Abstract: A method and apparatus for a recycling and environmental debris chute that directs leaf, debris and recycling or other materials into a container for collection, and more particularly a foldable chute formed from a single sheet of material and insertable into a collection bag or flexible container to hold the bag or container open in an upright or laying down sideways position and facilitate directing leaves, debris and other material into the bag or container.

Abstract: A communication system utilizing a hierarchically modulated signal and method thereof are provided, wherein a receiver system is configured to receive a hierarchically modulated signal. The receiver system includes a receiver device configured to receive the hierarchically modulated signal, which is a function of a time domain, and including a high priority data stream that has a single carrier type modulation, and a low priority data stream having data bits that are spread over a plurality of data symbols of a high priority data modulation. The receiver system further includes a low priority processor device, which includes an OFDM decoder configured to convert the low priority data stream of the hierarchically modulated signal that is a function of the time domain to be a function of a frequency domain by utilizing a FFT, such that an output is emitted that is representative of the low priority data stream.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating sub-synchronization information into a transmitted digital audio stream and extracting sub-synchronization information from a received digital audio stream is provided. The method includes the steps of having a transmitter introduce sub-synchronization information into a data stream at a period less than that of existing transmitter pre-amble signals, and transmitting that data to a receiver. The method further includes the steps of receiving the transmitted data stream in the receiver circuitry, extracting the synchronization information, and using the synchronization information to accurately decode the received audio data.

Abstract: An antenna system is provided having switched directional antennas. The antenna system includes a first antenna for receiving signals within a first directional coverage zone, and a second antenna for receiving signals within a second directional coverage zone. According to one embodiment, the first and second antennas are located on a vehicle. The system has a device to detect orientation of the vehicle. The system further includes a receiver having control circuitry for controlling selection of the signals received from the first and second antennas based on orientation of the vehicle, location of one or more sources, and antenna coverage zones for the first and second antennas.

Abstract: A receiver system and method for switching among a plurality of antenna elements to receive a signal. At least a portion of plurality of antenna elements receive a transmitted signal, such that the transmitted signal includes a plurality of sub-channels that are transmitted in predetermined time intervals. A switching device is in communication with the plurality of antenna elements, and switches among single antenna elements to receive the transmitted signal. A controller is in communication with the switching device, and commands the switching device to select each of the antenna elements separately in predetermined periods of time based upon the predetermined time intervals of each of the sub-channels. A power level of the transmitted signal is determined during the predetermined period of time that corresponds to the predetermined time intervals, and the controller commands the switching device to switch to an antenna element based upon the determined power level.

Abstract: A technique for addressing frame loss in a video system includes a number of steps. Initially, a first video stream and a second video stream are received. The first and second video streams each include related video information having a plurality of video frames. At least one of the first and second video streams is buffered and lost or corrupted video frames associated with the first video stream are replaced with uncorrupted video frames from the second video stream.

Abstract: High priority data and low priority digital data are transmitted as primary and secondary data in hierarchically modulated, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) from an earth-orbiting satellite. To enable the transmitter amplifier to be operated with less back-off from saturation without clipping, the low priority OFDM symbols have fewer samples than the high priority OFDM symbols, and the high priority samples on which the low priority samples are superimposed are selected according to a first deterministic rule using sample power comparisons of the high priority samples to concentrate the low priority samples on those high priority samples having lower (optimally, the lowest) sample power. The low priority samples are distributed on the selected high priority samples according to a second deterministic rule relating the original low priority sample order to the original high priority sample order.

Abstract: A communication system and method of communicating signals to a plurality of different types of receivers is provided. At least one transmitter transmits hierarchically modulated high priority and low priority signals as a single frequency network. At least one satellite re-transmits the high priority signal in a first circularly polarized direction and the low priority signal in a second circularly polarized direction. At least one of a first receiver having a single antenna is configured to receive the high priority signal in the first circularly polarized direction and switched to receive the low priority signal in the second circularly polarized direction, and a second receiver having a first antenna is configured to receive the high priority signal in the first circularly polarized direction, and a second antenna is configured to receive the low priority signal in the second circularly polarized direction substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A low power rf control system includes a controller that operates at a low clock speed when an associated rf receiver is deenergized and a high clock speed when the controller energizes the receiver. The receiver can be on for a short period, off for a short period when no preamble pulses from a remote control device are received, on for a short period, and then off for a longer period until the next cycle. The receiver remains on to process a command signal when a preamble signal is detected. A DC-DC down converter can be used as a power supply for the receiver, and a SAW resonant circuit can be used as an IF oscillator for the receiver. An LC filter can be associated with the receiver for filtering the IF signal.

Abstract: A communication system and method of communicating signals to a plurality of different types of receivers is provided. The communication system includes at least one transmitter that transmits a high priority signal and a low priority signal that are hierarchically modulated and transmitted as a single frequency network. At least one satellite receives and re-transmits at least one of the high priority and low priority signals. At least one of the plurality of receivers include a processor that performs the steps of storing the hierarchically modulated signal, demodulating the high priority signal from the hierarchically modulated signal, decoding the demodulated high priority signal, re-encoding the high priority signal, and processing the stored hierarchically modulated signal based upon the re-encoded high priority signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to minimize degradation in a D-MPSK hierarchical modulation system by adding additional data throughput (i.e., secondary information) as an offset to the primary signal transmitted by a SDARS terrestrial repeater. The present invention provides techniques for adding the additional throughput as Level 2 data by transmitting offset phase and/or amplitude information across adjacent OFDM symbols and/or adjacent frequency subcarriers.

Abstract: A low power rf control system includes a controller that operates at a low clock speed when an associated rf receiver is deenergized and a high clock speed when the controller energizes the receiver. The receiver can be on for a short period, off for a short period when no preamble pulses from a remote control device are received, on for a short period, and then off for a longer period until the next cycle. The receiver remains on to process a command signal when a preamble signal is detected. A DC-DC down converter can be used as a power supply for the receiver, and a SAW resonant circuit can be used as an IF oscillator for the receiver. An LC filter can be associated with the receiver for filtering the IF signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a recycling and environmental debris chute that directs leaf, debris and recycling or other materials into a container for collection, and more particularly a foldable chute formed from a single sheet of material and insertable into a collection bag or flexible container to hold the bag or container open in an upright or laying down sideways position and facilitate directing leaves, debris and other material into the bag or container.

Abstract: Additional data may be added to the current SDARS satellite signals as a phase and/or amplitude offset from the legacy quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulated data and transmitted by the SDAR terrestrial repeaters. However, in the case where a legacy receiver architecture for a differential modulation system outputs angular/phase differences between carriers, the phase and/or amplitude information appears as distortion to the legacy receiver. The present invention provides a method for optimizing the SDARS infrastructure more efficiently by allowing independent adjustment of the phase and/or amplitude offset (610) at each terrestrial site. The present invention provides a method for adjusting the performance of each signal together or separately as needed.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating satellite digital radio program information for multiple satellite channels is provided. The method includes the steps of providing multiple satellite signals, and providing multiple data frames in each of the satellite signals. The method also includes the steps of providing frame synchronization symbols in each of the data frames, such that the frame synchronization symbols occurring in the satellite signals do not overlap in time with each other. The method also includes the steps of providing multiple data slots within each of the data frames, and providing satellite program information in at least one of the data slots in each data frame. The multiple data slots are positioned within each data frame relative to the frame synchronization symbol of that data frame, such that the data slots containing satellite program information in the multiple satellite signals do not overlap in time with each other.

Abstract: Multiple receivers may be enabled to receive satellite-based digital audio radio (SDAR) services under a single subscription. For example, an SDAR service provider can enable multiple vehicles, a home-based digital radio, or a portable digital radio, singly or in any combination. Multiple receivers transmit information to each other. One receiver is designated as a primary receiver, and the other receivers are designated as secondary receivers. The SDAR service provider transmits a list of associated secondary receivers to the primary receiver. The primary receiver enables the associated secondary receivers to receive SDAR services by placing them in an authorized state. The secondary receivers must periodically communicate with the primary receiver to remain authorized. A secondary receiver that fails to communicate with the primary receiver within a prescribed time period is switched to an unauthorized state. In this unauthorized state, the secondary receiver no longer performs as an authorized receiver.

Abstract: A low power rf control system includes a controller that operates at a low clock speed when an associated rf receiver is deenergized and a high clock speed when the controller energizes the receiver. The receiver can be on for a short period, off for a short period if no preamble pulses from a remote control device are received, on for a short period, and then off for a longer period until the next cycle. The receiver remains on to process a command signal when a preamble signal is detected. A DC-DC down converter can be used as a power supply for the receiver, and a SAW resonant circuit can be used as an IF oscillator for the receiver. An LC filter can be associated with the receiver for filtering the IF signal.

Abstract: Where the additional data throughput is added using an amplitude offset or a combination of phase and amplitude offset, the legacy differential demodulator does not recover the amplitude information. The present invention provides a method for demodulating amplitude offsets in a differential modulation system in order to recover the amplitude information. The demodulated amplitude information may be used to recover the additional Level 2 data transmitted as an amplitude offset or combination phase and amplitude offset in a differential multiple phase shift keying (D-MPSK) transmission, such as across adjacent OFDM symbols and/or adjacent frequency subcarriers.

Abstract: High priority data and low priority digital data are transmitted as primary and secondary data in hierarchically modulated, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) from an earth-orbiting satellite. To enable the transmitter amplifier to be operated with less back-off from saturation without clipping, the low priority OFDM symbols have fewer samples than the high priority OFDM symbols, and the high priority samples on which the low priority samples are superimposed are selected according to a first deterministic rule using sample power comparisons of the high priority samples to concentrate the low priority samples on those high priority samples having lower (optimally, the lowest) sample power. The low priority samples are distributed on the selected high priority samples according to a second deterministic rule relating the original low priority sample order to the original high priority sample order.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, receiver and transmitter for use in a SDAR system. The method involves generating a first modulated signal based on first input data. Additional modulation is superimposed on the first modulated signal based on additional input data, being spread across a plurality of symbols in the first modulated signal in a predetermined pattern to generate a modified signal which is then transmitted. The modified signal is decoded by performing a first demodulation of the first modulated signal then additional demodulation is performed to obtain additional input data. The superimposing step uses a plurality of offset sequence values to add the additional modulation to the first modulated signal. The offset sequence may appear as a pseudo-random distribution of offset sequence values, and may include at least one zero offset value.