Synchronization of satellite and terrestrial broadcast ODFM signals

A terrestrial station capable of providing transmissions for simultaneous reception from said terrestrial station and a satellite, the terrestrial station comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a first terrestrial broadcast signal;
• means for establishing a first delay value for the first terrestrial broadcast signal transmitted from the terrestrial station transmitter based upon anticipated propagation of signals from the first terrestrial broadcast signal and a satellite broadcast signal on a shared frequency;
• and
• means for adjusting the first delay value based on a measured signal quality factor within a region of coverage area of the transmitter that is selected by measuring a signal quality factor to identify a region where a combination of signals from the transmitter and the broadcast satellite is most advantageous wherein delaying transmissions of the terrestrial broadcast signal from the transmitter by the first delay value allows a wireless communication device receiving the first terrestrial broadcast signal and the satellite broadcast signal to combine the first terrestrial broadcast signal and the satellite broadcast signal to obtain an enhanced shared frequency received signal within the selected region of the coverage area.

A communication system capable of providing enhanced performance of a combined terrestrial and satellite shared frequency communication comprising:

• a first terrestrial transmitter;
• a second terrestrial transmitter;
• a broadcast satellite configured to transmit a satellite broadcast signal,
• means for establishing a first delay value for a first terrestrial broadcast signal transmitted from the first terrestrial transmitter based upon a propagation delay of a satellite broadcast signal on a shared frequency between the first terrestrial transmitter and the broadcast satellite;
• means for establishing a second delay value for a second terrestrial broadcast signal transmitted from the second terrestrial transmitter based upon a propagation delay of the satellite broadcast signal on the shared frequency between the second terrestrial transmitter and the broadcast satellite;
• means for adjusting the first delay value of the first terrestrial broadcast signal based on a measured signal quality factor measured within a region of coverage area of the first terrestrial transmitter selected by measuring the signal quality factor to identify a region within a coverage area of the first terrestrial transmitter where a combination of signals from the first terrestrial transmitter and the satellite broadcast signal is most advantageous;
• and
• means for adjusting the second delay value based on a synchronization between the first terrestrial broadcast signal, the second terrestrial broadcast signal and the satellite broadcast signal, wherein delaying transmissions of the first and second terrestrial broadcast signals by the first and second delay values, respectively, allows a wireless communication device receiving the first terrestrial broadcast signal, the second terrestrial broadcast signal and the satellite broadcast signal to combine the first terrestrial broadcast signal, the second terrestrial broadcast signal, and the satellite broadcast signal to obtain an enhanced shared frequency received signal within the selected region of the coverage area.

An apparatus for synchronizing common broadcasts from multiple transmitters, the apparatus comprising:

• a delay adjustment circuit configured to:
• establish a first delay value for a first terrestrial broadcast signal transmitted from a first terrestrial transmitter based upon a propagation delay of a satellite broadcast signal on a shared frequency between the first terrestrial transmitter and a broadcast satellite;
• and
• adjust the first delay value of the first terrestrial broadcast signal based on a based on a measured signal quality factor measured within a region of coverage area of the first terrestrial transmitter selected by measuring the signal quality factor to identify a region within a coverage area of the first terrestrial transmitter where a combination of signals from the first terrestrial transmitter and the broadcast satellite is most advantageous, wherein delaying transmissions of the first terrestrial broadcast signal from the first terrestrial transmitter by the first delay value allows a wireless communication device receiving the first terrestrial broadcast signal and the satellite broadcast signal to combine the first terrestrial broadcast signal and the satellite broadcast signal to obtain an enhanced shared frequency received signal within the selected region of the coverage area.