IP Library Granted Patent US 11,997,615
Granted Patent B2
US 11,997,615 · App. 17/554,480 · Granted May 28, 2024

Transmission of feedback to edge transceiver via in-band on-channel (IBOC) mesh network

Inventor: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn (Mason, OH)
Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
H04W52/322H04W52/16H04W52/24H04W52/283H04W72/30H04W52/143H04W52/245H04W84/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,997,615
App. No.
17/554,480
Granted
May 28, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mesh network includes multiple in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers, connected in a mesh configuration. A first IBOC transceiver receives first broadcast content for IBOC transmission, and transmits the first broadcast content to a second IBOC transceiver, which broadcasts the first broadcast content within a first IBOC broadcast area. the second IBOC transceiver receives feedback related to the first broadcast content from a user device within the first IBOC broadcast area, and transmits the feedback to an edge transceiver via a communication path including the first IBOC transceiver.

Claims (48)

1. A method for use in a mesh network including a plurality of in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers coupled together in a mesh configuration, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first IBOC transceiver included in the plurality of IBOC transceivers, first broadcast content for IBOC transmission;

transmitting the first broadcast content from the first IBOC transceiver to a second IBOC transceiver included in the plurality of IBOC transceivers;

broadcasting, by the second IBOC transceiver, the first broadcast content within a first IBOC broadcast area;

receiving, by the second IBOC transceiver and from a user device within the first IBOC broadcast area, feedback related to the first broadcast content; and

transmitting the feedback from the second IBOC transceiver to an edge transceiver via a communication path including the first IBOC transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the feedback from the edge transceiver to a feedback server associated with a source of the first broadcast content for IBOC transmission, wherein the a feedback server is coupled to the edge transceiver via a second network external to the mesh network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback includes:

an identifier indicating that the user device is registered with the mesh network.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting different broadcast content to different IBOC transceivers included in the mesh network based on identifiers associated with registered IBOC devices currently in communication with the different IBOC transceivers.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first IBOC transceiver and the second IBOC transceiver serve different IBOC broadcast areas, the method further comprising:

transmitting second broadcast content within a second IBOC broadcast area using the first IBOC transceiver.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the first broadcast content in a first sideband of a particular radio channel; and

transmitting second broadcast content in a second sideband of the particular radio channel.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the second IBOC transceiver, second broadcast content intended for IBOC transmission by the first IBOC transceiver; and

forwarding the second broadcast content for IBOC transmission from the second IBOC transceiver to the first IBOC transceiver via the mesh network.

8. A mesh network comprising:

a plurality of in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers coupled together in a mesh configuration, wherein the plurality of IBOC transceivers includes:

a first IBOC transceiver;

a second IBOC transceiver;

an edge transceiver;

the first IBOC transceiver configured to:

receive first broadcast content for IBOC transmission;

transmit the first broadcast content from the first IBOC transceiver to the second IBOC transceiver;

the second IBOC transceiver configured to:

receive the first broadcast content transmitted by the first IBOC;

broadcast the first broadcast content within a first IBOC broadcast area;

receive, from a user device within the first IBOC broadcast area, feedback related to the first broadcast content; and

transmit the feedback to the edge transceiver via a communication path including the first IBOC transceiver.

9. The mesh network of claim 8 , further comprising:

a feedback server coupled to the edge transceiver via a second network external to the mesh network, wherein the feedback server is associated with a source of the first broadcast content for IBOC transmission; and

the edge transceiver is configured to transmit the feedback to the feedback server.

10. The mesh network of claim 8 , wherein the feedback includes:

an identifier indicating that the user device is registered with the mesh network.

11. The mesh network of claim 8 , wherein the edge transceiver is further configured to:

transmit different broadcast content to different IBOC transceivers included in the mesh network based on identifiers associated with registered IBOC devices currently in communication with the different IBOC transceivers.

12. The mesh network of claim 11 , wherein:

the first IBOC transceiver is configured to transmit second broadcast content within a second IBOC broadcast area.

13. The mesh network of claim 8 , wherein:

the second IBOC transceiver is configured to transmit the first broadcast content in a first sideband of a particular radio channel; and

the first IBOC transceiver is configured to transmit second broadcast content in a second sideband of the particular radio channel.

14. The mesh network of claim 8 , wherein the second IBOC transceiver is further configured to:

receive second broadcast content intended for IBOC transmission by the first IBOC transceiver; and

forward the second broadcast content from the second IBOC transceiver to the first IBOC transceiver via the mesh network.

Assignments (7)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 29, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 069795/0912 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069793/0758 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069794/0248 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 27, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069792/0335 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 23, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069762/0453 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 22, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069752/0941 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2021
From: LITTLEJOHN, JEFFREY LEE
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058419/0039 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16793276 · Feb 18, 2020
Continuation 16398593 · Apr 30, 2019
Continuation 15910076 · Mar 2, 2018
Continuation 15700872 · Sep 11, 2017
Continuation 14965636 · Dec 10, 2015
Related Publication 20220110070A1 · Apr 7, 2022