled to said external IF input signal and further containing a digital output port coupled to said embedded controller providing said radio program data channel stream.    
     
     
         32 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 31   wherein external IF signal input port supports an analog signal protocol; and    wherein said radio program data channel isolator further comprises an analog isolation circuit including    a first analog input port coupled to said external IF input port;    a first digital output port coupled to said radio program data channel isolator digital output; and    an A/D converter further comprising    a second analog input port coupled to said first analog input port; and    a second digital output port coupled to said first digital output port.    
     
     
         33 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 32   wherein said analog isolation circuit further comprises a bandpass filter containing an input port coupled to said external IF input signal and further containing a output port coupled to said A/D converter input port.    
     
     
         34 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 30   wherein said user interface circuit further comprises a user interface audio output interface providing audio output of said user output data.    
     
     
         35 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 30   wherein said user interface circuit further comprises-a user interface audio input sensor providing an user audio input data stream to said embedded controller.    
     
     
         36 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 30   wherein said user interface circuit further comprises a visual output device providing visual output of said user output data.    
     
     
         37 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 30   wherein said user interface circuit further comprises a user interface tactile input sensor providing an user tactile input data stream.    
     
     
         38 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 37   wherein said user interface tactile input sensor further comprises a button sensor.    
     
     
         39 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 37   wherein said user interface tactile input sensor further comprises a fingerprint scanner.    
     
     
         40 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 30   wherein said radio transceiver comprises a cellular telephone.    
     
     
         41 . A radio for receiving a radio program data channel, and conducting transactions as recited in  claim 30   wherein said radio transceiver comprises a bi-directional pager.