Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Beacon or receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-24
2001-03-27
Tarcza, Thomas H. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Beacon or receiver
C342S352000, C342S384000, C342S423000, C342S359000, C343S757000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208296
ABSTRACT:
A FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the training of a receiver on a source, and, specifically to minimizing the training time of the source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Television broadcasting technology has improved tremendously since its inception. The current generation of broadcasting system technology comprises a number of types of direct satellite broadcasting systems. With these systems, a user, or viewer, receives television programming via a satellite broadcast to their satellite antenna and receiver. The typical satellite broadcasting system has increased in popularity because it provides the user with many viewing options, including hundreds of channels of programming, program directories that allow for channel surfing among program descriptions while watching a particular program on one channel, custom user-formatted menus, message receipt functions from a service provider, and on-demand selection of pay-per-view broadcasts. As the demand for the satellite television systems increases, so to does the demand for systems that can be quickly and easily installed by the user, typically a non-professional satellite system installer.
An area where improvement is desired in the installation of typical satellite television systems is the aiming, or training, of the user antenna to receive a signal from the broadcast satellite. Currently, a typical method for training the antenna comprises moving the antenna around while monitoring the flash frequency of a small light or light-emitting diode. Furthermore, the coarse training may involve moving the antenna around while monitoring a sequence of beeps. The frequency of the flashing light or the beeps serve as an indication of the relative signal strength of the received satellite signal. While providing some coarse guidance, these techniques are not very precise and may lead to a great deal of user frustration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for training a receiver on a source are provided. According to one aspect of the invention, the receiver is an antenna and the source is a broadcast satellite. A first signal sensor receives at least one signal from the source. The first signal sensor may be a first low noise block (LNB) downconverter of the antenna. At least one secondary signal sensor measures a strength of the received signal. In one embodiment, the secondary signal sensor comprises four LNB downconverters, wherein each of the four LNB downconverters are located on each of four sides of the first signal sensor. In an alternate embodiment, the secondary signal sensor comprises an array of LNB downconverters, wherein the array of LNB downconverters forms a concave parabolic shape. The measured strength of the received signal is used to provide guidance information for training the receiver on the source. When the broadcast satellite moves relative to the antenna at least one of the four secondary LNB downconverters detects a variance in the measured strength of the at least one signal. The secondary LNB downconverters provide guidance information based on the detected variance, wherein training time for the antenna is minimized. The guidance information may comprise relative azimuth and elevation information to the broadcast satellite.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description and appended claims which follow.
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Data and Telecommunications Dictionary, Julie K. Peterson, CRC Press, New York, 1999. p. 458.
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Mull Fred H.
Sony Corporation
Tarcza Thomas H.
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