Abstract: A communication system (10) using hierarchical modulation includes at least one satellite (12 & 13) transmitting a data stream and a hierarchical modulated data stream, and at least one terrestrial station (16) transmitting the data stream and the hierarchical modulated data stream. The communication system can further include at least one receiver (18) for demodulating and combining the data stream from at least one satellite and from at least one terrestrial station and for hierarchically demodulating and combining the hierarchical modulated data stream from at least one satellite and the hierarchical modulated data stream from at least one terrestrial station. The terrestrial station can be a terrestrial repeater repeating the data stream and the hierarchical data stream from at least one satellite. The system can also include an uplink (11) having a hierarchical modulator for modulating both the data stream and the hierarchical data stream.

Abstract: A receiver unit (500) capable of combining a plurality of streaming data channels includes a receiver and a channel decoder (510) for receiving over the air in a time division multiplex signal the plurality of streaming data channels. The receiver unit further includes at least one decoder (502) for decoding at least two of the plurality of streaming data channels to provide a plurality of decoded signals, a combiner (508) for combining the plurality of decoded signals to provide a combined signal, and an audio output for outputting the combined signal as audio.

Abstract: A method (30) of digital remodulation of a received or source signal using a digital audio radio (116) having a first digital radio frequency path (119 to 116) or using a first digital radio frequency comprises the steps of re-encoding (38) the received signal to provide a re-encoded digital signal, reformatting (40) the re-encoded digital signal into a new digital format signal, and digitally modulating (42) a radio frequency carrier with the new digital format signal. The method further comprises the step of selectively switching (42) a radio frequency path of the digital audio radio from the first digital radio frequency path to a second radio frequency path (114 to 116) or from the first digital radio frequency to a second digital radio frequency having the radio frequency carrier with the new digital format signal.

Abstract: A method of disabling at least a portion of one of a plurality of channels in a digital audio radio system includes the steps of receiving (702) a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels and decoding (704) a selected channel among the plurality of channels. The method further comprises the steps of selectively tagging (706) an undesired type of content on the selected channel, analyzing (708) for an indication of content of the undesired type among the plurality of channels, and selectively disabling (710) at least the portion of the selected channel containing the undesired type of content.

Abstract: A digital receiver unit (28) having a backup energy source (214) for use in a vehicle (250) that operates on a primary energy source (216) includes a receiver (203) powered by the primary energy source when the vehicle is operating, a switching mechanism (210 and 212) for switching the receiver between the primary energy source and the backup energy source and a controller (210) coupled to the receiver for controlling the switching mechanism. The receiver receives data during a scheduled predetermined time and the backup energy source powers the receiver during the scheduled predetermined time if the vehicle is not operating.

Abstract: A system (100) for combining satellite and terrestrial signals from spatially diverse antennas (102 and 104) includes a tuner (101) and at least first and second analog to digital converters (103, 105) for converting at least two among the plurality of satellite signals and the terrestrial signal to a first digital stream and a second digital stream. A switch arrangement (106, 102 126) selectively switches among the first digital stream and the second digital stream before demodulating the digital streams using a plurality of algorithms (112, 122, 130) that selectively uses respectively demodulated signals of the first digital stream and the second digital stream to control (114, 124, 132) the switch arrangement to provide a plurality of multiplexed signals (161, 162, 163) that are combined (134) to form a combined signal (170). The combined signal can then be forward error corrected (136).

Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously receiving 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. In the illustrative embodiment, the first signal from the second satellite is identical to the first signal from the first satellite. Similarly, the first signal from the terrestrial repeater is identical to the first signal from the first satellite.

Abstract: A device (100) for receiving, storing and playing back digital audio radio signals comprises a receiver (203), a decoder (502 and/or 504), a user input (516), a storage medium (510) coupled to the decoder, and a system controller (508) coupled to the user input. The receiver receives a digitally encoded bit stream (300) on a plurality of communication resources (104), wherein each communication resource contains content and associated index information. The decoder selectively decodes a selected plurality of communication resources and the user input selects the selected plurality based on the associated index information and selects a portion of the content contained in selected plurality to be retrieved. The storage medium stores the content and associated index information contained in the selected plurality of communication resources and the system controller stores and retrieves content to and from the storage medium based on input received at the user input.

Abstract: A receiver adapted to receive a signal having at least first and second carrier frequencies on which first and second information signals are modulated, respectively. The inventive receiver further includes circuitry for converting the received signal to a complex baseband signal. In the illustrative embodiment, the received signal includes first and second ensembles. The first ensemble includes a first signal from a first source, a first signal from a second source and a first signal from a third source. The second ensemble includes a second signal from the first source, a second signal from the second source and a second signal from the third source. The receiver is adapted to selectively output the first and/or the second ensemble. Conversion of the band is achieved with quad mixers. The outputs of the mixers are digitized and selectively provided as the first and/or the second ensemble by a digital translation stage.

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.

Abstract: A radio system (10) deploying streaming text to speech channels includes a transmission source (11, 12, 14, 16 or 18) transmitting digitally encoded text on at least one of a plurality of digitally encoded channel resources (104) to a receiver unit (600) for selectively decoding the plurality of digitally encoded channel resources. The receiver unit includes a text to speech converter (612), which converts the digitally encoded text into an audible speech signal at the receiver unit in real time.

Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously receiving 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 said 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. In the illustrative embodiment, the first signal from the second satellite is identical to the first signal from the first satellite. Similarly, the first signal from the terrestrial repeater is identical to the first signal from the first satellite.

Abstract: A receiver unit (400) capable of determining its approximate location using a first and a second satellite transmission source (12 & 14) and, a first terrestrial transmission source (18) includes a receiver (402) and decoder (450) for receiving and decoding a first synchronization pulse from the first satellite, a second synchronization pulse from the satellite signal, and a third synchronization pulse from the terrestrial source. The receiver unit further includes a counter (412) for measuring a first delay between the first synchronization pulse and the second synchronization pulse and for measuring a second delay between one of the first synchronization pulse or the second synchronization pulse and the third synchronization pulse. The receiver unit further includes a processor (421) for determining an east-west constant delay line based on the first delay and for determining a north-south constant delay line based on the second delay.

Abstract: A method of disabling at least a portion of one of a plurality of channels in a digital audio radio system includes the steps of receiving (702) a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels and decoding (704) a selected channel among the plurality of channels. The method further comprises the steps of selectively tagging (706) an undesired type of content on the selected channel, analyzing (708) for an indication of content of the undesired type among the plurality of channels, and selectively disabling (710) at least the portion of the selected channel containing the undesired type of content.

Abstract: A method (700) of customizing the selection of channels among a plurality of channels includes the steps of receiving (702) a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels and decoding (704) a selected channel among the plurality of channels. The method further comprises the steps of selectively tagging (706) a desired type of content on the selected channel, analyzing (708) a broadcast information channel and/or an Electronic Program Guide for an indication of content of the desired type among the plurality of channels, and alerting (710) a user of a desired channel containing the indication.

Abstract: A receiver unit (500) capable of combining a plurality of streaming data channels includes a receiver and a channel decoder (510) for receiving over the air in a time division multiplex signal the plurality of streaming data channels. The receiver unit further includes at least one decoder (502) for decoding at least two of the plurality of streaming data channels to provide a plurality of decoded signals, a combiner (508) for combining the plurality of decoded signals to provide a combined signal, and an audio output for outputting the combined signal as audio.

Abstract: A method (700) of customizing the selection of channels among a plurality of channels includes the steps of receiving (702) a digitally encoded bit stream over-the-air on the plurality of channels and decoding (704) a selected channel among the plurality of channels. The method further comprises the steps of selectively tagging (706) a desired type of content on the selected channel, analyzing (708) a broadcast information channel and/or an Electronic Program Guide for an indication of content of the desired type among the plurality of channels, and alerting (710) a user of a desired channel containing the indication.

Abstract: A device (100) for receiving, storing and playing back digital audio radio signals comprises a receiver (203), a decoder (502 and/or 504), a user input (516), a storage medium (510) coupled to the decoder, and a system controller (508) coupled to the user input. The receiver receives a digitally encoded bit stream (300) on a plurality of communication resources (104), wherein each communication resource contains content and associated index information. The decoder selectively decodes a selected plurality of communication resources and the user input selects the selected plurality based on the associated index information and selects a portion of the content contained in selected plurality to be retrieved. The storage medium stores the content and associated index information contained in the selected plurality of communication resources and the system controller stores and retrieves content to and from the storage medium based on input received at the user input.

Abstract: A digital receiver unit (28) having a backup energy source (214) for use in a vehicle (250) that operates on a primary energy source (216) includes a receiver (203) powered by the primary energy source when the vehicle is operating, a switching mechanism (210 and 212) for switching the receiver 10 between the primary energy source and the backup energy source and a controller (210) coupled to the receiver for controlling the switching mechanism. The receiver receives data during a scheduled predetermined time and the backup energy source powers the receiver during the scheduled predetermined time if the vehicle is not operating.

Abstract: A system for and method of implementing mobile commerce in a satellite radio broadcasting system. A unique program identifier is associated with each program segment of a broadcast. When a listener hears a program segment of interest, the listener causes the associated program identifier to be captured and thereafter to be transferred to a central location or hub. The transferring operation can be accomplished manually, via a media link or via a wireless network. Upon receipt of the program identifier at the central hub, the program identifier is used to determine information about the listener, obtain additional information regarding the program segment associated with the program identifier for the listener and/or initiate an e-commerce transaction involving the listener and/or other parties including merchandisers and advertisers.