Motorola Corporation

James Joseph Mikulski

David E Borth

Kevin L Kloker

John E Major

William V Braun

Frank J Cerny, Jr

Charles Nelson Lynk, Jr

A system (200) and method (300) provide an efficient communication system for distributing digital multimedia/HDTV signals to multimedia units in a cellular pattern. The method includes: 1) using at least a first primary wide area-antenna for, where selected, transmitting a digital multimedia/HDTV signal per frequency allocation over at least a portion of a predetermined reception area, wherein a plurality of patterns of cells tesselates the predetermined reception area; and 2) using cell-site antennas having transmitters, each located in a cell, for, where selected, transmitting, when the primary wide area-antenna is deselected, at least a first preselected digital multimedia/HDTV signal over an area of the cell, for providing the HDTV signal to a plurality of digital receivers in accordance with a predetermined scheme, wherein the digital multimedia/HDTV signal is associated with a predetermined frequency allocation.

Method and system for distribution of wireless digital multimedia

A stereo decoder is provided for decoding an encoded stereo signal. In one form, the encoded stereo signal is digitized and coupled to two sampling circuits. By selectively sampling the encoded signal relative to a stereo pilot signal contained in the encoded signal, both a left-hand audio signal and a right-hand audio signal may be separately recovered from the encoded signal and latched. A phase locked loop monitors the phase of the stereo pilot signal relative to the encoded signal and controls the time sampling of the encoded signal at predetermined phases of the pilot signal. The stereo decoding may also be performed by using analog circuitry to directly time sample the encoded stereo signal. In an analog approach, the time sampled output signal must be low pass filtered to provide decoded stereo output signals.

Stereo decoding by direct time sampling

A receiving system is disclosed that substantially instantaneously receives an RF signal. The inventive receiving system may be advantageously utilized at a central station of a mobile radio system for providing an omnidirectional receiving pattern. Both voice and digital information signals modulated on the RF signal transmitted from a mobile station are substantially instantaneously acquired by the central station. The receiving system includes an omnidirectional antenna configuration having a plurality of spatially disposed directional sector antennas, converting circuitry for converting the RF signals received by each directional sector antenna to an IF signal, IF bandpass filters for filtering each of the IF signals, and a maximal-ratio predetection diversity combiner for continuously combining the filtered IF signals to provide a composite IF signal so that any received RF signal is substantially instantaneously acquired. Because of the fast acquisition of RF signals, the receiving system will not lose the initial portion of voice and digital information signals modulated on an RF signal transmitted by a mobile station.

Instantaneously acquiring sector antenna combining system

A communication system of the type wherein a central station assigns a limited number of information channels to a requesting one of a plurality of remote stations is disclosed. The requesting station sends its identification signal along with the request signal to the central station on a signal channel. The central station classifies the requesting station in either a priority or a nonpriority queue. The priority queue corresponds to those stations which are continuing an on-going interchange, whereas the nonpriority queue contains those stations which wish to initiate an interchange. Stations are prioritized in the queues on a first-in/first-out basis. The central station constantly monitors the information channels and, as channels become available, assigns the channels first to stations in the prioirty queue, then to nonpriority queue stations. A channel becomes 'available' when the central station detects a pause, such as a momentary release of a push to talk microphone switch, in transmission on that channel. By this transmission trunking method, the system makes optimum use of the limited number of available channels. Additional central station processing provides an acknowledgement signal, which indicates that the request was received and a channel will be assigned as soon as one becomes available. Also, the identification of a requesting station is compared with an associate memory. The memory provides the identifications of all stations to whom the requesting station would transmit. Once a channel is available, it is assigned to the requesting station and to its associated stations, whereby the associated stations are notified of, and prepared for, the impending transmission.

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Deerfield, IL, United States of America

James Joseph Mikulski