Patent ID: 6564053
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: H04B,H04H

Abstract:
A method of providing satellite broadcasts to mobile receivers at or near the surface of the earth in a targeted geographical service area that is, at least in part, in a latitude above about 30Â° N or in a latitude below about 30Â° S, comprising:providing a constellation of two or more satellites with each satellite (1) during a part of its orbit, having elevation angles of at least about 35Â° in at least a part of said targeted geographic service area; (2) having an orbit with a periodicity substantially the same as the period of rotation of the earth on its axis; broadcasting from a satellite source in said constellation at an elevation angle or angles greater than or equal to approximately 35Â°, on one path, a signal having a frequency in the range of about 1 to 4 GHz that includes audio program information; substantially simultaneously broadcasting from another satellite source in said constellation at an elevation angle or angles greater than or equal to approximately 35Â°, on a different path, another signal having a frequency in the range of about 1 to 4 GHz that includes substantially the same audio program information; and providing a time delay between said signals, said time delay being of sufficient length to reduce outages in substantial parts of said service area; and assembling and producing an output signal comprising audio program information derived from said satellite broadcast signals at a plurality of mobile receivers located in said service area.