ANTENNA AND SATELLITE ALIGNMENT USING BEAM PROJECTIONS

• US 20100062706A1
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Remberto L., Mills, Raymond L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/13.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks

Abstract

Disclosed is a satellite beam pointing system that uses color encoded signals from subscribers to align antennas on a satellite and to align the satellite. Subscribers detect the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio of signals that are transmitted from the satellite. The values of the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio data are encoded in signals that are transmitted back to a ground station that color encodes the data and graphically displays the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio of the subscriber received signals. The actual beam projection can then be determined and the satellite antennas moved, so that the actual beam projection coincides with the intended beam projection. Also, the satellite can be properly oriented using this technique.

Claims

1. A method of pointing and tracking antennas on a satellite using signal-to-noise ratio data relating to the signal-to-noise ratio of subscriber received signals transmitted from said satellite to subscribers at subscriber locations comprising:

receiving said subscriber received signals at said subscriber locations;

generating said signal-to-noise ratio data relating to said signal-to-noise ratio of said subscriber received signals;

transmitting said signal-to-noise ratio data from said subscribers to a central office;

analyzing said signal-to-noise ratio data to determine actual locations of beam projections of said antennas;

aligning said antennas based upon said actual locations of beam projections of said antennas.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of analyzing said signal-to-noise ratio data comprises:

graphically displaying said signal-to-noise ratio data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

determining an actual beam center of said beam projections from said graphical representation.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said process of analyzing said data further comprises:

color encoding said signal-to-noise ratio data relating to said signal-to-noise ratio.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

graphically displaying said signal-to-noise ratio data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

iteratively moving said antennas and viewing said graphical representation until said antennas are properly aligned.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of analyzing said data comprises:

computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas from said signal-to-noise ratio data without graphically displaying said signal-to-noise ratio data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections further comprises:

computationally determining an actual beam center from said signal-to-noise ratio data.

7. A method of pointing and tracking antennas on a satellite using signal strength data relating to the signal strength of subscriber received signals transmitted from said satellite to subscribers at subscriber locations comprising:

receiving said subscriber received signals at said subscriber locations;

generating said signal strength data relating to said signal strength of said subscriber received signals;

transmitting said signal strength data from said subscribers to a central office;

analyzing said signal strength data to determine actual locations of beam projections of said antennas;

aligning said antennas based upon said actual locations of beam projections of said antennas.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said process of analyzing said signal strength data comprises:

graphically displaying said signal strength data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

determining an actual beam center of said beam projections from said graphical representation.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said process of analyzing said signal strength data further comprises:

color encoding said signal strength data.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

graphically displaying said signal strength data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

iteratively moving said antennas and viewing said graphical representation until said antennas are properly aligned.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of analyzing said signal strength data comprises:

computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas from said signal strength data without graphically displaying said signal strength data.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections further comprises:

computationally determining an actual beam center from said signal strength data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said process of aligning said antennas further comprises:

determining a differential distance and angle of said actual beam center from an intended beam center;

generating antenna adjustment data based upon said differential distance and angle;

transmitting said antenna adjustment data to said satellite to adjust said antenna.

14. A method of aligning a stationary satellite with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface using signal-to-noise ratio data from a satellite communication system relating to the signal-to-noise ratio of subscriber received signals transmitted from said stationary satellite to subscribers at known subscriber locations comprising:

receiving said subscriber received signals at said known subscriber locations;

generating said signal-to-noise ratio data relating to said signal-to-noise ratio of said subscriber received signals;

transmitting said signal-to-noise ratio data from said subscriber location to a central office;

analyzing said signal-to-noise ratio data to determine actual locations of beam projections from antennas located on said stationary satellite;

comparing said actual locations of said beam projections with intended locations of said beam projections to create a satellite alignment signal;

aligning said stationary satellite with respect to said earth'"'"'s surface using said satellite alignment signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said process of analyzing said signal-to-noise ratio data comprises:

graphically displaying said signal-to-noise ratio data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

determining actual beam centers of said beam projections from said graphical representation.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said process of analyzing said signal-to-noise ratio data further comprises:

color encoding said signal-to-noise ratio data.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

graphically displaying said signal-to-noise ratio data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

iteratively moving said stationary satellite and viewing said graphical representation of said actual location of said beam projections until said stationary satellite is properly aligned.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of analyzing said data comprises:

computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas from said signal-to-noise ratio data without graphically displaying said signal-to-noise ratio data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections further comprises:

computationally determining an actual beam center from said signal-to-noise ratio data.

20. A method of aligning a stationary satellite with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface using signal strength data from a satellite communication system relating to the signal strength of subscriber received signals transmitted from said stationary satellite to subscribers at known subscriber locations comprising:

receiving said subscriber received signals at said known subscriber locations;

generating said signal strength data relating to said signal strength of said subscriber received signals;

transmitting said signal strength data from said subscriber locations to a central office;

analyzing said signal strength data to determine actual locations of beam projections from antennas located on said stationary satellite;

comparing said actual locations of said beam projections with intended locations of said beam projections to create a satellite alignment signal;

aligning said stationary satellite with respect to said earth'"'"'s surface using said satellite alignment signal.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said process of analyzing said signal strength data comprises:

graphically displaying said signal strength data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

determining an actual beam center of said beam projections from said graphical representation.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said process of analyzing said signal strength data further comprises:

color encoding said signal strength data.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

graphically displaying said signal strength data to produce a graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections;

iteratively moving said stationary satellite and viewing said graphical representation of said actual locations of said beam projections until said stationary satellite is properly aligned.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of analyzing said signal strength data comprises:

computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas from said signal strength data.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of computationally determining said actual locations of said beam projections further comprises:

computationally determining an actual beam center from said signal strength data.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said process of aligning said stationary satellite further comprises:

determining a differential distance and angle of said actual beam center from an intended beam center;

generating satellite adjustment data based upon said differential distance and angle;

transmitting said satellite adjustment data to said satellite to adjust said satellite.

27. A system for aligning antennas on a satellite using signal-to-noise ratio data relating to the signal-to-noise ratio of downstream signals transmitted from said satellite to subscribers at known subscriber locations comprising:

a subscriber transceiver that receives said downstream signal and transmits an upstream signal;

a subscriber modem that receives said downstream signals from said transceiver, determines said signal-to-noise ratio data of said downstream signal and encodes said upstream signal with said signal-to-noise ratio data;

a control system that receives said upstream signal, extracts said signal-to-noise ratio data from said upstream signal, analyzes said signal-to-noise ratio data to determine actual locations of beam projections of said antennas, compares said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas with intended locations of said beam projections of said antennas to produce an antenna alignment signal and encodes said upstream signal with said antenna alignment signal to align said antennas.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a display that graphically displays said actual locations of said beam projections.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said graphical display further comprises:

a display that graphically displays color encoded signal-to-noise ratio data.

30. A system for aligning antennas on a satellite using signal strength data relating to the signal strength of downstream signals transmitted from said satellite to subscribers at known subscriber locations comprising:

a subscriber transceiver that receives said downstream signal and transmits an upstream signal;

a subscriber modem that receives said downstream signals from said transceiver, determines said signal strength data of said downstream signal and encodes said upstream signal with said signal strength data;

a control system that receives said upstream signal, extracts said signal strength data from said upstream signal, analyzes said signal strength data to determine actual locations of beam projections of said antennas, compares said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas with intended locations of said beam projections of said antennas to produce an antenna alignment signal and encodes said upstream signal with said antenna alignment signal to align said antennas.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising:

a display that graphically displays said actual locations of said beam projections.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said graphical display further comprises:

a display that graphically displays color encoded signal strength data.

33. A system for aligning a satellite with the earth'"'"'s surface using signal-to-noise ratio data relating to the signal-to-noise ratio of downstream signals transmitted from said satellite to subscribers at known subscriber locations comprising:

a subscriber transceiver that receives said downstream signal and transmits an upstream signal;

a subscriber modem that receives said downstream signals from said transceiver, determines said signal-to-noise ratio data of said downstream signal and encodes said upstream signal with said signal-to-noise ratio data;

a control system that receives said upstream signal, extracts said signal-to-noise ratio data from said upstream signal, analyzes said signal-to-noise ratio data to determine actual locations of beam projections of said antennas, compares said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas with intended locations of said beam projections of said antennas to produce a satellite alignment signal and encodes said upstream signal with said satellite alignment signal to align said satellite.

34. The system of claim 33 further comprising:

a display that graphically displays said actual locations of said beam projections.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said graphical display further comprises:

a display that graphically displays color encoded signal-to-noise ratio data.

36. A system for aligning a satellite with the earth'"'"'s surface using signal strength data relating to the signal strength of downstream signals transmitted from said satellite to subscribers at known subscriber locations comprising:

a subscriber transceiver that receives said downstream signal and transmits an upstream signal;

a subscriber modem that receives said downstream signals from said transceiver, determines said signal strength data of said downstream signal and encodes said upstream signal with said signal strength data;

a control system that receives said upstream signal, extracts said signal strength data from said upstream signal, analyzes said signal strength data to determine actual locations of beam projections of said antennas, compares said actual locations of said beam projections of said antennas with intended locations of said beam projections of said antennas to produce a satellite alignment signal and encodes said upstream signal with said satellite alignment signal to align said satellite.

37. The system of claim 36 further comprising:

a display that graphically displays said actual locations of said beam projections.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein said graphical display farther comprises:

a display that graphically displays color encoded signal strength data.