TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to broadcast and receiver technology, an in particular to the interaction of a receiver or other user device with both satellite and Internet protocol communications pathways to receive audio content and associated data, and thereby optimize a user's experience.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, broadcast audio content was delivered to users over radio, such as via AM and FM radio stations. More recently, digital radio has been delivered to users via satellite transmission, such as, for example, is the case with the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service provided by Sirius XM Radio Inc., namely the Sirius and XM services. Even more recently, listeners have been able to access both streamed versions of broadcast radio stations, as well as web-only digital audio content providers via “Internet radio.” Finally, various music streaming services, such as, for example, Pandora, MOG, Spotify, Rdio, etc., have arisen, which deliver music and other content to users over the Internet. With the advent of iPhones, smartphones, iPADs and the like, mobile users can easily access these services in mobile environments. However there is a catch—the high bandwidth of good audio content files, even when sent compressed, can be high. Thus, users incur significant charges on data plans when accessing audio content via IP protocol on portable devices, and interestingly, such monthly charges can far exceed a monthly subscription to a given satellite radio service.

Digital broadcast via satellite direct to users allows for optimization of the signal to that application, inasmuch as the broadcaster controls the satellites, the uplink, the framing and contents of the signal, and all other aspects. Satellite broadcasters have well appointed systems and infrastructure in place that allows them to reach millions of customers in mobile environments with optimized use of bandwidth and very high quality of service. However, direct satellite transmission uses one-way communications. There is no means for a user of a satellite receiver to “talk back” via signaling data or otherwise, to the broadcast system and “request” a specific type or piece of content or data.

Content delivered via IP based communications networks inherently has a two-way aspect to it. A device connected to an IP network can, via browsers, applications, etc., communicate with any other connected device, including, for example, a music service provider. This allows a user of such services to signal, in near real time and in a time shifted manner, preference information, likes/dislikes, browsing or listening history, “stickiness” to, and frequency of, each channel that he or she has accessed on the service. This can be leveraged, if done correctly, into information that allows personalized playlists to be streamed to that user, in a manner that best satisfies his or her wants and expectations.

As can well be appreciated, each of direct broadcast via satellite, and IP delivery via the Internet or other IP based communications networks, has advantages and disadvantages. What has not been developed offered are devices, systems and methods to utilize and leverage the benefits of each communications pathway in one system or device.

What is thus needed in the art are systems, methods and devices to combine satellite and IP delivered content, to optimize the benefits of each communications pathway, and offer users/listeners a truly top quality experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods for interaction of satellite and Internet protocol features in content delivery systems are presented. Using such systems and methods, the delivery of some content to the same product by Satellite delivery, other content by IP delivery, and still other content by both Satellite and IP delivery can enhance the utility of both the content and the product for an end user and can further optimize the costs and quality of service associated with delivering the content. A method of providing content and data to a combined satellite and IP network receiver is presented, including broadcasting via satellite content and data to the receiver, and sending via an IP based communications network content and data to the receiver, where the content and data provided over the Satellite broadcast enables capabilities of the receiver needed to consume content received by IP delivery, and the content and data provided via IP delivery enables capabilities of the receiver needed to consume content received from the satellite broadcast.

