Method and apparatus for enhanced playback of content while switching among channels of broadcast or streamed content while being received (“Tune Start”)
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.
1. A method for enhanced playback of content, the method comprising:
receiving, by a computing device, a plurality of content channels via a broadcast communications channel;
receiving, by the computing device, metadata indicative of a content type associated with each channel of the plurality of content channels;
buffering, by the computing device, a subset of the plurality of content channels that are designated channels;
receiving, by the computing device, a user input indicative of a selection of one of the designated channels;
playing back content of the selected designated channel from one of: (i) a current live reception point, (ii) a start of a newest fully buffered content track, and (iii) a start of a content track currently being buffered based on the content type associated with the selected designated channel;
receiving a user command to initiate a scan function; and
successively playing back:
a portion of an oldest buffered content track, respectively corresponding to each channel of the subset of content channels, until a portion of a currently received content track corresponding to each channel of the subset of content channels is played.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to the buffering, identifying the designated channels based on user preferences associated with the plurality of content channels.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the playback of the selected designated channel is further based on one or more of channel type, transition of content, device configuration, a look-up table, user designation, and time of reception.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the playback from the current live reception point is caused based on the content type corresponding to time sensitive content.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the playback from the start of the newest fully buffered content track is caused based on the content type corresponding to audio programs.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast communications channel corresponds to a satellite broadcast channel.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second user input indicative of a channel change request;
playing back content associated with a different channel of the plurality of content channels based on the channel change request;
receiving a return command indicative of a third user request to playback content associated with the selected designated channel; and
playing back content of the selected designated channel based on predetermined return configuration data.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metadata is further indicative of specifications of a receiver device that are required for displaying information related to additional subsets of the plurality of content channels.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the metadata is further indicative of priorities related to the additional subsets of the plurality of content channels.
10. A system for enhanced playback of content, the system comprising:
a broadcast device; and
a computing device configured to:
receive, from the broadcast device, a plurality of content channels;
receive metadata indicative of a content type associated with each channel of the plurality of content channels;
buffer a subset of the plurality of content channels that are designated channels;
receive a user input indicative of a selection of one of the designated channels;
playback, based on the content type associated with the selected designated channel, content of the selected designated channel from one of (i) a current live reception point, (ii) a start of a newest fully buffered content track, and (iii) a start of a content track currently being buffered;
receive a user command to initiate a scan function; and
successively playback:
a portion of an oldest buffered content track, respectively corresponding to each channel of the subset of content channels, until a portion of a currently received content track corresponding to each channel of the subset of content channels is played.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
identify the designated channels based on user preferences associated with the plurality of content channels.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the playback of the selected designated channel is further based on one or more of channel type, transition of content, device configuration, a look-up table, user designation, and time of reception.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the playback from the current live reception point is caused based on the content type corresponding to time sensitive content.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the playback from the start of the newest fully buffered content track is caused based on the content type corresponding to audio programs.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the broadcast communications channel corresponds to a satellite broadcast channel.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
receive a second user input indicative of a channel change request;
playback content associated with a different channel of the plurality of content channels based on the channel change request;
receive a return command indicative of a third user request to playback content associated with the selected designated channel; and
playback content of the selected designated channel based on predetermined return configuration data.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the metadata is further indicative of specifications of a receiver device that are required for displaying information related to additional subsets of the plurality of content channels.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the metadata is further indicative of priorities related to the additional subsets of the plurality of content channels.