Method and system for providing geographic specific services in a satellite communications network

• US 6,347,216 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Wadin, Craig P., Marko, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US09/433,863
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/16, 455/18, 455/20, 455/22, 375/200
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18547 for geolocalisation of a station position fixing by direction or distance determination G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating geographic specific services to a receiver in a satellite communications network by utilizing location identification information included in a composite signal transmitted by a terrestrial repeater. A terrestrial repeater receives from a satellite a composite signal comprising a plurality of time-division multiplexed (TDM) data channels and retransmits the composite signal with a unique transmitter identification number which indicates the identity of the repeater. Upon reception of the composite signal from the terrestrial repeater, the receiver determines the current geographical location of the receiver based on the transmitter identification number. The receiver then compares the current location of the receiver to header information carried in the data channels to select information in the data channels is targeted to the geographical location of the receiver. The receiver then provides the selected information to a user of the receiver so that user may access services directed to audiences in the geographic location of the receiver.

Claims

1. A communications method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a data signal from a transmitter, said data signal comprising a plurality of data channels and information identifying said transmitter;

receiving said data signal at a receiver; and

selectively providing data contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said information identifying said transmitter, said data being directed to users within a geographic area corresponding to the location of said transmitter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of selectively providing data contained in one of said data channels comprises determining a geographical location of said receiver based on said information identifying said transmitter and selectively providing said data contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said geographical location of said receiver.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said data channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels corresponding to a plurality of geographic regions and said step of selectively providing data contained in one of said data channels further comprises selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said data contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein each of said sub-channels includes information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond.

5. The method according to claim 4, said information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond is provided in headers of data packets which comprise said sub-channels.

6. A communications method for transmitting and receiving geographically targeted information in a satellite communications network comprising a satellite, a plurality of terrestrial repeaters and a receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a composite signal from one of said terrestrial repeaters, said composite signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

receiving at said receiver said composite signal transmitted from one of said terrestrial repeaters;

determining at said receiver a geographical location of said receiver based on information contained in said composite signal; and

selectively providing information contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said geographical location of said receiver.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels each corresponding to a different geographic region, and said step of selectively providing information contained in one of said data channels further comprises selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said information contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said composite signal includes a transmitter identification number which is unique to said one of said terrestrial repeaters and said step of determining said geographical location of said receiver comprises determining said geographical location of said receiver based on said transmitter identification number.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein each of said sub-channels includes information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein said composite signal comprises a time division multiplexed (TDM) signal.

11. A communications method for transmitting and receiving geographically targeted information in a satellite communications network comprising a satellite, a plurality of terrestrial repeaters, and a receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first composite signal from said satellite, said composite signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

receiving said first composite signal at one of said terrestrial repeaters;

retransmitting said first composite signal from said one of said terrestrial repeaters as a second composite signal comprising said plurality of data channels and information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters;

receiving at said receiver said second composite signal transmitted from said one of said terrestrial repeaters;

determining at said receiver a geographical location of said receiver based on said information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters; and

selecting information contained in one of said data channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said information to a user of said receiver.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels corresponding to a plurality of geographic regions, and said step of selecting information contained in one of said data channels further comprises selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing information contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein each of said sub-channels includes information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters comprises a unique transmitter identification number.

15. A communications system comprising:

at least one satellite for transmitting a first composite data signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

at least one terrestrial repeater for receiving said first composite data signal from said satellite and retransmitting said first composite data signal as a second composite data signal comprising said plurality of data channels and information identifying said terrestrial repeater; and

a receiver for receiving said second composite signal transmitted from said terrestrial repeater and selectively providing program information contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said information identifying said terrestrial repeater, said program information being directed to users within a geographic area corresponding to the location of said transmitter.

16. The communications system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels corresponding to a plurality of geographic regions, and said receiver selectively provides information contained in one of said channels by determining a geographical location of said receiver based on said information identifying said transmitter, selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said information contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver.

17. The communications system according to claim 15, wherein said information identifying said terrestrial repeater comprises a transmitter identification number which is unique to said terrestrial repeater.

18. A communications method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a data signal from a transmitter, said data signal comprising a plurality of data channels and information identifying said transmitter;

receiving said data signal at a receiver; and

selectively providing data contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said information identifying said transmitter;

wherein said step of selectively providing data contained in one of said data channels comprises determining a geographical location of said receiver based on said information identifying said transmitter and selectively providing said data contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said geographical location of said receiver; and

wherein at least one of said data channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels corresponding to a plurality of geographic regions and said step of selectively providing data contained in one of said data channels further comprises selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said data contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein each of said sub-channels includes information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond.

20. The method according to claim 19, said information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond is provided in headers of data packets which comprise said sub-channels.

21. A communications method for transmitting and receiving geographically targeted information in a satellite communications network comprising a satellite, a plurality of terrestrial repeaters and a receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a composite signal from one of said terrestrial repeaters, said composite signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

receiving at said receiver said composite signal transmitted from one of said terrestrial repeaters;

determining at said receiver a geographical location of said receiver based on information contained in said composite signal; and

selectively providing information contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said geographical location of said receiver;

wherein at least one of said channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels each corresponding to a different geographic region, and said step of selectively providing information contained in one of said data channels further comprises selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said information contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver;

wherein said composite signal includes a transmitter identification number which is unique to said one of said terrestrial repeaters and said step of determining said geographical location of said receiver comprises determining said geographical location of said receiver based on said transmitter identification number.

22. A communications method for transmitting and receiving geographically targeted information in a satellite communications network comprising a satellite, a plurality of terrestrial repeaters and a receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a composite signal from one of said terrestrial repeaters, said composite signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

receiving at said receiver said composite signal transmitted from one of said terrestrial repeaters;

determining at said receiver a geographical location of said receiver based on information contained in said composite signal; and

selectively providing information contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said geographical location of said receiver;

wherein at least one of said channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels each corresponding to a different geographic region, and said step of selectively providing information contained in one of said data channels further comprises selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said information contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver;

wherein each of said sub-channels includes information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond is provided in headers of data packets which comprise said sub-channels.

24. A communications method for transmitting and receiving geographically targeted information in a satellite communications network comprising a satellite, a plurality of terrestrial repeaters, and a receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first composite signal from said satellite, said composite signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

receiving said first composite signal at one of said terrestrial repeaters;

retransmitting said first composite signal from said one of said terrestrial repeaters as a second composite signal comprising said plurality of data channels and information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters;

receiving at said receiver said second composite signal transmitted from said one of said terrestrial repeaters;

determining at said receiver a geographical location of said receiver based on said information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters; and

selecting information contained in one of said data channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said information to a user of said receiver;

wherein at least one of said channels comprises a plurality of sub-channels corresponding to a plurality of geographic regions, and said step of selecting information contained in one of said data channels further comprises selecting one of said sub-channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing information contained in said one of said sub-channels to said user of said receiver;

wherein each of said sub-channels includes information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said information identifying said geographic regions to which said sub-channels correspond is provided in headers of data packets which comprise said sub-channels.

26. A communications method for transmitting and receiving geographically targeted information in a satellite communications network comprising a satellite, a plurality of terrestrial repeaters, and a receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first composite signal from said satellite, said composite signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

receiving said first composite signal at one of said terrestrial repeaters;

retransmitting said first composite signal from said one of said terrestrial repeaters as a second composite signal comprising said plurality of data channels and information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters;

receiving at said receiver said second composite signal transmitted from said one of said terrestrial repeaters;

determining at said receiver a geographical location of said receiver based on said information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters; and

selecting information contained in one of said data channels based on said geographical location of said receiver and providing said information to a user of said receiver;

wherein said information identifying said one of said terrestrial repeaters comprises a unique transmitter identification number.

27. A communications system comprising:

at least one satellite for transmitting a first composite data signal comprising a plurality of data channels;

at least one terrestrial repeater for receiving said first composite data signal from said satellite and retransmitting said first composite data signal as a second composite data signal comprising said plurality of data channels and information identifying said terrestrial repeater; and

a receiver for receiving said second composite signal transmitted from said terrestrial repeater and selectively providing information contained in one of said data channels to a user of said receiver based on said information identifying said terrestrial repeater;

wherein said information identifying said terrestrial repeater comprises a transmitter identification number which is unique to said terrestrial repeater.