Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080214100 | Communication service subscription management - Multiple receivers may be enabled to receive satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) services under a single subscription. For example, an SDAR service provider can enable multiple vehicles, a home-based digital radio, or a portable digital radio, singly or in any combination. Multiple receivers transmit information to each other. One receiver is designated as a primary receiver, and the other receivers are designated as secondary receivers. The SDAR service provider transmits a list of associated secondary receivers to the primary receiver. The primary receiver enables the associated secondary receivers to receive SDAR services by placing them in an authorized state. The secondary receivers must periodically communicate with the primary receiver to remain authorized. A secondary receiver that fails to communicate with the primary receiver within a prescribed time period is switched to an unauthorized state. In this unauthorized state, the secondary receiver no longer performs as an authorized receiver. | 09-04-2008 |
20080247444 | System and method for multi-source communications - A system and method of multi-source communications, including a source provider, a transmitter, a receiver, a summing device, a plurality of delay devices, and a switch. The source provider provides a signal including a first and second signal. The transmitter is in communication with the source provider and the receiver. The receiver is in communication with the transmitter. The summing device combines the first and second signals received by the receiver. The delay device delays at least one of the first and second signals. The switch forms a bypass, such that at least one of the first and second signals bypasses one of the plurality of delay devices. | 10-09-2008 |
20080279300 | System and method of transmitting and receiving satellite digital radio signals over an odd number of frequency slots - A system and method for transmitting and receiving data which includes at least one satellite, at least one transmitter in communication with the at least one satellite, and at least one receiver in communication with the at least one satellite. The transmitter modulates source data into a first modulated signal using a first modulation and a second modulated signal using a second modulation, and transmits the first and second modulated signals over an odd number of frequency slots to the satellite. The receiver receives the first and second modulated signals and demodulates at least one of the first and second modulated signals. | 11-13-2008 |
20080293359 | System and method of communicating and re-using frequencies within terrestrial and satellite signal paths - A system and method for communicating and re-using frequencies is provided, which includes a source provider, at least one transmitter, and a plurality of antennas. The transmitter transmits source data along a plurality of signal paths including a first signal at a first frequency transmitted along a first satellite signal path, a second signal at a second frequency transmitted along a second satellite signal path, and a terrestrial signal transmitted along a terrestrial signal path. The terrestrial signal frequency is substantially the same as one of the first and second signal frequencies. The antennas receive signals, and include a first antenna for receiving at least the terrestrial signal along the terrestrial signal path and a second antenna for receiving at least the first signal along the first satellite signal path, the second signal along the second satellite signal path, and the terrestrial signal along the terrestrial signal path. | 11-27-2008 |
20090059783 | Communication system and method of receiving high priority signals and low priority signals - A communication system and method of communicating signals to a plurality of different types of receivers is provided. The communication system includes at least one transmitter that transmits a high priority signal and a low priority signal that are hierarchically modulated and transmitted as a single frequency network. At least one satellite receives and re-transmits at least one of the high priority and low priority signals. At least one of the plurality of receivers include a processor that performs the steps of storing the hierarchically modulated signal, demodulating the high priority signal from the hierarchically modulated signal, decoding the demodulated high priority signal, re-encoding the high priority signal, and processing the stored hierarchically modulated signal based upon the re-encoded high priority signal. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060065 | Communication system and method for receiving high priority and low priority signals - A communication system and method of communicating signals to a plurality of different types of receivers is provided. At least one transmitter transmits hierarchically modulated high priority and low priority signals as a single frequency network. At least one satellite re-transmits the high priority signal in a first circularly polarized direction and the low priority signal in a second circularly polarized direction. At least one of a first receiver having a single antenna is configured to receive the high priority signal in the first circularly polarized direction and switched to receive the low priority signal in the second circularly polarized direction, and a second receiver having a first antenna is configured to receive the high priority signal in the first circularly polarized direction, and a second antenna is configured to receive the low priority signal in the second circularly polarized direction substantially simultaneously. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060066 | Communication system and method for transmitting signals to a plurality of different types of receivers - A communication system and method of communicating signals to a plurality of different types of receivers is provided. The communication system includes at least one transmitter that transmits high priority and low priority signals as a single frequency network. At least one satellite receives and re-transmits at least one of the high priority and low priority signals. At least one terrestrial repeater is in communication with the at least one transmitter, and receives from the at least one transmitter and re-transmits at least one of the high priority and low priority signals. A plurality of receivers includes at least a first receiver configured to process the high priority signal to emit an output signal based upon the high priority signal, and a second receiver configured to process the high priority and low priority signals to emit an output signal based upon the high priority and low priority signals. | 03-05-2009 |
20090075617 | Receiver system and method for switching among a plurality of antenna elements to receive a signal - A receiver system and method for switching among a plurality of antenna elements to receive a signal. At least a portion of plurality of antenna elements receive a transmitted signal, such that the transmitted signal includes a plurality of sub-channels that are transmitted in predetermined time intervals. A switching device is in communication with the plurality of antenna elements, and switches among single antenna elements to receive the transmitted signal. A controller is in communication with the switching device, and commands the switching device to select each of the antenna elements separately in predetermined periods of time based upon the predetermined time intervals of each of the sub-channels. A power level of the transmitted signal is determined during the predetermined period of time that corresponds to the predetermined time intervals, and the controller commands the switching device to switch to an antenna element based upon the determined power level. | 03-19-2009 |
20100045515 | Communications system and method of communicating data - A communications system and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a first receiver. The first receiver includes at least one antenna element configured to receive the first signal having a first polarization, and a combiner in communication with the at least one antenna element, wherein the combiner enhances the first signal and minimizes a second signal having a second polarization that is different than the first polarization of the first signal, such that an output is emitted by the first receiver based upon the received first signal. The first receiver further includes a beam steerer in communication with the combiner, wherein the beam steerer is configured to steer an antenna beam of the at least one antenna element in order to minimize reflection of the second signal, such that the second polarization of the second signal remains different than the first polarization of the first signal. | 02-25-2010 |
20100060520 | Receiver device and method of receiving a plurality of signals - A receiver device and method of receiving a plurality of signals are provided, wherein the receiver device includes at least one antenna element and circuitry in communication with the at least one antenna element. The at least one antenna element is configured to receive at least a first signal having a first polarization and a second signal having a second polarization, wherein the first polarization is different than the second polarization. The circuitry is configured to process and emit an output based upon at least one of the received first and second signals, wherein the first signal is received at a first reception elevation angle with respect to the at least one antenna element that is greater than a second reception elevation angle of the second signal with respect to the at least one antenna element, and the first and second signals are transmitted at substantially the same frequency. | 03-11-2010 |
20100124187 | Communication system and method of communicating signals - A communication system and method are provided, wherein the system includes a first satellite orbiting in a first orbital path that communicates a first signal having a first content at a transmitting frequency while at a first elevation angle, and a second satellite orbiting in a second orbital path that communicates a second signal having a second content at the transmitting frequency while at a second elevation angle, wherein the first elevation angle is greater than the second elevation angle. The system further includes at least one terrestrial repeater that communicates a hierarchical modulated signal, wherein a hierarchical primary of the hierarchical modulated signal corresponds to the second signal communicated from the second satellite, and a hierarchical secondary of the hierarchical modulated signal corresponds to the first signal communicated from the first satellite, such that the first and second signals are communicated at the same transmitting frequency. | 05-20-2010 |
20100195482 | HIERARCHICALLY MODULATED OFDM COMMUNICATION FROM A SATELLITE-BASED TRANSMITTER WITH REDUCED SECONDARY DATA LOSS FROM CLIPPING - High priority data and low priority digital data are transmitted as primary and secondary data in hierarchically modulated, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) from an earth-orbiting satellite. To enable the transmitter amplifier to be operated with less back-off from saturation without clipping, the low priority OFDM symbols have fewer samples than the high priority OFDM symbols, and the high priority samples on which the low priority samples are superimposed are selected according to a first deterministic rule using sample power comparisons of the high priority samples to concentrate the low priority samples on those high priority samples having lower (optimally, the lowest) sample power. The low priority samples are distributed on the selected high priority samples according to a second deterministic rule relating the original low priority sample order to the original high priority sample order. | 08-05-2010 |
20110222634 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING A HIERARCHICALLY MODULATED SIGNAL AND METHOD THEREOF - A communication system utilizing a hierarchically modulated signal and method thereof are provided, wherein a receiver system is configured to receive a hierarchically modulated signal. The receiver system includes a receiver device configured to receive the hierarchically modulated signal, which is a function of a time domain, and including a high priority data stream that has a single carrier type modulation, and a low priority data stream having data bits that are spread over a plurality of data symbols of a high priority data modulation. The receiver system further includes a low priority processor device, which includes an OFDM decoder configured to convert the low priority data stream of the hierarchically modulated signal that is a function of the time domain to be a function of a frequency domain by utilizing a FFT, such that an output is emitted that is representative of the low priority data stream. | 09-15-2011 |
20110275309 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A communication system and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a first satellite configured to re-transmit at least a first transmitted signal at a first frequency band, a second satellite configured to re-transmit the first transmitted signal at a second frequency band, and a first terrestrial repeater configured to re-transmit the first transmitted signal at a third frequency band. The system further includes a third satellite configured to re-transmit a second transmitted signal at the third frequency band that is different than the first transmitted signal re-transmitted by the first and second satellites, such that the first signal re-transmitted by the first terrestrial repeater, and the second signal re-transmitted by the third satellite interfere with one another, wherein the first signals re-transmitted by the first satellite, the second satellite, and the first terrestrial repeater includes substantially the same data. | 11-10-2011 |
20130044826 | APPARATUS TO COMMUNICATE MULTIPLE SIGNALS FROM MULTIPLE ANTENNAS ON A SINGLE CABLE - An antenna assembly, a receiver, and a system configured to superimpose a first received signal from a first antenna and an intermediate signal based on a second received signal from a second antenna onto a single cable. The antenna assembly includes a mixer and an adjustable local oscillator (ALO) that frequency shift the second received signal to generate the intermediate signal. The output frequency of the ALO is controlled by a control signal superimposed on the single cable that is output by the receiver. With this arrangement, a plurality of antennas or antenna elements can be connected to a receiver using a single coaxial cable. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable to manufacturers of automobiles and other vehicles. Also, the receiver can detect if the output frequency of the ALO needs to be adjusted, and so close-loop control of the output frequency is possible. | 02-21-2013 |
20130089126 | SATELLITE RECEIVER PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS - Long time interleaver and listenable audio performance enhancements for a satellite receiver are presented. One enhancement includes comparing a correlation and a predetermined threshold value and blocking satellite signal data transmission from entry into long time interleaver (LTI) device circuitry and forward error correction (FEC) circuitry when the correlation value is the same as, or less than the predetermined threshold value. Another enhancement includes using Reed-Solomon codeword error checking to prevent erroneous baseband signal data from being accepted as good baseband signal data. A further enhancement includes storing symbol timing and frequency data during a strong signal condition of the satellite receiver and using this stored data when the satellite receiver encounters a weak signal condition. Another enhancement includes mitigating DC offset noise in a satellite receiver having a zero-IF tuner. | 04-11-2013 |
20130094618 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING A HIERARCHICALLY MODULATED SIGNAL AND METHOD THEREOF - A communication system utilizing a hierarchically modulated signal and method thereof are provided, wherein a receiver system is configured to receive a hierarchically modulated signal. The receiver system includes a receiver device configured to receive the hierarchically modulated signal, which is a function of a time domain, and including a high priority data stream that has a single carrier type modulation, and a low priority data stream having data bits that are spread over a plurality of data symbols of a high priority data modulation. The receiver system further includes a low priority processor device, which includes an OFDM decoder configured to convert the low priority data stream of the hierarchically modulated signal that is a function of the time domain to be a function of a frequency domain by utilizing a FFT, such that an output is emitted that is representative of the low priority data stream. | 04-18-2013 |
20130162466 | METHODS TO EXTEND THE FREQUENCY LOCK RANGE OF A RECEIVED RF SIGNAL USING A PREAMBLE-BASED FREQUENCY ESTIMATE - A method is presented to extend a frequency lock range of a received RF signal in a satellite receiver. One step in the method includes analyzing data information of a preamble associated with the received satellite RF signal. Another step includes determining an estimated frequency value that is a function of the analyzed data information that further includes at least a portion of the frequency error formed therein. A further step includes comparing the determined estimated frequency value to a predetermined threshold value. Another step includes using the determined estimated frequency value when the determined frequency value is greater than the predetermined threshold value to operatively control tracking mode electronic circuitry disposed in the satellite receiver to attain frequency lock on the received satellite RF signal. | 06-27-2013 |
20140080438 | IN-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION - An in-vehicle communication system configured to receive signals from a transmitter configured to transmit periodically a time-reference signal and receiver specific information. An information transmission time of receiver specific information is timed relative to a reference transmission time of the time-reference signal. The system includes a receiver characterized as having a receiver identification value. The receiver is configured to operate from an off-state to an on-state during an information-expected time interval to receive receiver specific information. The information-expected time interval is determined based on a reception time of the time-reference signal and the receiver identification value. This provides a way to ensure that the transmitter only transmits messages when it knows the intended receiver is on. It also ensures that the receiver is on only when messages that for that receiver are expected to be received. | 03-20-2014 |
20140146921 | RECEIVER FOR RECOVERING UNIVERSAL SERVICES IN A SPOT BEAM SATELLITE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A terrestrial receiver recovers universal services in a satellite radio transmission system including discrete signal sources producing overlapping spot beam loci within a coverage area, wherein the signals forming the beams each contain repeating time aligned universal services having a master synchronizing frame, at least one common channel, and at least one spot specific channel with differing frequency and/or polarization. The receiver switches among antenna elements. A portion of antenna elements receive a transmitted signal, including a plurality of sub-channels that are transmitted in predetermined time intervals. A switching device switches among single antenna elements to receive the transmitted signal. A controller commands the switching device to select each of the antenna elements separately in predetermined periods of time based upon the predetermined time intervals of each of the master synchronizing frames. A power level of the transmitted signal is determined during the predetermined time intervals. | 05-29-2014 |
20140198717 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GROUND TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATIONS WITH A SATELLITE TRANSCEIVER - A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a ranking threshold indicative of a transceiver ranking of a ground transceiver that authorizes the ground transceiver to transmit a message to the satellite transceiver. The ground transceiver receives the ranking threshold transmitted by the ground transceiver, and determines if the ground transceiver is authorized to transmit a message based on a comparison of the ranking threshold and a transceiver ranking of the ground transceiver. | 07-17-2014 |
20140198721 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GROUND TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATIONS WITH A SATELLITE TRANSCEIVER - A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a ranking threshold indicative of a transmit power that a ground transceiver is authorized to use to transmit a message. The ground transceiver receives the ranking threshold transmitted by the ground transceiver, and determines a transmit power of the transmitter to transmit a message based on a comparison of the ranking threshold and a transceiver ranking of the ground transceiver. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199939 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GROUND TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATIONS WITH A SATELLITE TRANSCEIVER - A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a priority threshold indicative of a priority rating of a message that authorizes the ground transceiver to transmit the message to the satellite transceiver. The ground transceiver receives the priority threshold transmitted by the ground transceiver, and determines if the message is authorized to be transmitted based on a comparison of the priority threshold and the priority rating of the message to be transmitted. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199940 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GROUND TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATIONS WITH A SATELLITE TRANSCEIVER - A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a priority threshold indicative of a transmit power that a ground transceiver is authorized to use to transmit a message. The ground transceiver receives the priority threshold transmitted by the ground transceiver, and determines a transmit power of the transmitter to transmit a message based on a comparison of the priority threshold and a priority rating of the message. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199941 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GROUND TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATIONS WITH A SATELLITE TRANSCEIVER - A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a time reference signal. The ground transceiver receives the time reference signal, and determines a transmit time that the ground transceiver is authorized to transmit a message based on an identification number of the ground transceiver. | 07-17-2014 |
20140286453 | SATELLITE COMMUNICATION HAVING DISTINCT LOW PRIORITY INFORMATION BROADCAST INTO ADJACENT SUB-REGIONS - A satellite communication system using hierarchical modulation to transmit a plurality of modulated signals to sub-regions within a region. Each modulated signal includes high priority content and low priority content. The system includes a satellite equipped with a plurality of satellite transmitters coupled to a plurality of antenna elements, e.g. a phased array of antenna elements. The antenna elements are utilized selectively to direct a modulated signal from a satellite transmitter to a distinct sub-region. The satellite transmitters and antenna also cooperate to broadcast the high-priority content to the region such that a ground receiver traveling from a first sub-region to an adjacent second sub-region adjacent will not experience a loss of high-priority content. First low-priority content of a first modulated signal directed to the first sub-region is independent of second low-priority content of a second modulated signal directed to the second sub-region. | 09-25-2014 |
20140328439 | METHOD TO INCREASE SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO OF A CYCLIC-PREFIX ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY-DIVISION MULTIPLEX SIGNASL - A method to decode an orthogonal frequency-division multiplex (OFDM) signal data block that includes symbol-data in a data interval, repeated-data in a cyclic-prefix (CP) guard interval, and noise. The signal is often called a CP-OFDM signal. The method includes determining a first data set based on data samples taken during a first time window of a data block. The method also includes determining a second data set based on data samples taken during a second time window of the data block, wherein the second time window is selected so that the second data set includes repeated-data not present in the first data set. The method also includes combining the first data set and the second data set in a manner effective to increase a signal-to-noise ratio of the signal. The combining process increases signal data energy more than noise data energy. | 11-06-2014 |