Leader and follower broadcast stations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations, each station configured to operate in a leader mode or a follower mode during a simulcast;
wherein each station in the follower mode is configured to broadcast the same programs as a station in the leader mode during common program periods, and to selectively broadcast programs that are different from those broadcast by the station in the leader mode during independent program periods,wherein the station in the leader mode sends a breakaway code and a rejoin code to the stations in the follower mode to indicate the start and end, respectively, of an independent program period.
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations, each station capable of operating in a leader mode or a follower mode during a simulcast. Each station in the follower mode is configured to broadcast the same programs as a station in the leader mode during common program periods, and to selectively broadcast programs that are different from those broadcast by the station in the leader mode during independent program periods.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations, each station configured to operate in a leader mode or a follower mode during a simulcast; wherein each station in the follower mode is configured to broadcast the same programs as a station in the leader mode during common program periods, and to selectively broadcast programs that are different from those broadcast by the station in the leader mode during independent program periods, wherein the station in the leader mode sends a breakaway code and a rejoin code to the stations in the follower mode to indicate the start and end, respectively, of an independent program period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations, each station configured to operate in a leader mode or a follower mode during a simulcast; and control logic to control a switching network to forward signals from the station in the leader mode to all transmitters during the common program period, and to forward signals from each station to respective transmitters during the independent program period, wherein each station in the follower mode is configured to broadcast the same programs as a station in the leader mode during common program periods, and to selectively broadcast programs that are different from those broadcast by the station in the leader mode during independent program periods. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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identifying a leader station and at least one follower station from among a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations during a simulcast; controlling the at least one follower stations to broadcast the same programs as the leader station during common program periods; controlling the at least one follower stations to broadcast programs independently of the leader station during independent program periods; and controlling a switching network to forward signals from the leader station to different transmitters that correspond to different stations during the common program period, and to forward signals from each station to respective transmitters during the independent program period. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method comprising:
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identifying a leader station and at least one follower station from among a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations during a simulcast; controlling the at least one follower stations to broadcast the same programs as the leader station during common program periods; controlling the at least one follower stations to broadcast programs independently of the leader station during independent program periods; and sending from the leader station to the follower station a breakaway code to indicate the start of an independent program period and a rejoin code to indicate the end of the independent program period. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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providing a user interface at a computer to allow a user to identify a leader station and at least one follower station from among a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations during a simulcast, schedule programs to be simultaneously broadcast by the leader station and the at least one follower station during common program periods, and schedule programs to be independently broadcast by the plurality of follower stations during independent program periods; and responsive to a selection by the user of a leader station, controlling a switching network to forward signals from the leader station to different transmitters that correspond to different stations during the common program period, and to forward signals from each station to respective transmitters during the independent program period.
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31. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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providing a user interface at a computer to allow a user to identify a leader station and at least one follower station from among a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations during a simulcast, schedule programs to be simultaneously broadcast by the leader station and the at least one follower station during common program periods, and schedule programs to be independently broadcast by the plurality of follower stations during independent program periods, wherein the user interface allows the user to specify pairs of breakaway and rejoin points that correspond to start and end positions, respectively, of independent program periods.
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Specification