Method and system for a single frequency network for broadcasting to mobile devices

Abstract

One or more circuits of a satellite reception assembly may be operable to receive a satellite signal, recover content carried in the satellite signal, and broadcast a signal carrying the content for reception by one or more mobile devices. The satellite reception assembly may be mounted to the residence of a satellite subscriber. The signal carrying the content may be frequency locked to a reference signal that is available to the satellite reception assembly and to one or more other satellite reception assemblies. The reference signal may be a GNSS signal. The one or more circuits may communicate with the one or more mobile devices to provide a key to the one or more mobile devices, where the key is required for descrambling and/or decryption of the content carried in said signal.

1 . A method performed by one or more circuits of a satellite reception assembly, the method comprising:
 receiving a satellite signal;   recovering content carried in said satellite signal; and   broadcasting a first signal carrying said content for reception by one or more mobile devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said satellite reception assembly is mounted to the residence of a satellite subscriber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first signal carrying said content is frequency locked to a reference signal that is available to said satellite reception assembly and to one or more other satellite reception assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said reference signal is a GNSS signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first signal carrying said content is synchronized to a reference clock that is available to said satellite reception assembly and to one or more other satellite reception assemblies. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said reference clock is a GNSS clock. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising communicating with said one or more mobile devices to provide a key to said one or more mobile devices, said key being required for descrambling and/or decryption of said content carried in said signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said satellite reception assembly is selected, from among a plurality of satellite reception assemblies, for said broadcasting said signal based on one or more of: a planned route, a current location, or a current velocity of said one or more mobile devices. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising one or more circuits for use in a satellite reception assembly, said one or more circuits being operable to:
 receive a satellite signal;   recover content carried in said satellite signal; and   broadcast a first signal carrying said content for reception by one or more mobile devices.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said satellite reception assembly is mounted to the residence of a satellite subscriber. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said first signal carrying said content is frequency locked to a reference signal that is available to said satellite reception assembly and to one or more other satellite reception assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said reference signal is a GNSS signal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said first signal carrying said content is synchronized to a reference clock that is available to said satellite reception assembly and to one or more other satellite reception assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said reference signal is a GNSS signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to communicate with said one or more mobile devices to provide a key to said one or more mobile devices, said key being required for descrambling and/or decryption of said content carried in said signal. 
     
     
         16 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said one or more other satellite reception broadcast a second signal carrying said content; and   said second signal is frequency locked to said reference signal.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein a coverage area of said first signal carrying said content overlaps with a coverage area of said second signal carrying said content. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said one or more other satellite reception broadcast a second signal carrying said content; and   said second signal is synchronized to said reference clock.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein a coverage area of said first signal carrying said content overlaps with a coverage area of said second signal carrying said content.