Method of receiving and reproducing a first audio signal, and of reproducing, in response to user action, a second audio signal which has been received together with the first signal

摘要

Two kinds of audio information are played by a specialized receiver to a user: audio samples that are played automatically, and audio programs that are cached, and played only in response to a predetermined action (e.g. pressing of a button in the receiver) during the playing of a related audio sample. Specifically, the predetermined action selects an audio program for storage in local memory, and the program is made accessible to the user either immediately after the predetermined action, or a short while thereafter. Immediate access is possible if one or more audio programs have been received and stored (in an inaccessible manner) prior to the user's predetermined action. Immediate access is not possible in other situations: for example, for audio programs that relate to live audio samples, such as a traffic report (wherein the related audio program contains additional details about accidents and alternate routes) or financial news (wherein the related audio program contains the most current stock quotes) that are being played to the user while still fresh. Once a user-selected audio program has ken made accessible, the user can perform another predetermined action (e.g. pressing a different button) at any time, in order to retrieve and play the stored audio program from the local memory. Alternatively, the user can transfer the stored audio program to another device (e.g. over a cable, wirelessly, or through a peripheral to a memory card).