Patent ID: 7308230

Claim:
A satellite-based system for transmitting signals, comprising: at least one broadcast transmitter on a first satellite for transmitting a broadcast signal into a continental United States (CONUS) geographic area in a first frequency band; at least one gapfiller transmitter on a second satellite for transmitting a gapfiller signal distinct from the broadcast signal in a second frequency band into at least one coverage gap within the CONUS geographic area; and at least one set of reuse transmitters on one or more of the first satellite and the second satellite for transmitting a plurality of spotbeam signals in the first frequency band within the CONUS geographic area, wherein the spotbeam signals are not transmitted into at least a portion of at least one coverage gap; and a receiver, wherein the receiver is designed to receive signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band, the receiver comprising a first feed receiving the broadcast signal in the first frequency band, and a second feed receiving the gapfiller signal in the second frequency band.