Personal spectrum recorder

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for a personal radio recorder. The personal radio recorder allows for random access of communication signals by identifying a channel and time. The personal radio recorder is capable of concurrent reception, storage and playback of a complete spectrum of individual communication signals. A wide-band signal is received, and concurrently demodulated into a plurality of individual communication signals. These audio signals are identified by channel and time. Individual signals may be simultaneously played, paused, or stored for later playback. Compression may be used to make efficient use of storage. Storage may be fixed, removable, or a combination of both. The system is also capable of storing signals that are already digitally formatted, and is compatible with existing analog or digital playback devices. The personal radio recorder may playback multiple channels of communications data, either previously recorded or currently broadcast, to multiple output stages at the same time.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a signal including a plurality of channels;    extracting the plurality of channels from the signal;    managing the plurality of channels; and    storing at least one of the plurality of channels for later use.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is demultiplexed.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is demodulated, and one or more different demodulation techniques are employed.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels includes one or more sub-channels.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the receiving, extracting, managing, and the storing utilizes meta data.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein metadata is created by a user.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the metadata is created automatically.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the metadata includes at least one of a tag, flag, bookmark, and playlist.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the metadata is stored in a file.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the metadata is embedded in one or more of the plurality of channels.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5 , and further comprising receiving a user selection, and utilizing the metadata to perform at least one of identifying or managing stored channels.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising communicating data with at least one other device.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is stored utilizing a removable storage device selected from the group consisting of a solid state memory, electromechanical storage, tape storage, optical storage, or any combination of the above.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising managing digital rights associated with one or more of the plurality of channels.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is identified utilizing voice recognition.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is manager based on at least one preference of a user.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is time shifted.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising displaying an user interface with information presented as a function of an aspect selected from the group consisting of channel, frequency, format, and time.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , and further comprising receiving input from a user utilizing the user interface.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the managing is controlled from a remote location.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is compressed.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein two or more of the plurality of channels is compressed in parallel.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein individual channels are compressed individually.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is compressed in series.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels includes content.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is digital.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of channels is analog.  
   
   
       28 . A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising: 
 computer code for receiving a signal including a plurality of channels;    computer code for extracting the plurality of channels from the signal;    computer code for managing the plurality of channels; and    computer code for storing at least one of the plurality of channels for later use.    
   
   
       29 . A system, comprising: 
 a first component adapted for receiving a signal including a plurality of channels;    a second component in communication with the first component, the second component adapted for extracting the plurality of channels from the signal;    a third component in communication with the second component, the third component adapted for managing the plurality of channels; and    storage in communication with the third component, the storage adapted for storing at least one of the plurality of channels for later use.