So there's this Sirius-Apple partnership rumor that's been spreading. What's it based on? Well, perhaps this is the probable reason for that rumor to er... "break." - Apple has recently filed a patent application for a method of saving media from various sources for later purchase. It's actually a pretty innovative method for grabbing snippets of audio, identifying the song/track and allowing the user to purchase that song.

The site Orbitcast, claims that the patent is the most solid information to date that Apple might be considering integration with satellite radio. They add that this is not an exclusive relationship with satellite radio, but rather a method for Apple to get around the Â?song discoveryÂ? roadblock that is inherent with the iPod.

This technology can allow a listener to tune into a wireless signal, say FM radio, or digital radio, using either a wireless card or an accessory that the iPod can recognize.

Apple specifically stated in the document that we've sourced below that the wireless signal could be Â?AM/FM radio, satellite radio, WiFi.Â?

This tech could prove to be a boon to the iPod as it allows the iPod user to Â?discoverÂ? music while in a car. Something that AM/FM radios have been providing to users for decades now.

What makes satellite radio shine compared to AM/FM? Well, satellite radio allows not only provides the audio for the iPod to "consume" - but also the associated metadata is already encoded in - making it easier to identify the song and give the listener a  purchase option. The capability to buy songs the moment you hear them? Nice.