Method and apparatus for wireless digital radio

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for a first controlled device, such as a wireless local transmitter that accepts a plurality of digital audio signals and corresponding program information signals converted from a controlled source, such as the encoded digital data provided by a digital data signal source, typically a community antenna television (CATV) cable or direct broadcast satellite, then modulates said digital audio and corresponding program information signals on different carrier frequencies and transmits the modulated signals to a plurality of second controlled devices, such as remote digital receiver/tuners that demodulate said signals to output music in stereophonic sound and display the corresponding program information by means of an alphanumeric display. The first and second controlled devices contain microprocessor systems for communicating, controlling, storing, processing, and display of digital data within the operation of the respective system. A high speed, error free digital signal protocol is utilized for transmitting digital audio and corresponding program information signals to and from the digital receiver/tuner. The digital data transmitter and digital receiver/tuners utilize the 44.1 kilohertz (kHz) Compact Disc (CD) clock signal embedded in digital audio signals provided by an established delivery system to derive clocking signals for reception and processing of digital audio signals and for implementing the display information communications protocol.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a transmitter, a data stream containing digital audio and program information, wherein the program information includes digital data identifying at least a song title and an artist associated with the digital audio in a manner enabling a receiver to be employed to initiate purchase of the digital audio;   converting the digital audio and the program information to a digital radio frequency (RF) signal; and   transmitting the digital RF signal including the digital audio and the program information to a plurality of receivers each configured to selectively store at least a portion of the digital data enabling the respective receiver to initiate purchase of the digital audio.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the transmitter, a second data stream containing second digital audio and second program information, wherein the second program information includes second digital data identifying at least a second song title and a second artist associated with the second digital audio in a manner enabling a receiver to be employed to initiate purchase of the second digital audio;   converting the second digital audio and the second program information to a second digital RF signal; and   transmitting the second digital RF signal including the second digital audio and the second program information to the plurality of receivers each configured to selectively store at least a portion of the second digital data enabling the respective receiver to initiate purchase of the second digital audio.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving the data stream comprises receiving the data stream from one of: a coaxial cable, a satellite, the Internet, or a microwave source. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 decrypting and decoding the data stream at the transmitter.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 receiving the data stream comprises receiving multiple data streams; and   the method further comprises demultiplexing a specified one of the multiple data streams at the transmitter.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 demodulating the data stream at the transmitter.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein transmitting the digital RF signal comprises locally broadcasting the digital RF signal. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein transmitting the digital RF signal comprises transmitting the digital RF signal to a plurality of portable audio receivers. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 initiating a command at the transmitter, the command invoked by at least one of the plurality of receivers.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 aligning the program information to a first clock signal; and   aligning a second clock signal to the first clock signal;   wherein the first and second clock signals are used by the transmitter.   
     
     
         31 . An apparatus comprising:
 an input configured to receive a data stream containing digital audio and program information, wherein the program information includes digital data identifying at least a song title and an artist associated with the digital audio in a manner enabling a receiver to be employed to initiate purchase of the digital audio;   a converter configured to convert the digital audio and the program information to a digital radio frequency (RF) signal; and   a transmitter configured to transmit the digital RF signal including the digital audio and the program information to a plurality of receivers each configured to selectively store at least a portion of the digital data enabling the respective receiver to initiate purchase of the digital audio.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the input is configured to receive a second data stream containing second digital audio and second program information, wherein the second program information includes second digital data identifying at least a second song title and a second artist associated with the second digital audio in a manner enabling a receiver to be employed to initiate purchase of the second digital audio;   the converter is configured to convert the second digital audio and the second program information to a second digital RF signal; and   the transmitter is configured to transmit the second digital RF signal including the second digital audio and the second program information to the plurality of receivers each configured to selectively store at least a portion of the second digital data enabling the respective receiver to initiate purchase of the second digital audio.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the input is configured to receive the data stream from one of: a coaxial cable, a satellite, the Internet, or a microwave source. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a circuit configured to decrypt and decode the data stream. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the input is configured to receive multiple data streams; and   the apparatus further comprises a circuit configured to demultiplex a specified one of the multiple data streams at the transmitter.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a circuit configured to demodulate the data stream. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the transmitter is configured to locally broadcast the digital RF signal. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the digital RF signal to a plurality of portable audio receivers. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 an additional receiver configured to receive a command invoked by at least one of the plurality of receivers; and   a microprocessor configured to execute the command.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a synchronizing circuit configured to align the program information to a first clock signal and align a second clock signal to the first clock signal;
 wherein the first and second clock signals are used by the apparatus.   
     
     
         41 . A method comprising:
 receiving multiple audio programs at a transmitter, each audio program containing (i) digital audio and (ii) program information including digital data identifying at least a song title and an artist associated with the digital audio in a manner enabling a receiver to be employed to initiate purchase of the digital audio;   converting the digital audio and the program information of the audio programs to digital radio frequency (RF) signals; and   transmitting the digital RF signals including the digital audio and the program information of the audio programs to a plurality of receivers each configured to selectively store at least a portion of the digital data of one or more audio programs enabling the respective receiver to initiate purchase of the digital audio of the one or more audio programs.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein receiving the data stream comprises receiving the data stream from one of: a coaxial cable, a satellite, the Internet, or a microwave source. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein transmitting the digital RF signal comprises locally broadcasting the digital RF signal. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein transmitting the digital RF signal comprises transmitting the digital RF signal to a plurality of portable audio receivers.