System for time division multiplexing broadcast channels with R-1/2 or R-3/4 convolutional coding for satellite transmission via on-board baseband processing payload or transparent payload

摘要

A satellite direct radio broadcast system is provided which assembles bits of broadcast programs into prime rate increments, several of which are assembled into a frame. Frames are divided into symbols which are demultiplexed into alternating ones of a plurality of prime rate channels. The broadcast channel frame is encoded for forward error correction (FEC) using an R-½ Viterbi coder or a R- Viterbi coder, depending on the desired bit rate for a time division multiplexed (TDM) stream comprising the broadcast channel. A broadcast station is configured to format FEC-encoded broadcast channel frames into TDM frames when transmission of the TDM frames by a transparent payload on-board a satellite is used.