Low cost interoperable satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) receiver adapted to receive signals in accordance with advantageous frequency plan

• US 6,724,827 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Wadin, Craig, Marko, Paul, Patsiokas, Stellios J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khai
• Application Number:
  US09/318,314
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 375/259, 375/260, 375/278, 375/295, 370/315, 370/316, 370/317, 342/82, 342/83, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/103, 455/55, 455/20
• US Class Current: 375/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26

Abstract

A communications system and method in which first and second carrier frequencies are transmitted from a first transmitter. The first carrier frequency is at a first low end of a band and the second carrier is at a second higher end of the band. Third and fourth carrier frequencies are transmitted from a second transmitter. The third carrier is at the lower end of the band but higher in frequency than the first carrier and the fourth carrier is at the higher end of the band but lower in frequency than the second carrier. Fifth and sixth carrier signals are transmitted from a third transmitter. The fifth carrier signal is higher in frequency than the third carrier signal and the sixth carrier signal is lower in frequency than the fourth carrier signal. In the illustrative embodiment, the first transmitter is located on a first satellite, the second transmitter is located on a second satellite and the third transmitter is located on a terrestrial repeater. The information modulated onto the first, third and fifth carriers is identical such that the first, third and fifth carriers comprise a first ensemble. The information modulated onto the second, fourth and sixth carriers comprise a second ensemble. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive system includes plural receivers adapted to simultaneously receive first and second ensembles. The first ensemble includes a first signal from a first satellite, a first signal from a second satellite and a first signal from a terrestrial repeater. Likewise, the second ensemble includes a second signal from the first satellite, a second signal from the second satellite and a second signal from the terrestrial repeater. The inventive receiver further includes a mechanism for selectively outputting signals transmitted within the first and second ensembles.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

first means for transmitting signals from a first transmitter on first and second carrier frequencies, said first carrier frequency being at a first low end of a band and said second carrier being at a second higher end of said band;

second means for transmitting signals from a second transmitter on third and fourth carrier frequencies, said third carrier being at said lower end of said band but higher in frequency than said first carrier and said fourth carrier being at said higher end of said band but lower in frequency than said second carrier; and

third means for transmitting signals from a third transmitter on fifth and sixth carrier frequencies, said fifth carrier frequency being higher in frequency than said third carrier frequency and said sixth carrier frequency being lower in frequency than said fourth carrier frequency, wherein a first signal is modulated onto said first, third and fifth carriers whereby said first third and fifth carriers comprise a first ensemble.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including at least one receiver adapted to receive at least one of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth carrier frequencies.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein a second signal is modulated onto said second, fourth and sixth carriers whereby said second, fourth and sixth carriers comprise a second ensemble.

4. A communications system comprising:

first means for transmitting signals from a first transmitter on first and second carrier frequencies, said first carrier frequency being at a first low end of a band and said second carrier being at a second higher end of said band said first carrier being approximately 2333 megahertz;

second means for transmitting signals from a second transmitter on third and fourth carrier frequencies, said third carrier being at said lower end of said band but higher in frequency than said first carrier and said fourth carrier being at said higher end of said band but lower in frequency than said second carrier; and

third means for transmitting signals from a third transmitter on fifth and sixth carrier frequencies, said fifth carrier frequency being higher in frequency than said third carrier frequency and said sixth carrier frequency being lower in frequency than said fourth carrier frequency.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said second carrier is approximately 2344 megahertz.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said third carrier is approximately 2335 megahertz.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said fourth carrier is approximately 2342 megahertz.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said fifth carrier is approximately 2337 megahertz.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said sixth carrier is approximately 2340 megahertz.

10. A communications system comprising:

a first satellite having a first transmitter, said first transmitter adapted to transmit signals on first and second carrier frequencies, said first carrier frequency being at a first low end of a band and said second carrier being at a second higher end of said band;

a second satellite having a second transmitter, said second transmitter adapted to transmit signals on third and fourth carrier frequencies, said third carrier being at said lower end of said band but higher in frequency than said first carrier and said fourth carrier being at said higher end of said band but lower in frequency than said second carrier; and

a terrestrial repeater having a third transmitter, said repeater transmitter adapted to transmit fifth and sixth carrier frequencies, said fifth carrier frequency being higher in frequency than said third carrier frequency and said sixth carrier frequency being lower in frequency than said fourth carrier frequency.

11. The invention of claim 10 further including at least one receiver adapted to receive at least one of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth carrier frequencies.

12. The invention of claim 10 wherein a first signal is modulated onto said first, third and fifth carriers whereby said first, third and fifth carriers comprise a first ensemble.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein a second signal is modulated onto said second, fourth and sixth carriers whereby said second, fourth and sixth carriers comprise a second ensemble.

14. The invention of claim 10 wherein said first carrier is approximately 2333 megahertz.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said second carrier is approximately 2344 megahertz.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said third carrier is approximately 2335 megahertz.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said fourth carrier is approximately 2342 megahertz.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein said fifth carrier is approximately 2337 megahertz.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said sixth carrier is approximately 2340 megahertz.

20. A communications system comprising:

a first satellite having a first transmitter, said first transmitter adapted to transmit signals on first and second carrier frequencies, said first carrier frequency being approximately 2333 megahertz and said second carrier being approximately 2344 megahertz;

a second satellite having a second transmitter, said second transmitter adapted to transmit signals on third and fourth carrier frequencies, said third carrier being approximately 2335 megahertz and said fourth carrier being approximately 2342 megahertz; and

a terrestrial repeater having a third transmitter, said repeater transmitter adapted to transmit fifth and sixth carrier frequencies, said fifth carrier frequency being approximately 2337 megahertz and said sixth carrier frequency being approximately 2340 megahertz;

first means for modulating a first signal onto said first, third and fifth carriers whereby said first, third and fifth carriers comprise a first ensemble;

second means for modulating a second signal onto said second, fourth and sixth carriers whereby said second, fourth and sixth carriers comprise a second ensemble; and

a receiver adapted to receive said first and said second ensembles.

21. A method for communicating signals in accordance with a predetermined frequency plan including the steps of:

transmitting signals from a first transmitter on first and second carrier frequencies, said first carrier frequency being at a first low end of a band and said second carrier being at a second higher end of said band;

transmitting signals from a second transmitter on third and fourth carrier frequencies, said third carrier being at said lower end of said band but higher in frequency than said first carrier and said fourth carrier being at said higher end of said band but lower in frequency than said second carrier; and

transmitting signals from a third transmitter on fifth and sixth carrier frequencies, said fifth carrier frequency being higher in frequency than said third carrier frequency and said sixth carrier frequency being lower in frequency than said fourth carrier frequency.