Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for enhanced playback of content while switching among channels of broadcast or streamed content while being received (“Tune Start”)

US11303370B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
11References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 29, 2019
Grant dateApr 12, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/8456
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method provide an enhanced listening experience for a user and a radio receiver or other device that receives broadcast or streamed content having a plurality of program channels. The method and system buffer designated channels at the receiver and, when switching among channels, play back the buffered designated channels during reception from a selected point therein depending on the channel or other criteria. When switching to a different channel during reception, a user is able to hear content in a buffered program channel with music from the start of a song, for example, whereas content in a channel with news, talk radio, or live sports is played back from live reception, even though the content segments are transmitted a different start times relative to thier selected times for playback following a channel change. User controls allow navigation among buffered designated channels during reception.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.