A method and apparatus are provided for generating a personalized radio channel playlist by simultaneously buffering multiple received channels from one or more source streams, and then selecting songs or tracks to playback from the buffered channels. Users can specify favorite channels for building their personal playlists, or multiple default playlist channels can be provided by genre or channels related in some other way. Navigation tools permit users to skip ahead and backward in the playback stream. A personalized radio channel playlist can be implemented as (1) content selected from buffered channels based on user preferences for artists, songs and the like, or (2) as a Mix Channel in which content from selected buffered channels is automatically mixed for playback in response to selection of a preset button assigned to the Mix Channel.

A method and apparatus are provided for generating a personalized radio channel playlist by simultaneously buffering multiple received channels from one or more source streams, and then selecting songs or tracks to playback from the buffered channels. Users can specify favorite channels for building their personal playlists, or multiple default playlist channels can be provided by genre or channels related in some other way. Navigation tools permit users to skip ahead and backward in the playback stream. A personalized radio channel playlist can be implemented as (1) content selected from buffered channels based on user preferences for artists, songs and the like, or (2) as a Mix Channel in which content from selected buffered channels is automatically mixed for playback in response to selection of a preset button assigned to the Mix Channel.

A first media device, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for multi-area grouping of devices. The first media device includes a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor detects a second media device that is not subscribed to the media group. The processor assigns the detected second media device to the media group. The processor determines a total amount of media devices in the media group. The processor recommends a multi-channel configuration for the media group based on the determined total amount of media devices.

A vehicle messaging method (600) and system (100) can include any number of data sources (101-103), an interface (104) that formats messages and addresses from the data sources, and a corresponding number of messaging servers (111-113) that receive targeted messages intended for a predetermined subset of subscribers associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN). Each messaging server can include a corresponding controller (121-123) programmed to assign (604) targeted messages to a predetermined channel and encode (606) the addresses of the targeted messages to the predetermined subset of subscribers using a VIN or portion thereof. The controller can be further programmed to transfer (608) the targeted messages and addresses to a satellite uplink (107) and satellite (110) via a messaging uplink interface (106) for retransmission and reception by a plurality of selective call receivers 109 addressable individually using a predetermined VIN or portion thereof.

A vehicle messaging method (600) and system (100) can include any number of data sources (101-103), an interface (104) that formats messages and addresses from the data sources, and a corresponding number of messaging servers (111-113) that receive targeted messages intended for a predetermined subset of subscribers associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN). Each messaging server can include a corresponding controller (121-123) programmed to assign (604) targeted messages to a predetermined channel and encode (606) the addresses of the targeted messages to the predetermined subset of subscribers using a VIN or portion thereof. The controller can be further programmed to transfer (608) the targeted messages and addresses to a satellite uplink (107) and satellite (110) via a messaging uplink interface (106) for retransmission and reception by a plurality of selective call receivers 109 addressable individually using a predetermined VIN or portion thereof.

A method for generating a circular polarisation signal from at least two transponders of a satellite able to process linearly polarised signals includes: a transmission of at least two linearly polarised signal components so as to produce a circularly polarised signal by at least two transponders of a satellite; processing signals by the two transponders of the satellite to produce a circular polarisation of the signals transmitted by the satellite; ground receiving by at least one circularly polarised antenna; measuring a physical parameter from the received signals, and determining a correction parameter to be applied to the generation of the components of linearly polarised signals; generating a compensation of the components of linearly polarised signals transmitted to the satellite.

A method for generating a circular polarisation signal from at least two transponders of a satellite able to process linearly polarised signals includes: a transmission of at least two linearly polarised signal components so as to produce a circularly polarised signal by at least two transponders of a satellite; processing signals by the two transponders of the satellite to produce a circular polarisation of the signals transmitted by the satellite; ground receiving by at least one circularly polarised antenna; measuring a physical parameter from the received signals, and determining a correction parameter to be applied to the generation of the components of linearly polarised signals; generating a compensation of the components of linearly polarised signals transmitted to the satellite.

The present invention relates to satellite systems and more particularly, to the provision of a satellite system and method for communications applications, with global coverage. An optimal method of providing global broadband connectivity has been discovered which uses two different LEO constellations with inter-satellite links among the satellites in each constellation, and inter-satellite links between the constellations. The first constellation is deployed in a polar LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 99.5 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1000 km. The second constellation is deployed in an inclined LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 37.4 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1250 km.

The present invention relates to satellite systems and more particularly, to the provision of a satellite system and method for communications applications, with global coverage. An optimal method of providing global broadband connectivity has been discovered which uses two different LEO constellations with inter-satellite links among the satellites in each constellation, and inter-satellite links between the constellations. The first constellation is deployed in a polar LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 99.5 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1000 km. The second constellation is deployed in an inclined LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 37.4 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1250 km.

A method of generating interleaved symbols in a multiplexed data steam for a satellite broadcasting application to a plurality of receivers, includes allocating a plurality of data programs to a plurality of primary multiplexers according to a load balancing scheme; encoding in each primary multiplexer a plurality of data programs according to a coding scheme at a predefined code rate for generating encoded frames; and generating super frames in each primary multiplexer.