Method and Apparatus for Providing Satellite Television and Other Data to Mobile Antennas

A communication apparatus, comprising:

• a transmitter, which is arranged to apply a single spreading code to first and second input data so as to produce respective first and second spread-spectrum signals, and to transmit the first and second spread-spectrum signals via respective first and second satellite transponders;
• and
• a mobile terminal, which is arranged to receive the first spread-spectrum signal from the first satellite transponder, to reconstruct the first input data by synchronizing to the single spreading code, to switch from receiving the first spread-spectrum signal from the first satellite transponder to receiving the second spread-spectrum signal from the second satellite transponder, and to reconstruct the second input data while remaining synchronized to the single spreading code.

A communication apparatus, comprising:

• an antenna, which is operative to receive via first and second satellite transponders respective first and second spread-spectrum signals, which are produced by applying a single spreading code to respective first and second input data;
• and
• a receiver, which is arranged to reconstruct the first input data by synchronizing to the single spreading code, to switch from receiving the first spread-spectrum signal from the first satellite transponder to receiving the second spread-spectrum signal from the second satellite transponder, and to reconstruct the second input data while remaining synchronized to the single spreading code.