It looks like XM’s (excellent) XM2Go services aren’t the only sort of time-shifting devices they are thinking about. This new patent application describes a system that would use the satellite broadcast to preload a device with a variety of ‘preview’ songs and other content (including video and text), allowing you to use intelligent streams of content—even when you can’t get a satellite signal. There are even plans to let users purchase songs they want to keep in a more permanent place (although actually letting a user move that content around is probably an empty hope).
Patent abstract excerpted after the jump.
A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
US Patent App. #20040266336 [USPTO]
