IP Library Granted Patent US 8,478,288
Granted Patent B2
US 8,478,288 · App. 11/962,707 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Systems and methods for automatically searching a database to tune a frequency modulator in a mobile device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,478,288
App. No.
11/962,707
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for automatically tuning a frequency modulator in a mobile device is described. The geographical location of the mobile device is obtained. A database of one or more frequencies associated with the geographical location of the mobile device is searched. Quality associated with channels of the one or more frequencies is analyzed to identify at least one available channel at a first frequency. The first frequency is assigned to an FM modulator. The FM modulator is integrated as a part of the mobile device. A determination is made as to whether a command to search for a second frequency is received. If the command to search for the second frequency is not received, a signal is transmitted on the first frequency by the FM modulator.

Claims (60)

1. A method for automatically tuning a frequency modulator in a mobile device, comprising:

obtaining a geographical location of the mobile device;

searching a database of one or more frequencies associated with the geographical location of the mobile device;

analyzing noise associated with channels of the one or more frequencies to identify at least one available channel at a first frequency;

assigning the first frequency to an FM modulator, wherein the FM modulator is integrated as a part of the mobile device;

determining, prior to transmitting a signal on the first frequency, if a command to search for a second frequency is received from a user; and

if the user command to search for the second frequency is not received, transmitting the signal on the first frequency by the FM modulator.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a frequency search initiation command that initiates the searching of the database.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is visually provided on a display of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is audibly provided from one or more speakers of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is generated from one or more media files comprising digital audio files.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is generated from one or more media files comprising Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 (MP3) files.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically monitoring the noise of the channel at the first frequency during the transmission of the signal.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining whether a channel quality at the first frequency is acceptable by analyzing gray noise associated with the first frequency.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising searching the database for an available frequency that is different than the first frequency, if the channel quality at the first frequency is unacceptable.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising suspending the transmission of the signal if the database search locates an available frequency that is different than the first frequency.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting an incoming call at the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising suspending the transmission of the signal if the detected incoming call is accepted.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is available via a network Internet service or an intranet service.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geographical location of the mobile device is obtained by a location based service (LBS) system.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geographical location of the mobile device is obtained by a global positioning system (GPS).

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geographical location of the mobile device is obtained by a cellular telephone identification (Cell ID) system.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is generated from one or more media files stored on the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising streaming the signal from a network across the FM modulator to a receiver.

19. A mobile device for automatically tuning a frequency modulator in the mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:

obtain a geographical location of the mobile device;

search a database of one or more frequencies associated with the geographical location of the mobile device;

analyze noise associated with channels of the one or more frequencies to identify at least one available channel at a first frequency;

assign the first frequency to an FM modulator, wherein the FM modulator is integrated as a part of the mobile device;

determine, prior to transmitting a signal on the first frequency, if a command to search for a second frequency is received from a user; and

if the user command to search for the second frequency is not received, transmit the signal on the first frequency by the FM modulator.

20. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone.

21. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable to visually provide the first frequency on a display on the device.

22. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable to automatically monitor the noise of the channel at the first frequency during the transmission of the signal.

23. The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions are further executable to determine whether a channel quality at the first frequency is acceptable by analyzing gray noise associated with the first frequency.

24. The mobile device of claim 23 , wherein the instructions are further executable to search the database for an available frequency that is different than the first frequency, if the channel quality is unacceptable.

25. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the signal is generated from one or more media files stored on the mobile device.

26. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable to stream the signal from a network across the FM modulator to a receiver.

27. An apparatus for automatically tuning a frequency modulator in a mobile device, comprising:

means for obtaining a geographical location of the mobile device;

means for searching a database of one or more frequencies associated with the geographical location of the mobile device;

means for analyzing noise associated with channels of the one or more frequencies to identify at least one available channel at a first frequency;

means for assigning the first frequency to an FM modulator, wherein the FM modulator is integrated as a part of the mobile device;

means for determining, prior to transmitting a signal on the first frequency, if a command to search for a second frequency is received from a user; and

if the user command to search for the second frequency is not received, means for transmitting the signal on the first frequency by the FM modulator.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising means for receiving a frequency search initiation command that initiates the searching of the database.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the signal is generated from one or more media files stored on the mobile device.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising means for streaming the signal from a network across the FM modulator to a receiver.

31. A computer-program product for automatically tuning a frequency modulator in a mobile device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for obtaining a geographical location of the mobile device;

code for searching a database of one or more frequencies associated with the geographical location of the mobile device;

code for analyzing noise associated with channels of the one or more frequencies to identify at least one available channel at a first frequency;

code for assigning the first frequency to an FM modulator, wherein the FM modulator is integrated as a part of the mobile device;

code for determining, prior to transmitting a signal on the first frequency, if a command to search for a second frequency is received from a user; and

if the user command to search for the second frequency is not received, code for transmitting the signal on the first frequency by the FM modulator.

32. The computer-program product of claim 31 , wherein the signal is generated from one or more media files stored on the mobile device.

33. The computer-program product of claim 31 , further comprising code for streaming the signal from a network across the FM modulator to a receiver.

Assignments (15)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056598 FRAME 0059. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058175/0775 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056601 FRAME 0630. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058174/0907 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056601/0630 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056598/0059 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 045723/0359) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS GRANTEE
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056516/0442 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 053983/0570) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS GRANTEE
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056518/0684 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: OMNITRACS, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 053983/0570 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT OF REEL/FRAME 031765/0877 Recorded Mar 26, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045920/0845 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2018
From: OMNITRACS , LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 045723/0359 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT OF REEL/FRAME 031765/0877 Recorded Mar 26, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045727/0398 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: OMNITRACS, LLC
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 041492/0939 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 2, 2014
From: OMNITRACS, INC.
To: OMNITRACS, LLC
Reel/Frame 032814/0239 →
PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 30, 2014
From: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
To: OMNITRACS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032785/0834 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 13, 2013
From: OMNITRACS, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 031814/0843 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 5, 2013
From: OMNITRACS, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 031765/0877 →