Method of upgrading the program transport capacity of an rf broadcast

Abstract

The program transport capacity of an RF broadcast channel is upgraded by replacing analog services with digitally multiplexed services. RF channels can be obtained from one or more parties, e.g. parties holding MDS, MMDS and ITFS licenses for microwave video channels in the high end of the UHF frequency range. Once rights to use the channel have been acquired, a digital multiplexing system is deployed for broadcasting a digital transport stream over each available RF broadcast channel. For license holders who offered an analog service over one channel, the digital transport stream for one channel will include compressed digital data representing information from that program service. The provider therefore can use this transport capacity to continue to offer the existing service. The broadcast transport stream for that channel also includes compressed digital data representing one or more new program services. In operation, users of the existing service will obtain a digital receiver; and through that receiver, they will continue to receive the existing service, essentially as an equivalent to the service offered through the analog broadcast on the channel. These users may also receive one or more of the new program services. The new services transported on the digital broadcast system and possibly the existing service may now be offered to new users.