System and method for optimizing terrestrial signal acquisition in a communication system

• US 20050254525A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Walker, Glenn A., Diamond, Harry, Cramer, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/503
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0602 Systems characterised by the synchronising information used

Abstract

A system optimizes terrestrial signal acquisition in a communication system by initially determining whether a first synchronization signal is available from a first ensemble, which has an associated first programmed content of a terrestrial signal. Next, when the first synchronization signal is not available from the first ensemble, the system switches to a second ensemble of the terrestrial signal to acquire a second synchronization signal, which is synchronized with the first synchronization signal. Finally, the system switches back to the first ensemble to retrieve the associated first programmed content.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing terrestrial signal acquisition in a communication system, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a first synchronization signal is available from a first ensemble of a terrestrial signal, wherein the first ensemble has an associated first programmed content;

switching to a second ensemble of the terrestrial signal to acquire a second synchronization signal when the first synchronization signal is not available from the first ensemble, wherein the second ensemble has an associated second programmed content, and wherein the first synchronization signal is synchronized with the second synchronization signal; and

switching back to the first ensemble to retrieve the associated first programmed content from the first ensemble.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication system is a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first programmed content is different from the second programmed content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second synchronization signals are narrowband signals.

5. A satellite radio receiver that optimizes terrestrial signal acquisition, the receiver comprising:

an antenna for receiving a terrestrial signal;

a tuner coupled to the antenna; and

a processor coupled to a frequency synthesizer of the tuner, wherein the processor is programmed to perform the steps of;

determining whether a first synchronization signal is available from a first ensemble of the terrestrial signal, wherein the first ensemble has an associated first programmed content;

switching the tuner to a second ensemble of the terrestrial signal to acquire a second synchronization signal when the first synchronization signal is not available from the first ensemble, wherein the second ensemble has an associated second programmed content, and wherein the first synchronization signal is synchronized with the second synchronization signal; and

switching the tuner back to the first ensemble to retrieve the associated first programmed content from the first ensemble.

6. The receiver of claim 5, wherein the first programmed content is different from the second programmed content.

7. The receiver of claim 5, wherein the first and second synchronization signals are narrowband signals.

8. A radio receiver that optimizes terrestrial signal acquisition, the receiver comprising:

a tuner coupled to an antenna for receiving a terrestrial signal; and

a processor coupled to a frequency synthesizer of the tuner, wherein the processor is programmed to perform the steps of;

determining whether a first synchronization signal is available from a first ensemble of the terrestrial signal, wherein the first ensemble has an associated first programmed content;

switching the tuner to a second ensemble of the terrestrial signal to acquire a second synchronization signal when the first synchronization signal is not available from the first ensemble, wherein the second ensemble has an associated second programmed content, and wherein the first synchronization signal is synchronized with the second synchronization signal; and

switching the tuner back to the first ensemble to retrieve the associated first programmed content from the first ensemble.

9. The receiver of claim 8, wherein the first programmed content is different from the second programmed content.

10. The receiver of claim 8, wherein the first and second synchronization signals are narrowband signals.