In-band on-channel broadcasting via mesh network
First Claim
1. An in-band on-channel (IBOC) broadcasting system comprising:
- a plurality of mesh transceivers positioned over a geographic area and communicatively coupled to each other in a mesh configuration to form a mesh network, individual mesh transceivers configured to transmit digital media content, via digital IBOC broadcast, to end users across different portions of a broadcast area associated with an analog media broadcast station;
an analog broadcast transmitter configured to transmit an analog broadcast signal on a broadcast channel at a first power level, wherein the analog broadcast signal is associated with the analog media broadcast station;
a content distributor configured to transmit media content to the mesh network for digital IBOC broadcast by individual mesh transceivers; and
wherein the individual mesh transceivers are further configured to digitally broadcast the media content in IBOC sidebands at second power levels, wherein the second power levels are related to the first power level of the analog broadcast transmitter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Digital content can be broadcast in a sideband of an analog broadcast channel using multiple digital in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers connected in a mesh configuration to form an IBOC mesh network. The digital IBOC transceivers are positioned at various geographic locations, so that unlike traditional “HD” radio broadcasts, the IBOC broadcast transmission is spread out over a wide area, using multiple low power digital IBOC transceivers rather than being broadcast from the same location as the analog signal. IBOC transmission power can be limited to a desired portion of the power used to broadcast the analog signal, based on measurements taken at the geographically distributed digital IBOC transceivers. The IBOC mesh network provides bi-directional communication between a mesh transceiver and a user device, and delivers user feedback received at one mesh transceiver to a feedback server by moving the user feedback through the IBOC mesh network.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An in-band on-channel (IBOC) broadcasting system comprising:
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a plurality of mesh transceivers positioned over a geographic area and communicatively coupled to each other in a mesh configuration to form a mesh network, individual mesh transceivers configured to transmit digital media content, via digital IBOC broadcast, to end users across different portions of a broadcast area associated with an analog media broadcast station; an analog broadcast transmitter configured to transmit an analog broadcast signal on a broadcast channel at a first power level, wherein the analog broadcast signal is associated with the analog media broadcast station; a content distributor configured to transmit media content to the mesh network for digital IBOC broadcast by individual mesh transceivers; and wherein the individual mesh transceivers are further configured to digitally broadcast the media content in IBOC sidebands at second power levels, wherein the second power levels are related to the first power level of the analog broadcast transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An in-band on-channel (IBOC) broadcasting system comprising:
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a plurality of digital IBOC transmitters positioned at a plurality of geographic locations over a geographic area and communicatively coupled to each other in a mesh configuration to form a mesh network; the plurality of digital IBOC transmitters configured to digitally broadcast, to end users across different portions of a broadcast area associated with an analog media broadcast station, media content in a sideband of an analog broadcast channel; and individual digital IBOC transmitters of the plurality of digital IBOC transmitters further configured to digitally broadcast the media content at IBOC power levels set based, at least in part, on a target ratio of an IBOC power level of an individual IBOC transmitter to a power level of an analog signal broadcast on the analog broadcast channel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An in-band on-channel (IBOC) broadcasting system comprising:
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a plurality of IBOC transmitters positioned at a plurality of geographic locations over a geographic area related to a broadcast area associated with an analog media broadcast station and communicatively coupled to each other in a mesh configuration to form a mesh network; individual IBOC transmitters of the plurality of IBOC transmitters configured to digitally broadcast, to end users across different portions of the broadcast area associated with the analog media broadcast station, media content in a sideband of an analog broadcast channel; at least one of the plurality of IBOC transmitters further configured to receive, from a user device receiving the media content, the feedback related to the digitally broadcast media content; and the at least one of the plurality of IBOC transmitters further configured to forward the feedback, via the mesh network, to an edge transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification