A system and method provide an enhanced listening experience for a user of a radio receiver or other device that receives broadcast or streamed content having a plurality of program channels. Thu method and system buffer designated channels at the receiver and, when switching among channels, play back the buffered designated channels during reception from a selected point therein depending on the channel or other criteria. When switching to a different channel during reception, a user is able to hear content in a buffered program channel with music from the start of a song, for example, whereas content in a channel with news, talk radio, or live sports is played back from live reception, even though the content segments are transmitted at different start times relative to their selected times for playback following a channel change. User controls allow navigation among buffered designated channels during reception.

A system and method provide an enhanced listening experience for a user of a radio receiver or other device that receives broadcast or streamed content having a plurality of program channels. Thu method and system buffer designated channels at the receiver and, when switching among channels, play back the buffered designated channels during reception from a selected point therein depending on the channel or other criteria. When switching to a different channel during reception, a user is able to hear content in a buffered program channel with music from the start of a song, for example, whereas content in a channel with news, talk radio, or live sports is played back from live reception, even though the content segments are transmitted at different start times relative to their selected times for playback following a channel change. User controls allow navigation among buffered designated channels during reception.

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 and system optimally selecting antenna elements based on the current availability of antenna elements and the current usage of other antenna elements within a two or three dimensional array. The present system and method pertain to an approach to allow the maximal usage of each antenna element while simultaneously reducing the coupling between antenna elements to improve the signal strength in each antenna element by ensuring that antenna elements in the same incident path are not tuned to the same frequency or physically or electrically near elements tuned to identical or adjacent frequencies.

A computer-implemented method is provided in which a satellite uplink device is positioned to distribute an event. Data is collected from one or more automatic sensor device associated with the satellite uplink device. An optimal position of the satellite uplink device is calculated based on at least the data collected from the one or more sensor devices. The location of one or more satellites in orbit is determined and one or more satellites are selected as a preferred satellite. The satellite uplink device is automatically positioned in the calculated optimal position to connect with the preferred satellite without user intervention. However, a user at a remote location may communicate instructions to change the position the satellite uplink device. User instructions are converted into one or more actuator commands and are wirelessly transmitted to the satellite uplink device for changing its position.

A computer-implemented method is provided in which a satellite uplink device is positioned to distribute an event. Data is collected from one or more automatic sensor device associated with the satellite uplink device. An optimal position of the satellite uplink device is calculated based on at least the data collected from the one or more sensor devices. The location of one or more satellites in orbit is determined and one or more satellites are selected as a preferred satellite. The satellite uplink device is automatically positioned in the calculated optimal position to connect with the preferred satellite without user intervention. However, a user at a remote location may communicate instructions to change the position the satellite uplink device. User instructions are converted into one or more actuator commands and are wirelessly transmitted to the satellite uplink device for changing its position.

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.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for channel bonding in an adaptive coding and modulation mode. In some implementations, a system receives packets of a data stream for transmission in a satellite communications system. The system determines a modulation and coding arrangement for the received packets. The system generates code blocks that include data from the packets of the data stream. The system assigns the generated code blocks for transmission on different carriers. One or more of the different carriers is operated in an adaptive coding and modulation mode to support multiple modulation and coding arrangements within a single carrier. The system transmits the code blocks on the different carriers using the determined one or more modulation and coding arrangements.