1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving, by one or more servers, an indication that a content item has been selected using a computing device, wherein the content item is associated with an attribute and a stream parameter;
using the attribute to locate a plurality of content streams available to the computing device over a network, wherein the plurality of content streams correspond to different radio and television broadcasting networks that control access to an associated content stream, and wherein each of the plurality of content streams includes the attribute associated with the content item;
using the stream parameter to identify a single content stream from the plurality of content streams, wherein the single content stream is associated with a particular broadcasting network, and wherein the single content stream includes a plurality of content items associated with the particular broadcast network;
requesting access to the single content stream;
facilitating access to a content item of multimedia content associated with the single content stream, wherein access to the content item is between the particular broadcasting network and the computing device; and
facilitating access to an additional content item of multimedia content associated with the single content stream, wherein the additional content item is being broadcasted subsequent to the content item on the particular broadcast network.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
locating one or more ad streams available to the computing device over the network, the one or more ad streams being associated with one or more ad guardians that controls access to an associated ad stream, wherein each ad stream includes one or more ads, and wherein individual ads are provided by individual advertisers; and
causing one or more ads from the one or more ad streams to be provided to the computing device in addition to the content item associated with the single content stream.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
identifying one or more ad slots for one or more ads to be inserted, wherein the one or more ads are inserted into the one or more ad slots based on at least one or one or more bids from one or more advertisers for the one or more ad slots or advertising revenue associated with each of the one or more ads.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
sharing content information through one or more social networking platforms, wherein the content information includes information about the content item.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the content information further includes at least one of a notification or a reminder about an availability of the content item for delivery, commentary related to the content item for delivery, or ranking related to the content item for delivery.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
invoking a streaming content guide that indicates individual content stream network locations for the plurality of content streams available to the computing device, wherein facilitating access to the content item includes providing, using the streaming content guide, a content stream network location for the content stream to the computing device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content stream is one of a group including a radio broadcast stream, a television broadcast stream, or a podcast stream, wherein a content guardian is one of a group including a radio network, a television network, or an individual radio station, and wherein each of the plurality of content streams is associated with a content guardian.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting network hosts a continuous broadcast that includes the single content stream.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein a stream parameter includes at least one of a location of a user of the computing device, historical playback reliability of a content stream, or a commercial business relationship between a content guardian corresponding to a broadcasting network and a content stream.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the different radio and television broadcasting networks selectively enable access to their associated content streams based on at least one of a user attribute, a playback device type, a content player attribute, or a commercial relationship.
11. A computer-implemented system, comprising:
one or more data processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions configured to cause the one or more data processors to perform operations including:
receiving an indication that a content item has been selected using a computing device, wherein the content item is associated with an attribute and a stream parameter;
using the attribute to locate a plurality of content streams available to the computing device over a network, wherein the plurality of content streams correspond to different radio and television broadcasting networks that control access to an associated content stream, and wherein each of the plurality of content streams includes the attribute associated with the content item;
using the stream parameter to identify a single content stream from the plurality of content streams, wherein the single content stream is associated with a particular broadcasting network, and wherein the single content stream includes a plurality of content items associated with the particular broadcast network;
requesting access to the single content stream;
facilitating access to a content item of multimedia content associated with the single content stream, wherein access to the content item is between the particular broadcasting network and the computing device; and
facilitating access to an additional content item of multimedia content associated with the single content stream, wherein the additional content item is being broadcasted subsequent to the content item on the particular broadcast network.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
locating one or more ad streams available to the computing device over the network, the one or more ad streams being associated with one or more ad guardians that controls access to an associated ad stream, wherein each ad stream includes one or more ads, and wherein individual ads are provided by individual advertisers; and
causing one or more ads from the one or more ad streams to be provided to the computing device in addition to the content item associated with the single content stream.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
identifying one or more ad slots for one or more ads to be inserted, wherein the one or more ads are inserted into the one or more ad slots based on at least one or one or more bids from one or more advertisers for the one or more ad slots or advertising revenue associated with each of the one or more ads.
14. The system of claim 11, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
sharing content information through one or more social networking platforms, wherein the content information includes information about the content item.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the content information further includes at least one of a notification or a reminder about an availability of the content item for delivery, commentary related to the content item for delivery, or ranking related to the content item for delivery.
16. The system of claim 11, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
invoking a streaming content guide that indicates individual content stream network locations for the plurality of content streams available to the computing device, wherein facilitating access to the content item includes providing, using the streaming content guide, a content stream network location for the content stream to the computing device.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the content stream is one of a group including a radio broadcast stream, a television broadcast stream, or a podcast stream, wherein a content guardian is one of a group including a radio network, a television network, or an individual radio station, and wherein each of the plurality of content streams is associated with a content guardian.
18. A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:
receive an indication that a content item has been selected using a computing device, wherein the content item is associated with an attribute and a stream parameter;
use the attribute to locate a plurality of content streams available to the computing device over a network, wherein the plurality of content streams correspond to different radio and television broadcasting networks that control access to an associated content stream, and wherein each of the plurality of content streams includes the attribute associated with the content item;
use the stream parameter to identify a single content stream from the plurality of content streams, wherein the single content stream is associated with a particular broadcasting network, and wherein the single content stream includes a plurality of content items associated with the particular broadcast network;
request access to the single content stream;
facilitate access to a content item of multimedia content associated with the single content stream, wherein access to the content item is between the particular broadcasting network and the computing device; and
facilitate access to an additional content item of multimedia content associated with the single content stream, wherein the additional content item is being broadcasted subsequent to the content item on the particular broadcast network.
19. The computer-program product of claim 18, further comprising instructions configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
locate one or more ad streams available to the computing device over the network, the one or more ad streams being associated with one or more ad guardians that controls access to an associated ad stream, wherein each ad stream includes one or more ads, and wherein individual ads are provided by individual advertisers; and
cause one or more ads from the one or more ad streams to be provided to the computing device in addition to the content item associated with the single content stream.
20. The computer-program product of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
identify one or more ad slots for one or more ads to be inserted, wherein the one or more ads are inserted into the one or more ad slots based on at least one or one or more bids from one or more advertisers for the one or more ad slots or advertising revenue associated with each of the one or more ads.
21. The computer-program product of claim 18, further comprising instructions configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
share content information through one or more social networking platforms, wherein the content information includes information about the content item.
22. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein the content information further includes at least one of a notification or a reminder about an availability of the content item for delivery, commentary related to the content item for delivery, or ranking related to the content item for delivery.
23. The computer-program product of claim 18, further comprising instructions configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
invoke a streaming content guide that indicates individual content stream network locations for the plurality of content streams available to the computing device, wherein facilitating access to the content item includes providing, using the streaming content guide, a content stream network location for the content stream to the computing device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for providing an indication of a resistance across a programmable fuse element within an integrated circuit device, comprising:
(a) adjusting an effective reference resistance;
(b) comparing the resistance across the fuse to the effective reference resistance;
(c) if an outcome of the comparison is a first result, repeating steps (a) and (b); and
(d) if the outcome of the comparison is a second result, providing an indication of the effective reference resistance.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmable fuse element is an anti-fuse element having a resistance that is reduced after a blow process.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the effective reference resistance comprises selectively switching one or more resistive elements to alter the total resistance in a reference path.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the resistance across the fuse to the effective reference resistance comprises comparing a voltage across the fuse to a voltage across a resistive element having a known resistance.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein adjusting the effective reference resistance comprises selectively switching one or more transistors to control a current through a resistive element having a known resistance.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the effective reference resistance comprises adding an additional transistor in parallel to increase a current through a resistor with a known resistance.
7. A method for obtaining a digital readout of a resistance across a programmable fuse element within an integrated circuit device, comprising:
(a) adjusting a number of transistors connected in parallel to control a current flow through a resistor having a known resistance;
(b) monitoring an output of a comparator circuit that compares a voltage across the fuse element to a voltage across the resistor;
(c) if the output of the comparator circuit is in a first state, repeating steps (a) and (b); and
(d) if the output of the comparator circuit is in a second state, providing the number of transistors connected in parallel as an indication of the resistance across the programmable fuse element.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein:
the programmable fuse element is a an anti-fuse element having a resistance that is reduced after a blow process; and
adjusting the number of transistors connected in parallel comprises increasing the number of transistors in parallel.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the number of transistors connected in parallel is performed in response to a command issued to the device.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the number of transistors connected in parallel is performed as part of a built-in self test (BIST) operation of the device.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing the number of transistors to a threshold value to determine if the programmable fuse element is successfully blown.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the output of the comparator circuit comprises monitoring an external pad to which the output of the comparator circuit is routed.
13. An integrated circuit device, comprising:
a plurality of programmable fuse elements;
readout circuitry configured to provide a non-binary indication of resistance of one or more of the programmable fuse elements;
first and second external pads allowing for analog measurements of the resistance across a selected one of the programmable fuse elements; and
the readout circuitry comprises switching circuitry to provide a first signal path from one side of the selected programmable fuse element to the first external pad and a second signal path from another side of the selected programmable fuse element to the second external pad.
14. An integrated circuit device, comprising:
a plurality of programmable fuse elements;
a comparator circuit for comparing a voltage across a selected one of the programmable fuse elements to a voltage across a reference resistor having a known resistance; and
control circuitry configured to successively switch a number of transistors in parallel to control the amount of current flowing through the reference resistor until an output of the comparator circuit changes state.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of programmable fuse elements comprise anti-fuse elements having a resistance that is reduced by a blow process.
16. The device of claim 14, further comprising:
switching circuitry configured to route a blow voltage to a selected fuse element via a first signal path when the device is in a first mode of operation and to route a voltage across a selected fuse element to the comparator circuit via the first signal path when the device is in a second mode of operation.
17. The device of claim 14, wherein:
the output of the comparator circuit may be monitored via an external pad of the device; and
the control circuitry may be controlled by externally issued commands.
18. The device of claim 14, further comprising first and second external pads allowing for analog measurements of the resistance across a selected one of the programmable fuse elements.
19. An integrated circuit device, comprising:
a plurality of programmable fuse elements;
means for comparing a resistance of a selected one of the programmable fuse elements to an effective reference resistance; and
control means for iteratively adjusting the effective reference resistance until an output of the comparing means changes state.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein the comparing means receives, as inputs, a signal indicative of a voltage across the selected programmable fuse and a signal indicative of a voltage across a reference resistor having a known resistance.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the control means is configured to iteratively adjust the effective reference resistance by adjusting the amount of current flowing through the reference resistor.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein the control means is configured to adjust the amount of current flowing through the reference resistor by selectively switching one or more transistors in parallel.