Method for the installation with an electronic device of an outdoor unit and electronic device for such an installation

• US 10,237,128 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eutelsat, SA (Eutelsat Communications SA)
• Original Assignee: Eutelsat, SA (Eutelsat Communications SA)
• Inventors: Lohrey, Thomas, Ichard, Jerome, Gray, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven H
• Application Number:
  US14/737,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20150365280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A method for installing an outdoor unit, the outdoor unit for receiving signals from a satellite, the method including determining, with an electronic device, pointing information to be applied to the outdoor unit; receiving signal quality information on the electronic device and from an indoor unit, the indoor unit including a modem or receiver and being connected to the outdoor unit, and pointing the outdoor unit according to the received signal quality information.

Claims

1. A method for installing an outdoor unit, the outdoor unit for receiving signals from a satellite, the method comprising:

determining, with an electronic device, pointing information to be applied to the outdoor unit;

receiving signal quality information on the electronic device from an indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising a modem or receiver and being connected to the outdoor unit;

pointing the outdoor unit according to the received signal quality information;

transmitting, from the electronic device to a data processing center, a set of information detailing the outdoor unit'"'"'s installation, wherein the set of information comprises at least one picture of the installed outdoor unit, the picture having been taken with the electronic device; and

performing, by a remote technical assistance, monitoring and troubleshooting activities using said set of information.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising configuring the indoor unit in a correct installation mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal quality information received by the electronic device is transmitted from the indoor unit through a wireless link.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pointing information to be applied to the outdoor unit is determined by the electronic device based on geographical position information obtained by a GPS module of the electronic device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the pointing information is applied to the outdoor unit and is displayed by a graphical indication on a screen of the electronic device, the graphical indication representing a generic or specific antenna to be installed in the correct position.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising checking, within the electronic device, an operation of a wireless link between said electronic device and the indoor unit, and an operation of a GPS module of said electronic device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the signal quality information on a screen of the electronic device as an instantaneous value of a signal quality determined by the indoor unit, said signal being relevant for correctly positioning the outdoor unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reception signal quality information is restored by the electronic device as a sound signal whose frequency and/or pulse and/or intensity varies with the reception signal quality information.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising validating the outdoor unit installation by comparing the signal quality information to a predetermined threshold value, the outdoor unit installation being validated only if the threshold value is reached.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the comparison operation consists in comparing the signal quality to a minimum value, the installation of the outdoor unit being validated only if the signal quality exceeds the minimum value.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a smartphone or a tablet.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the indoor unit being configured in the correct installation mode, receiving, at the electronic device from the indoor unit, information that correctly identifies a satellite.

13. An electronic device, said electronic device being used for installation of an outdoor unit comprising an antenna and a low noise converter (LNB), the electronic device comprising:

a processor for determining pointing information to be applied to the outdoor unit based on geographical pointing information obtained by a GPS module of the electronic device;

a device for receiving signal quality information transmitted from an indoor unit comprising a modem or a receiver connected to the outdoor unit to be installed, wherein the antenna is pointed according to the received signal quality information; and

a device for transmitting to a data processing center a set of information detailing the outdoor unit'"'"'s installation such that monitoring and troubleshooting activities are performed by a remote technical assistance using said set of information, wherein the set of information comprises at least one picture of the installed outdoor unit, the picture having been taken with the electronic device.