Method and apparatus for enhanced playback of content while switching among channels of broadcast or streamed content while being received

摘要

A system and method provide an enhanced listening experience for a user of 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 at different start times relative to their selected times for playback following a channel change. User controls allow navigation among buffered designated channels during reception.

主权项

1. A method of receiving transmitted content, comprising:
receiving at a receiver a plurality of program channels from at least one transmitted content stream, each of the plurality of program channels comprising multiple samples of transmitted content; designating at the receiver one or more of the plurality of channels for buffering; storing the received content of each designated channel in a buffer; performing a channel change at the receiver to change from a channel being played to a different channel; and if the different channel is one of the designated channels,
automatically selecting a point from the content of the different channel that is stored in the buffer for playback in response to the channel change; andplaying back the content of the different channel from the selected point; wherein the content of one or more of the plurality of program channels is organized into tracks, and wherein as to such a designated channel, the selected point is one of (i) at the beginning of, and (ii) within, a selected one of the tracks; and wherein the playback point is (i) the start of the newest track fully stored in the buffer for the different channel if the start of the newest track is at a point in the buffer that is less than or equal to a defined time interval prior to the currently playing point of the channel, and (ii) the start of the track currently being received on the different channel if the start of the newest track stored in the buffer is greater than the defined time interval.