Interactive radio

A CTS configuration in a two-way communication interactive radio broadcast network having a network hub switching center for routing communications from and to a plurality of RTUs at various geographic locations served by a CTS that processes digital data modulated on an r-f carrier and transmitted from a plurality of RTUs dispersed over a predetermined CTS geographic area by presenting multiplexed digital data synchronously related to the CTS broadcast signal for communication from identified individual RTUs within designated geographic service areas, comprising in combination:

• CTS data processing and transmission facilities for transmitting to a set of local RTUs and for receiving from a subset of those local RTUs multiplexed synchronously related digital data messages of variable lengths;
• said CTS data processing and transmission facilities including means for synchronizing said transmission facilities with a precision clock signal derived from an independent precision clock source;
• CTS reception means for receiving and processing data messages from the subset of local RTUs at that CTS comprising a set of cell subdivision sites partitioned from said CTS geographic area and dispersed over the CTS geographic area, each cell subdivision site being adapted for receiving-only low power digital messages transmitted from local RTUs within range of the partitioned cell site areas, and;
• a set of local subscriber transceiver units including low power mobile units located within the CTS geographic area each adapted to communicate with said CTS by way of digital data signals of variable lengths synchronously related to said precision clock signal and timed for multiplexed message transmission.

A multiple CTS configuration in a two-way communication interactive radio broadcast data network having a network hub switching center for routing communications from and to a plurality of RTUs at various geographic locations served by a CTS that processes digital data modulated on an r-f carrier and transmitted from a plurality of RTUs dispersed over a predetermined CTS geographic area by presenting multiplexed digital data synchronously related to the CTS broadcast signal for communication from identified individual RTUs within designated geographic service areas, comprising in combination:

• two or more CTS data processing and transmission facilities for transmitting data to respective sets of local RTUs and for receiving from respective subsets of those local RTUs multiplexed synchronously related digital data messages of variable lengths;
• said two or more CTS data processing and transmission facilities including means for synchronizing said transmission facilities with precision clock signals derived from an independent precision clock source;
• CTS reception means for receiving and processing data messages from the respective subsets of local RTUs at each CTS comprising sets of cell subdivision sites partitioned from two or more CTS geographic areas and dispersed over the CTS geographic areas, each cell subdivision site being adapted for receiving-only low power digital messages transmitted from respective local RTUs within range of the partitioned cell site areas;
• and
• sets of RTUs including low power mobile units located within each respective CTS geographic area each adapted to communicate with said respective CTS by way of digital data signals of variable lengths synchronously related to said precision clock signal and timed for multiplexed message transmission.

A point-to-point interactive radio broadcast network system having a central switching station, a plurality of CTSs, a satellite station, and sets of RTUs located in the vicinity of each CTS, comprising:

• means for providing for two-way digital communications between two different RTUs by a serial communication path extending through a CTS, the satellite, the central station, the satellite and back to a CTS, wherein at least some of said CTSs serve sets of RTUs which are dispersed over predetermined geographic areas and include communication means between the RTUs with the CTS including a set of stationary receive only terminals, which are remote from the CTS and which are coupled by a communication link with the CTS for conveying transmitted messages from RTUs in a subdivided portion of a geographic area in the vicinity of the receive only terminals to the CTS;
• CTS data processing and transmission facilities including means for synchronizing said transmission facilities with a precision clock signal derived from an independent precision clock source;
• subscriber transmitter units for transmitting digital frequency modulated pulses at a peak power in the milliwatt range;
• and
• data processing means at the CTS for assembling and re-transmitting digital subscriber messages from the RTUs via the satellite to the central station, said RTUs transmitting on a plurality of frequency bands.

An interactive radio broadcast data system comprising:

• subscribers with mobile RTUs and facilities for communicating from the RTUs when moved through different geographic zones,
• a CTS of defined geographic area for serving a set of said RTUs, said area is subdivided into a plurality of zones, and receive only stations located in said zones for reception of transmissions from RTUs located in the respective zones,
• CTS data processing and transmission facilities including means for synchronizing said transmission facilities with a precision clock signal derived from an independent precision clock source, and
• facilities in said CTS and RTUs for handing off communications between zones when communicated signals deteriorate below a given threshold.