Method and apparatus for transmitter identification and selection for

Abstract

A programming system in which entertainment and information programming is transmitted, received and stored in real time by a multitude of receivers. The stored programming subsequently may be retrieved by a user in non-real time at the user's convenience. This programming system is particularly adaptable for use with receivers located in moveable vehicles wherein, however, the mobile receivers must have access to the transmitted information, that is, to a transmitter, regardless of the extent of the vehicle's journey. To this end, one or more transmitters located within respective service areas transmit identical programming information along with respective transmitter location codes over different frequency channels, wherein each code also defines a transmitter priority of effective radiated power. As the vehicle moves within a service area, if a loss of signal occurs, the receiver selects the transmitter with the next highest priority from the transmitter location codes for that and neighboring overlapping service areas. The location codes previously are stored and periodically updated in the receiver memory. The transmitter location code may comprise a two byte word multiplexed with the information signal, wherein the first byte contains the stations or transmitter channel numbers within the respective service areas, and the second byte defines the priority of each transmitter in terms of effective radiating power.