OMNIDIRECTIONAL SWITCHABLE BROADBAND WIRELESS ANTENNA SYSTEM

• US 20100311321A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norin, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/12 wherein the surfaces are concave H01Q19/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite

Abstract

Systems and methods for increasing coverage and throughput in a wireless communication system. An antenna for use in a wireless communications system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a plurality of antenna elements, an antenna selection switch, coupled to the plurality of antenna elements, and a control system, coupled to the antenna selection switch, wherein the control system selectively energizes the plurality of antenna elements to create a communications link to a device in the wireless communications system through the antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna for use in a wireless communications system, comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

an antenna selection switch, coupled to the plurality of antenna elements; and

a control system, coupled to the antenna selection switch, wherein the control system selectively energizes the plurality of antenna elements to create a communications link to a device in the wireless communications system through the antenna.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the control system selectively energizes the plurality of antenna elements to increase a data rate to the device in the wireless communications system.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the control system uses feedback from the device to selectively energize the plurality of antenna elements.

4. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the wireless communications system uses communications signals having a plurality of polarizations.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are selected based on a polarization of the communications signals used in the communications link to the device.

6. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the antenna is mounted proximate with a satellite receive antenna.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna provides a higher signal throughput as compared to a wireless communications system lacking the antenna.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the higher signal throughput is provided by an increase in wireless communications system signal strength.

9. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the higher signal throughput is provided by additional gain in the antenna.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the device is coupled to a satellite broadcast system through the antenna.

11. The antenna of claim 10, further comprising a coaxial networking bridge, for coupling a satellite signal on the satellite broadcast system with a wireless signal in the wireless communications system, wherein the coaxial network bridge enables the device to receive the satellite signal and the wireless signal.

12. A system for combining a satellite broadcast system with a wireless network, comprising:

a) a wireless network antenna, comprising;

a plurality of antenna elements;

an antenna selection switch, coupled to the plurality of antenna elements; and

a control system, coupled to the antenna selection switch, wherein the control system selectively energizes the plurality of antenna elements to create a communications link to a device in the wireless communications system through the antenna;

b) a satellite receive antenna; and

c) a coaxial networking bridge, coupled to the satellite receive antenna and the wireless network antenna, for coupling a satellite signal on the satellite broadcast system with a wireless signal on the wireless network, wherein the coaxial network bridge enables a device to receive the satellite signal and the wireless signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless system device is mounted with the satellite receive antenna.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless system device is a relay device for at least one wireless device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one wireless device receives the satellite signal.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein a device using the wireless network selectively communicates with the wireless network through the wireless network antenna based on signal characteristics of the device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein communication with the device switches between the wireless network antenna and another antenna in the wireless network during communication with the device.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless antenna serves as a relay for a wireless device.