Patent ID: 8290432

Claim:
A method for synchronizing the transmission of user signals for a single-frequency hybrid network comprising at least one transmission satellite and emitters designed to retransmit received user signals, using the same frequency and the same waveform, to user terminals, said method comprising the step of temporally shifting the moment when the user signals received by each emitter are retransmitted, said shifting comprising shifting said moment by a local duration with respect to a time marker that corresponds to the moment when a chosen element of the user signals arrived at a terrestrial reference arc from said satellite, wherein: said local duration is a function of the respective positions of said emitter and said satellite with respect to a chosen reference position on said arc, so that the same user signals retransmitted by said satellite and said emitter reach a user terminal at roughly the same time, said user signals transmitted to each emitter by a distribution network are preceded by signaling signals containing said time marker, said user signals are transmitted to a satellite station supplied by said distribution network, preceded by signaling signals containing said time marker, and said user signals are transmitted to said satellite by said satellite station with a lead with respect to said time marker, said lead being equal to the sum of a first transmission duration between said satellite station and said satellite and a second transmission duration between said satellite and said arc.