Apple developing system to filter radio stations, including AM and FM

Posted:
in General Discussion edited December 2020
Apple is working on a system to filter both terrestrial and internet radio stations by metadata or location, hinting at plans that involve AM or FM radio hardware.

Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple


The patent application, titled "Radio station provider management systems and methods," describes a simple enough premise. Apple notes that searching through lists of hundreds or thousands of radio stations, including duplicates, "may result in a cumbersome user experience."

As such, Apple details a system that provides "efficient searching and deduplication of the accumulated audio broadcasts from multiple station providers, while taking into account playback rights, location, and/or user preferences."

There's an element of broadness to the patent application. Apple notes that different devices can receive radio broadcasts through various methods, including AM, FM, satellite, and internet. It also points out that streaming services can contract with internet provides to allow terrestrial radio station playback via an internet connection.

A chart depicting the process of filtering radio stations. Credit: Apple
A chart depicting the process of filtering radio stations. Credit: Apple


Apple's solution here is to provide a searchable radio station directory that eliminates duplicated stations and filters the rest based on metadata. The patent also notes that certain stations could be filtered out by playback availability. That applies to geographical, contractual, or other limitations for specific stations.

For example, a radio provider in the U.S. may not have the broadcast rights to stream in Mexico. As such, the system could filter out that station to users in Mexico. The patent also contends that some filtering could be geographically based. A radio provider could, for example, dictate a 200-mile radius where a radio station will be available. The system would filter out the station for users outside that area.

The patent drawings show off a wide array of Apple devices that could potentially receive these radio station broadcasts. They include figures that look suspiciously like an iPhone, MacBook, Apple Watch, and HomePod.

None of those products contain the necessary AM or FM receivers for terrestrial radio -- they all use the internet. In fact, Apple hasn't had a device with the appropriate hardware for terrestrial radio since the iPod nano's brief dalliance with it.

An example of a searchable radio station directory. Credit: Apple
An example of a searchable radio station directory. Credit: Apple


Because of that, it's likely that the patent describes a system that could be easily applied to Apple's existing radio station playback options. HomePod, for example, can access radio stations via streaming providers. Users can also listen to radio stations via Apple Music on other devices.

But the patent specifically notes AM and FM radio as options for receiving a radio broadcast. That appears preemptive in case Apple does integrate terrestrial radio hardware in future devices, like an iPhone with the necessary antennas or perhaps even the vehicle infotainment system on the Apple Car. The patent does explicitly claim the vehicle infotainment system as an option, so it makes sense that AM and FM radio are included as options.

The patent lists Alan Lee, Thomas M. Alsina, and Nathaniel P. Marrin as inventors. Of them, Alsina has credited as an inventor on a previous Apple patent related to a remote control system for an Apple TV.

Apple files numerous patents on a weekly basis, and there's no guarantee that they'll end up in a consumer-facing device. With a patent like this, it's also possible that Apple could never implement the AM/FM functionality and use the directory system for internet streaming.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    dswarddsward Posts: 2unconfirmed, member
    I am the developer of an open-source macOS application called LocalRadio, available for download on GitHub.  It allows the user to attach an inexpensive radio receiver to the Mac's USB hub and relay the audio and an HTML user interface to any device on the network - for example, to an iPhone running Safari.  It's available for download at https://github.com/dsward2/LocalRadio

    Based on this patent filing, it sounds like Apple is considering a similar device.

    elijahgForumPostwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 12
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,821member
    I know HomePod offers some radio stations, but I have a hard time justifying streaming that data when I can flip on my kitchen radio for the same. In my case it's mostly news, talk, or background music so the audio quality doesn't matter. If the devices support OTA radio I could get rid of the counter-top radio...I'd spend money on that.
    edited December 2020 watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 12
    uraharaurahara Posts: 733member
    AM, FM - who really needs it when we have internet radio?
    Ok, I am sure, some one needs it. But it's just so far from my use case...
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 12
    The first time I heard the term "neural net" was in the late 1980s when it was being used to filter noise out of audio. It did an amazing job even back then turning incomprehensible noise into clearly understood human speech. This story made me think that Apple would use advanced AI to turn crappy AM/FM radio into perfectly clear, distortion free studio quality audio. Perhaps they can even add stereo to AM. Now that really would be worth getting excited about.
    Beats
  • Reply 5 of 12
    JapheyJaphey Posts: 1,767member
    urahara said:
    AM, FM - who really needs it when we have internet radio?
    Ok, I am sure, some one needs it. But it's just so far from my use case...
    People living areas affected by emergencies or natural disasters often lose network access. In those situations terrestrial radio becomes vital for receiving news and information. There have been attempts, in the past, to lobby Apple and others to include it for these very reasons. I’m sure nobody uses the fall detection feature on their Apple Watch every day, yet it still saves lives. 
    Beatswatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 12
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    I know HomePod offers some radio stations, but I have a hard time justifying streaming that data when I can flip on my kitchen radio for the same. In my case it's mostly news, talk, or background music so the audio quality doesn't matter. If the devices support OTA radio I could get rid of the counter-top radio...I'd spend money on that.

    This is some crazy rationalization.

    I would love this feature and often wondered why Apple hasn't acquired iHeartMedia. Tons of people still listen to radio. It also has a human element that Pandora and other apps lack.
    razorpit
  • Reply 7 of 12
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    dsward said:
    I am the developer of an open-source macOS application called LocalRadio, available for download on GitHub.  It allows the user to attach an inexpensive radio receiver to the Mac's USB hub and relay the audio and an HTML user interface to any device on the network - for example, to an iPhone running Safari.  It's available for download at https://github.com/dsward2/LocalRadio

    Based on this patent filing, it sounds like Apple is considering a similar device.

    Are you a registered developer? Is your app signed and will it open without overriding security? If not then sorry, no go.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 12
    lkrupp said:
    dsward said:
    I am the developer of an open-source macOS application called LocalRadio, available for download on GitHub.  It allows the user to attach an inexpensive radio receiver to the Mac's USB hub and relay the audio and an HTML user interface to any device on the network - for example, to an iPhone running Safari.  It's available for download at https://github.com/dsward2/LocalRadio

    Based on this patent filing, it sounds like Apple is considering a similar device.

    Are you a registered developer? Is your app signed and will it open without overriding security? If not then sorry, no go.
    As it is open source you can build it yourself can't you? You can even inspect the code beforehand to see if there are any nasties. In this case, signing an app is almost irrelevant.
    watto_cobrafastasleep
  • Reply 9 of 12
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,398member
    I know HomePod offers some radio stations, but I have a hard time justifying streaming that data when I can flip on my kitchen radio for the same. In my case it's mostly news, talk, or background music so the audio quality doesn't matter. If the devices support OTA radio I could get rid of the counter-top radio...I'd spend money on that.
    Do any of those stations not have a digital stream? I listen to even local radio on TuneIn Radio on my iPhone. Just got my first HomePod (mini) and am liking the audio handoff feature when in the same room. Siri can't play stations on TuneIn from the HomePod, but not sure if that's TuneIn needing to update their app or Apple needing to implement Siri integration (or both).
  • Reply 10 of 12
    This could really be about in-car radio options.
  • Reply 11 of 12
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    dsward said:
    I am the developer of an open-source macOS application called LocalRadio, available for download on GitHub.  It allows the user to attach an inexpensive radio receiver to the Mac's USB hub and relay the audio and an HTML user interface to any device on the network - for example, to an iPhone running Safari.  It's available for download at https://github.com/dsward2/LocalRadio

    Based on this patent filing, it sounds like Apple is considering a similar device.
    Not something I'll use, but it's a cool project nevertheless.  Thanks for sharing.
  • Reply 12 of 12
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    I know HomePod offers some radio stations, but I have a hard time justifying streaming that data when I can flip on my kitchen radio for the same. In my case it's mostly news, talk, or background music so the audio quality doesn't matter. If the devices support OTA radio I could get rid of the counter-top radio...I'd spend money on that.
    Do any of those stations not have a digital stream? I listen to even local radio on TuneIn Radio on my iPhone. Just got my first HomePod (mini) and am liking the audio handoff feature when in the same room. Siri can't play stations on TuneIn from the HomePod, but not sure if that's TuneIn needing to update their app or Apple needing to implement Siri integration (or both).
    Why use data when you can get it over the air?  No point being wasteful.
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