Method and apparatus for transmitter identification and selection for mobile information signal services
First Claim
1. Apparatus for selecting a transmitter within a service area from multiple transmitters while moving a receiver within a given service area or between neighboring overlapping service areas, wherein each transmitter broadcasts the same information signal with a respective effective radiating power, comprising:
- means in each transmitter for generating the same information signal on a respective frequency channel together with a transmitter location code indicative of the respective transmitter;
means responsive to the generating means for inserting in the information signal at selected time intervals the transmitter location code of the respective transmitter, wherein the transmitter location code further includes a first digital word indicative of a priority of the respective transmitter in the given service area and the neighboring overlapping service areas; and
means in the receiver for selecting via the transmitter location code the transmitter which broadcasts the optimum information signal and, for storing an optimum information signal for subsequent use.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A programming system in which entertainment and information programming is transmitted, received and stored in real time by a multitude of receivers. The stored programming subsequently may be retrieved by a user in non-real time at the user'"'"'s convenience. This programming system is particularly adaptable for use with receivers located in moveable vehicles wherein, however, the mobile receivers must have access to the transmitted information, that is, to a transmitter, regardless of the extent of the vehicle'"'"'s journey. To this end, one or more transmitters located within respective service areas transmit identical programming information along with respective transmitter location codes over different frequency channels, wherein each code also defines a transmitter priority of effective radiated power. As the vehicle moves within a service area, if a loss of signal occurs, the receiver selects the transmitter with the next highest priority from the transmitter location codes for that and neighboring overlapping service areas. The location codes previously are stored and periodically updated in the receiver memory. The transmitter location code may comprise a two byte word multiplexed with the information signal, wherein the first byte contains the stations or transmitter channel numbers within the respective service areas, and the second byte defines the priority of each transmitter in terms of effective radiating power.
109 Citations
37 Claims
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1. Apparatus for selecting a transmitter within a service area from multiple transmitters while moving a receiver within a given service area or between neighboring overlapping service areas, wherein each transmitter broadcasts the same information signal with a respective effective radiating power, comprising:
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means in each transmitter for generating the same information signal on a respective frequency channel together with a transmitter location code indicative of the respective transmitter; means responsive to the generating means for inserting in the information signal at selected time intervals the transmitter location code of the respective transmitter, wherein the transmitter location code further includes a first digital word indicative of a priority of the respective transmitter in the given service area and the neighboring overlapping service areas; and means in the receiver for selecting via the transmitter location code the transmitter which broadcasts the optimum information signal and, for storing an optimum information signal for subsequent use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of selecting via a receiver a transmitter from a plurality of transmitters each of which broadcasts an information signal to given and neighboring overlapping service areas, wherein the receiver is moving within the given service area or through the neighboring overlapping service areas, comprising:
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transmitting the same information signal from the plurality of transmitters over respective frequency channels; assigning an identification signal to each transmitter, wherein the identification signal includes a first digital code that identifies a priority of each transmitter within the given service area and the neighboring overlapping service areas; detecting the identification signal of a preferred transmitter which is broadcasting an optimum information signal over the respective frequency channel; and receiving the optimum information signal from the preferred transmitter for subsequent use. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of selecting via a receiver a transmitter from a plurality of ransmitters each of which broadcasts an information signal to given and neighboring overlapping service areas, wherein the receiver is moving within the given service area or through the neighboring overlapping service areas, comprising
transmitting the same information signal from the plurality of transmitters over respective frequency channels; -
assigning an identification signal to each transmitter, wherein the assigning further includes identifying each transmitter within the given service area and the neighboring overlapping service areas by a digital code indicative of each transmitter channel number and priority of effective radiating power; detecting the identification signal of a preferred transmitter which is broadcasting an optimum information signal over the respective frequency channel; receiving the optimum information signal from the preferred transmitter for subsequent use; storing the digital codes of the transmitters in the given service area and the neighboring overlapping service areas; and scanning the stored digital codes beginning with a code of highest priority until the preferred transmitter broadcasting the optimum information signal is located.
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15. A method of selecting via a mobile receiver a transmitter from a plurality of transmitters each of which broadcasts an information signal over a given and neighboring overlapping services areas, comprising:
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transmitting from each transmitter to the service areas the same information signal over respective different frequency channels including a transmitter location code identifying each transmitting channel and priority of each transmitter; detecting via the mobile receiver in the given service area the location code of a preferred transmitter which is transmitting the strongest information signal in the given service area; and storing in the mobile receiver the strongest information signal from the preferred transmitter for subsequent use. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of selecting via a mobile receiver a transmitter from a plurality of transmitters each of which broadcasts an information signal over a given and neighboring overlapping services areas, comprising:
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transmitting from each transmitter to the service areas the same information signal over respective different frequency channels including a transmitter location code identifying each transmitting channel, wherein the transmitting further includes generating for transmission the transmitter location code in the form of a digital code identifying each transmitter frequency channel and its order of priority of effective radiating power; detecting via the mobile receiver in the given service area the location code of a preferred transmitter which is transmitting the strongest information signal in the given service area; storing in the mobile receiver the strongest information signal from the preferred transmitter for subsequent use; storing combined location codes for the transmitters in the given service area and in neighboring overlapping service areas; and performing the step of detecting by searching the stored combined location codes in order of highest to lowest priority thereby to hasten selection of the preferred transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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20. A receiver for selecting a transmitter within a respective service area from multiple transmitters while moving the receiver within a given service area or between neighboring overlapping service areas, wherein each transmitter broadcasts the same information signal with a respective effective radiating power, on a respective frequency channel together with a transmitter location code that includes a priority of the respective transmitter;
- and each transmitter includes circuitry for inserting in the information signal at selected time intervals the transmitter location code of the respective transmitter; and
the receiver selects via the transmitter location code the transmitter which broadcasts the optimum information signal, and stores the optimum information signal for subsequent use. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
- and each transmitter includes circuitry for inserting in the information signal at selected time intervals the transmitter location code of the respective transmitter; and
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28. A receiver for selecting a signal among multiple signals, each signal including the same information content and including a priority code representing a priority of the signal in the given service area and the neighboring overlapping service areas, comprising:
a control circuit which selects the optimum information signal based on the priority codes and stores the optimum information signal for subsequent use. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A transmitter which generates signals, comprising:
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a generator which generates an information signal on a frequency channel together with a transmitter location code indicative of the transmitter; and an insertion circuit responsive to the generator which insert in the information signal at selected time intervals the transmitter location code of the transmitter, wherein the transmitter location code further includes a first digital word indicative of a priority of the transmitter relative to other transmitters. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A method for generating signals, comprising:
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generating an information signal on a frequency channel together with a transmitter location code indicative of the transmitter; and inserting in the information signal at selected time intervals the transmitter location code of the transmitter, wherein the transmitter location code further includes a first digital word indicative of a priority of the transmitter relative to other transmitters. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification