Method and system for utilizing spread spectrum techniques for in car applications

Abstract

A method of operating an audio system in an automobile includes identifying a user of the audio system. An audio recording playing on the audio system is identified. An audio setting entered into the audio system by the identified user while the audio recording is being played by the audio system is sensed. The sensed audio setting is stored in memory in association with the identified user and the identified audio recording. The audio recording is retrieved from memory with the sensed audio setting being embedded in the retrieved audio recording as a watermark signal. The retrieved audio recording is played on the audio system with the embedded sensed audio setting being automatically implemented by the audio system during the playing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an audio system in an automobile, comprising the steps of:
 identifying a user of the audio system;   identifying an audio recording playing on the audio system;   sensing an audio setting entered into the audio system by the identified user while the audio recording is being played by the audio system;   storing the sensed audio setting in memory in association with the identified user and the identified audio recording;   retrieving the audio recording and the associated sensed audio setting from memory;   playing the retrieved audio recording on the audio system with the sensed audio setting being automatically implemented by the audio system during the playing;   providing a set of audio recordings;   identifying which of the audio recordings in the set that the user skips while listening to the set; and   storing in memory the audio recordings in the set that the user skips while listening to the set.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the embedded sensed audio setting is automatically implemented by the audio system only if the identified user is again identified as being a current user of the audio system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the audio setting is a volume setting, a bass setting, a treble setting, a balance setting, and/or a fade setting. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the audio recording is stored in memory with the sensed audio setting being embedded in the stored audio recording as a watermark signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of modulating the sensed audio setting with pseudorandom code. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of automatically skipping the audio recordings previously skipped by the user when playing the set of audio recordings. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the audio recordings are automatically skipped only if it is determined that a same user that previously skipped the audio recordings is currently using the audio system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sensed audio setting is embedded in the retrieved audio recording as a watermark signal. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 sensing a problem with the operation of the vehicle;   playing an audible alert signal within the vehicle in response to the sensing of the problem;   embedding a watermark signal within the audible alert signal, the watermark signal including information about the problem; and   decoding the watermark signal from the alert signal to thereby obtain the information about the problem.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the audible alert signal is a chime or beep indicating a safety belt is not fastened, a door is open, or that the vehicle is low on energy on which to operate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  comprising the further steps of:
 using a microphone on a personal electronic device to sample the audible alert signal; 
 using the personal electronic device to extract the information in the watermark signal; and 
 playing the extracted information in the form of audible speech on the personal electronic device, displaying the extracted information in the form of text on the personal electronic device, and/or activating a vibrating device within the personal electronic device. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the audible alert signal comprises a vehicle engine diagnostic signal, comprising the further steps of:
 using a microphone on a decoder to sample the vehicle engine diagnostic signal; and 
 using the decoder to extract the information in the watermark signal. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  comprising the further steps of:
 emitting an audible vehicle approach signal directed away from the vehicle; 
 embedding a watermark signal within the vehicle approach signal; and 
 detecting an electronic copy of the vehicle approach signal by identifying the watermark signal in the copy. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating an audio system in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 storing a signal in association with an audio recording, the signal including metadata information associated with the audio recording;   enabling a user to request the metadata information via a user interface;   in response to the request from the user, retrieving the metadata information; and   playing the retrieved metadata information and the audio recording on the audio system, the retrieved metadata information being played in the form of audible speech.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the signal is a watermark signal embedded within the audio recording. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the user interface is associated with a rear seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the retrieved metadata information is played simultaneously with the audio recording. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the metadata information includes a title and/or artist of the audio recording. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the audio recording is broadcast from a station, the metadata information including an identification of the station. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein a plurality of stations broadcast respective said audio recordings via the Internet, the method comprising the further step of extracting the station identifications from the audio recordings carried on a backbone of the Internet to thereby measure a respective number of listeners of each of the broadcasting stations.