“Apple on Tuesday was awarded a patent for a system that analyzes on-board, broadcast or streamed audio and visual media content to create a custom tailored playlist that can switch between sources to deliver an optimal user experience [U.S. Patent No. 8,634,944 for ‘Auto-station tuning’],” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“While Apple has patented similar technology in the past, such as an invention that allows users to automatically skip commercials, Tuesday’s property is more extensive in scope,” Campbell reports. “For example, the auto-tuning patent covers radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, Internet audio and video streams, satellite radio, on-board media and more.”
“As described, the system can analyze data from multiple media streams to determine what is currently playing and, more importantly, what will be played next. Using this information, the device can dynamically switch ‘stations,’ or media streams, based on user-defined parameters,” Campbell reports. “For example, a user may tell the device to tune to a different FM radio station when an advertisement is detected.”
Much more, including Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.