Multiple satellite mobile system using multiple antennas

• US 20080102752A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Sean S.
• Application Number:
  US11/591,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20080102752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20

Abstract

A communication system 10 includes a plurality of satellite antennas 26A-26n and a plurality of receivers 28A-28n that generate a plurality of channel requests. A switch 27 is in communication with the plurality of receivers 28A-28n and the plurality of satellite antennas 26A-26n. The switch 27 has a plurality of inputs 27I corresponding to the plurality of antennas and a plurality of outputs 27o corresponding to the plurality of receivers. The first output comprises a first channel from the first satellite and the second output comprises a second channel from the second satellite.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of satellite antennas;

a plurality of receivers generating a plurality of channel requests; and

a switch in communication with the plurality of receivers and the plurality of satellite antennas, said switch having a plurality of inputs corresponding to the plurality of antennas and a plurality of outputs corresponding to the plurality of receivers, wherein a first output comprises a first channel from a first satellite and a second output comprises a second channel from a second satellite.

2. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first output and said second output is generated simultaneously.

3. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of satellite antennas are each coupled to different satellites.

4. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of satellite antennas comprise a plurality of tracking antennas.

5. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the tracking antennas comprises a plurality of rotating antennas.

6. A communication system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a vehicle and wherein the plurality of satellite antennas, the plurality of receivers and the switch are coupled to the vehicle.

7. A communication system as recited in claim 6 wherein the vehicle comprises a ship.

8. A communication system as recited in claim 6 wherein the vehicle comprises a train.

9. A communication system as recited in claim 6 wherein the vehicle comprises a bus.

10. A communication system as recited in claim 6 wherein the vehicle comprises a plane.

18. A communication system as recited in claim 6 wherein the vehicle comprises a plane.

11. A communication system comprising:

a first satellite,

a second satellite;

a vehicle comprising,

a first tracking antenna tracking the first satellite receiving a first satellite signal;

a second tracking antenna tracking the second satellite receiving a second satellite signal;

a first receiver coupled to the switch and generating a first channel request;

a second receiver coupled to the switch and generating a second channel request; and

a switch in communication with the first antenna, the second antenna, the first receiver and second receiver, said switch having a plurality of inputs corresponding to the plurality of antennas and a plurality of outputs corresponding to the plurality of receivers, wherein at a first output comprises a first channel from a first satellite and a second output comprises a second channel from a second satellite.

12. A communication system as recited in claim 11 wherein the first output and second output is generated simultaneously.

13. A communication system as recited in claim 11 wherein the first tracking antenna and the second tracking antenna comprise rotating antennas.

14. A communication system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a vehicle and wherein the plurality of satellite antennas, the plurality of receivers and the switch are coupled to the vehicle.

15. A communication system as recited in claim 11 wherein the vehicle comprises a ship.

16. A communication system as recited in claim 11 wherein the vehicle comprises a train.

17. A communication system as recited in claim 11 wherein the vehicle comprises a bus.

19. A method of operating a communication system in a vehicle comprising:

communicating a first communication signal to a first antenna from a first satellite;

communicating a second communication signal to a second antenna from a second satellite;

generating a first channel request from a first receiver for a first channel on the first satellite;

communicating the first channel request to a switch;

generating a second channel request from a second receiver for a second channel on the second satellite;

communicating the second channel request to the switch;

switching a first switch output to the first communication signal including the first channel; and

switching a second switch output to the second communication signal including the second channel.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising tracking a first satellite with a first antenna, tracking a second satellite with a second antenna and coupling the first antenna and a second antenna to the switch.

21. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising providing the first receiver, second receiver switch and in a vehicle.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the vehicle comprises a ship.

23. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the vehicle comprises a train.

24. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the vehicle comprises a bus.

25. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the vehicle comprises a plane.