Abstract:
A composite data stream is stored on a data storage medium. The composite data stream comprises a plurality of program channels to provide services such as satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS), among others. The program channels are multiplexed into the composite data stream, which also comprises control data for indicating where services are located in the composite data stream. A playback device is configured to access the composite data stream on the data storage medium, to demultiplex at least the program channels and to retrieve selected services from the data storage medium in response to user inputs by using the control data.
Abstract:
For the purpose of transmitting digital audio signals from recording studios to the various broadcasting stations of a broadcasting network, the data flow of the digital audio signals to be transmitted is initially reduced in accordance with a technique which utilizes the psychoacoustic phenomena of the human ear. Then groups of these data-reduced digital audio signals are respectively encoded in a baseband in accordance with a DS1-technique and combined to form respective DS1/M-signals. Finally, the thus produced DS1/M-signals are transmitted in accordance with the DSR technique by use of a wide-band transmission system to the individual broadcasting stations of the broadcasting network.
Abstract:
In an on-demand radio broadcast system (600) in which the receivers (602) have the capability to store received programs, a communications channel (300) is divided into a plurality of time segments (302). Each time segment (302) is partitioned into a high priority program timeslice (304) and a low priority program timeslice (306). High priority programs (336) are broadcast in each high priority program timeslice (304). The remaining programs are broadcast during a plurality of low priority program timeslices (306). This overcomes a problem of the receivers (602) being out of contact and not having current versions of the high priority programs (336).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a ground station (10) for generating a data stream (20) that comprises a main program and an additional program. Said ground station comprises a memory (12) that stores the additional program, which is for example a commercial, while the main program is a radio program produced in a sound studio. The ground station further comprises a multiplexer (14) with a first input (14a) for receiving the main program and a second input (14b) for receiving the additional program from the memory, and with an output. A control device (16) for controlling the multiplexer (14) switches, at a first interval, an output (14c) of the multiplexer (14) from the first input to the second input and at a second interval from the second input back to the first input, thereby inserting the additional program into the main program between the first interval and the second interval. The ground station further comprises a transmitter device (18) that is connected to the output of the multiplexer (14) on the input side and that is connected to a transmitting antenna (22) on the output side so as to provide the transmitting antenna with the data stream (20). The inventive method provides a simple means for inserting commercials into the data stream without requiring special devices in the sound studio. The ground station can easily detect at which intervals commercials were inserted. The commercials can be exchanged or updated via an optional remote maintenance device of the ground station with little effort.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for accessing encrypted digital audio signals. The apparatus acts as player (14), receiver (12) and recorder (14). The apparatus and method utilize smart card technology, in particular a smart card (40) and card reader (42) in order to pay for digital audio signal use.
Abstract:
A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device (100) records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device (100) and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source (20) broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device (100) also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
Abstract:
A satellite direct radio broadcast system (10) is provided which assembles bits of broadcast programs into prime rate increments, several of which are assembled into a frame. Frames are divided into symbols which are demultiplexed into alternating one of a plurality of prime rate channels. The prime rate channels are demultiplexed onto a corresponding number of broadcast frequencies for transmission to a satellite (25). The satellite payload switches the symbols into time division multiplexed (TDM) data streams. The receivers (29) process the TDM streams using service control headers (SCHs) provided therein by broadcast stations. The SCHs facilitate transmission of different service components within broadcast channel frames, association of a primary broadcast channel with one or more secondary broadcast channels on a frame-to-frame basis, and the transmission of multiframe bit streams, or auxiliary data throughout a broadcast channel that are independent of a service, in contiguous or non-contiguous frames.
Abstract:
A digital broadcast transmission system comprises a plurality of spaced transmitters (6). Each transmitter (6) receives signals for transmission from a master transmitter (2) along with a reference frequency (F ref). The reference frequency is used to generate the transmission frequency at each transmitter. At a receiver (12) conversion means can be used to enable signals from the master transmitter and from the other transmitter to be received.
Abstract:
A method of broadcasting data files to selected mobile units (18), comprising steps of (a) receiving, through a bi-directional wireless network (12), a data request from a mobile unit (18), the data request including identification information for the mobile unit (18), (b) associating the data request with a digital data file; and (c) broadcasting the digital data file together with identification data for the mobile unit (18) over a download channel on a broadcast network (14) that has an overlapping coverage area with the bi-directional wireless network (12).