Patent ID: 7664203
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: H03D

Abstract:
1. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that when executed implement a method of combining at least two channels, selected from a plurality of channels received at a system, into one subchannel such that certain signal processing may be performed on the one subchannel, wherein the certain signal processing of the one subchannel requires fewer of certain components than would be required to process the at least two channels separately, wherein the method comprises: mixing a first channel to a first intermediate frequency, the first channel being received in one or more signals; mixing a second channel to a second intermediate frequency, the second channel being received in the one or more signals and tuned to simultaneously with the first channel, wherein the second intermediate frequency is relatively higher than the first intermediate frequency, and wherein the one or more signals that include the first channel and the second channel, when received, also includes one or more additional channels between the first and second channels; after mixing the first channel, filtering the first intermediate frequency to remove all channels above the first channel from the first intermediate frequency; after mixing the second channel, filtering the second intermediate frequency to remove all channels below the second channel from the second intermediate frequency; after filtering the first and second intermediate frequencies, summing the first intermediate frequency and the second intermediate frequency, wherein summing the first intermediate frequency and the second intermediate frequency combines the first intermediate frequency and the second intermediate frequency such that the first channel and the second channel are adjacent to each other and have no intervening channels therebetween, such that all of the one or more additional channels that were between the first and second channels when the one or more signals were received, are absent after combining the first intermediate frequency and the second intermediate frequency; and filtering the combined first intermediate frequency and second intermediate frequency to remove channels below the first channel and above the second channel, such that a resulting multiple channel intermediate frequency signal contains only the adjacent first and second channels.