Data Retrieval Instructions Provided Using Radio Signals

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for controlling an electronic device using data transmitted over radio signals. In some embodiments, a radio source may embed instructions to control an electronic device into a radio signal. For example, the radio source may use the RDS communications protocol to transmit the instructions in an FM radio signal. The electronic device may receive the radio signal and may perform the instructions included in the radio signal. For example, the instructions can include commands to launch a web-browser application and direct a web-browser to retrieve metadata from a website.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of processing a radio signal from a radio source at an electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving the radio signal from the radio source at the electronic device, the radio signal comprising an audio portion and an embedded data portion, wherein the embedded data portion comprises:
 first metadata associated with the audio portion; and 
 instructions for the electronic device to retrieve second metadata associated with the audio portion from a website; 
   launching a web-browser application from the electronic device;   directing a web-browser in the web-browser application to the website to retrieve the second metadata;   retrieving the second metadata using the electronic device; and   displaying the second metadata using the electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising playing the audio portion using the electronic device while displaying the second metadata. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second metadata comprises album cover art associated with the audio portion of the radio signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving a frequency modulated (“FM”) radio signal, and wherein the embedded data portion comprises data embedded into the FM radio signal using a radio data system (“RDS”) communications protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises verifying a checksum of the embedded data portion to determine whether the embedded data portion includes at least one instruction using the electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of processing a radio signal from a radio source at an electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving the radio signal from the radio source at the electronic device, the radio signal comprising an audio portion and an embedded data portion, wherein the embedded data portion comprises:
 first metadata associated with the audio portion; and 
 instructions for the electronic device to retrieve second metadata associated with the audio portion from a storage component on the electronic device; 
   retrieving the second metadata using the electronic device; and   displaying the second metadata using the electronic device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising playing the audio portion using the electronic device while displaying the second metadata. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second metadata comprises album cover art associated with the audio portion of the radio signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving a frequency modulated (“FM”) radio signal, and wherein the embedded data portion comprises data embedded into the FM radio signal using a radio data system (“RDS”) communications protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises verifying a checksum of the embedded data portion to determine whether the embedded data portion includes at least one instruction using the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic device comprising:
 radio tuning circuitry configured to receive a radio signal and decompose the radio signal into an audio portion and an embedded data portion, wherein the embedded data portion comprises:
 first metadata associated with the audio portion; and 
 instructions for the electronic device to retrieve second metadata associated with the audio portion from a website; 
   audio processing circuitry configured to process the audio portion for playing by the electronic device;   a display configured to display the second metadata; and   control circuitry configured to:
 launch a web-browser application; 
 direct a web-browser in the web-browser application to the website to retrieve the second metadata; and 
 direct the display to display the second metadata. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to direct the display to display the second metadata while the electronic device plays the audio portion with which the second metadata is associated. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the second metadata comprises album cover art associated with the audio portion of the radio signal. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the radio tuning circuitry comprises a frequency modulated (“FM”) radio receiver, wherein the radio signal is an FM radio signal, and wherein the embedded data portion comprises data embedded into the FM radio signal using a radio data system (“RD S”) communications protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to verify a checksum of the embedded data portion to determine whether the embedded data portion includes at least one instruction using the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic device comprising:
 a storage component configured to store metadata;   radio tuning circuitry configured to receive a radio signal and decompose the radio signal into an audio portion and an embedded data portion, wherein the embedded data portion comprises:
 first metadata associated with the audio portion; and 
 instructions for the electronic device to retrieve second metadata associated with the audio portion from the storage component; 
   audio processing circuitry configured to process the audio portion for playing by the electronic device;   a display configured to display the second metadata; and   control circuitry configured to:
 retrieve the second metadata from the storage component based on the instructions; and 
 direct the display to display the second metadata. 
   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to direct the display to display the second metadata while the electronic device plays the audio portion with which the second metadata is associated. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the second metadata comprises album cover art associated with the audio portion of the radio signal. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the radio tuning circuitry comprises a frequency modulated (“FM”) radio receiver, wherein the radio signal is an FM radio signal, and wherein the embedded data portion comprises data embedded into the FM radio signal using a radio data system (“RD S”) communications protocol. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to verify a checksum of the embedded data portion to determine whether the embedded data portion includes at least one instruction using the electronic device.