PROVIDING GEOGRAPHIC SPECIFIC SERVICES IN A SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

A method and apparatus for communicating geographic specific services to a receiver (4) in a satellite communications network by utilizing location identification information included in a composite signal transmitted by a terrestrial repeater (3). A terrestrial repeater receives from a satellite a composite signal comprising a plurality of time-division multiplexed (TDM) data channels and retransmits the composite signal with a unique transmitter identification number which indicates the identity of the repeater (21). Upo n reception of the composite signal from the terrestrial repeater, the receive r determines the current geographical location of the receiver based on the transmitter identification number (24). The receiver then compares the curre nt location of the receiver to header information carried in the data channels to select information in the data channels targeted to the geographical locatio n of the receiver (25). The receiver then provides the selected information to a user of the receiver so that user may access services directed to audiences in the geographic location of the receiver (26).