Broadcast channel identification

Abstract

An apparatus including a memory for associating at least one user defined channel identifier with at least one selection item of the apparatus and a control unit coupled to the memory, the control unit being configured to cause one of the at least one user defined channel identifier to play when a corresponding one of the at least one selection item is activated by a user.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first selection item comprised of a key or a display item, the first selection item configured to select a first streaming media source;   a memory for storing a first user-created sound file in association with the first selection item, the first user-created sound file comprising an audible identification of the first streaming media source; and   a control unit coupled to the memory, the control unit configured to:
 in response to a user input, selectively turn on and turn off audible identification for the first selection item; and 
 in response to audible identification turned on for the first selection item, and upon activation of the first selection item, cause the audible identification from the first user-created sound file to play; 
   wherein the first user-created sound file does not play upon activation of the first selection item while audible identification for the first selection item is turned off.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the memory stores a first link to the first user-created sound file, in association with the first selection item. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first streaming media source is a media source provided on the Internet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first streaming media source is an Internet radio station. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first streaming media source provides streaming audio. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first streaming media source provides streaming video. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second selection item comprised of a key or a display item, the second selection item configured to select a broadcast reception channel;   wherein the memory is also for storing a second user-created sound file in association with the second selection item, the second user-created sound file comprising an audible identification of the broadcast reception channel;   and wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 in response to a user input, selectively turn on and turn off audible identification for the second selection item; and 
 in response to audible identification turned on for the second selection item, and upon activation of the second selection item, cause the audible identification from the second user-created sound file to play; 
   wherein the second user-created sound file does not play upon activation of the second selection item while audible identification for the second selection item is turned off.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second selection item comprised of a key or a display item, the second selection item configured to select a second streaming media source;   wherein the memory is also for storing a user-created second identification in association with the second selection item, the second identification corresponding to an audible identification of the second streaming media source;   and wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 in response to a user input, selectively turn on and turn off audible identification for the second selection item; and 
 in response to audible identification turned on for the second selection item, and upon activation of the second selection item, cause the audible identification from the second user-created sound file to play; 
   wherein the second user-created sound file does not play upon activation of the second selection item while audible identification for the second selection item is turned off.   
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 at a mobile device, associating a first streaming media source receivable by the device with a first selection item of a user interface of the device, the first selection item being one of a key or a display item;   associating a first user-created sound file stored in a memory of the device with the first selection item, the first user-created sound file comprising an audible identification of the first streaming media source;   in response to a user input, selectively turning on and off audible identification for the first selection item; and   responsive to audible identification turned on for the first selection item, and upon activation of the first selection item at the device, causing the device to play the audible identification from the first user-created sound file;   wherein the first user-created sound file does not play upon activation of the first selection item while audible identification for the first selection item is turned off.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of causing the device to play the audible identification from the first user-created sound file comprises:
 mixing the audible identification from the first user-created sound file with audio from the first streaming media source.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of causing the device to play the audible identification from the first user-created sound file comprises:
 muting audio from the first streaming media source;   during the muting step, playing the audible identification from the first user-created sound file.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first streaming media source is a media source received by the device over the Internet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first streaming media source is an Internet radio station. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first streaming media source provides streaming audio. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first streaming media source provides streaming video. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 associating a broadcast channel receivable by the device with a second selection item of the user interface of the device, the second selection item being one of a key or a display item;   associating a second user-created sound file stored in a memory of the device with the second selection item, the second user-created sound file comprising an audible identification of the broadcast channel;   in response to a user input, selectively turning on and off audible identification for the second selection item; and   responsive to audible identification turned on for the second selection item, and upon activation of the second selection item at the device, causing the device to play the audible identification from the second user-created sound file;   wherein the second user-created sound file does not play upon activation of the second selection item while audible identification for the second selection item is turned off.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 associating a second streaming media source receivable by the device with a second selection item of the user interface of the device, the second selection item being one of a key or a display item;   associating a second user-created sound file stored in a memory of the device with the second selection item, the second user-created sound file comprising an audible identification of the broadcast channel;   in response to a user input, selectively turning on and off audible identification for the second selection item; and   responsive to audible identification turned on for the second selection item, and upon activation of the second selection item at the device, causing the device to play the audible identification from the second user-created sound file;   wherein the second user-created sound file does not play upon activation of the second selection item while audible identification for the second selection item is turned off.