ROTATION POINTED ANTENNA FOR FIXED WIRELESS WIDE AREA NETWORKS

• US 20130288593A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• 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., Popoli, Robert F., Shah, Dipak M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/12 wherein the surfaces are concave H01Q19/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/06 over a restricted angle
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18528 Satellite systems for providing two-way communications service to a network of fixed stations, i.e. fixed satellite service or very small aperture terminal [VSAT] system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18597 Arrangements for system physical machines management, i.e. for construction, operations control, administration, maintenance
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for combining signals received from a direct broadcast satellite system with signals received from a wireless network, includes a satellite antenna for receiving the signals from the direct broadcast satellite system; and a wireless network antenna, co-located with the satellite antenna, for receiving the signals from the wireless network. The wireless network antenna includes an antenna assembly that is rotated by a controller based on characteristics of the signals received from the wireless network. The controller energizes and de-energizes a motor to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly to properly align the wireless network antenna to communicate with the wireless network. The wireless network antenna comprises a closed cylinder, wherein the antenna assembly is rotatably mounted within the closed cylinder, such that, upon command from the controller, the motor engages the antenna assembly to mechanically rotate the antenna about a central axis of the closed cylinder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for combining signals received from a direct broadcast satellite system with signals received from a wireless network, comprising:

a satellite antenna for receiving the signals from the direct broadcast satellite system; and

a wireless network antenna, co-located with the satellite antenna, for receiving the signals from the wireless network, wherein the wireless network antenna includes an antenna assembly that is rotated by a controller based on characteristics of the signals received from the wireless network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the signals comprise one or more of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Noise Interference Ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER), and block error/erasure rate (BLER).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller energizes or de-energizes a motor to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly to properly align the wireless network antenna to communicate with the wireless network.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wireless network antenna comprises a closed cylinder and the antenna assembly is rotatably mounted within the closed cylinder, such that, upon command from the controller, the motor engages the antenna assembly to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly about a central axis of the closed cylinder.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless network antenna is omnidirectional during installation, but directional during operation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted with the satellite antenna.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted on an arm that is coupled to a mast of the satellite antenna.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted separately from the satellite antenna.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein either or both the satellite antenna and the wireless network antenna communicate with either or both a home network for the wireless network and a receiver/decoder of the direct broadcast satellite system using a coax cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless network antenna is a repeater for a mobile device that communicates with the home network using a local wireless communications path.

11. A method of combining signals received from a direct broadcast satellite system with signals received from a wireless network, comprising:

receiving the signals from the direct broadcast satellite system at a satellite antenna; and

receiving the signals from the wireless network at a wireless network antenna co-located with the satellite antenna, wherein the wireless network antenna includes an antenna assembly that is rotated by a controller based on characteristics of the signals received from the wireless network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the characteristics of the signals comprise one or more of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Noise Interference Ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER), and block error/erasure rate (BLER).

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller energizes or de-energizes a motor to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly to properly align the wireless network antenna to communicate with the wireless network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless network antenna comprises a closed cylinder and the antenna assembly is rotatably mounted within the closed cylinder, such that, upon command from the controller, the motor engages the antenna assembly to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly about a central axis of the closed cylinder.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless network antenna is omnidirectional during installation, but directional during operation.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted with the satellite antenna.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted on an arm that is coupled to a mast of the satellite antenna.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted separately from the satellite antenna.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein either or both the satellite antenna and the wireless network antenna communicate with either or both a home network for the wireless network and a receiver/decoder of the direct broadcast satellite system using a coax cable.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless network antenna is a repeater for a mobile device that communicates with the home network using a local wireless communications path.

21. An apparatus for communicating with a wireless network, comprising:

a housing;

an antenna assembly mounted within the housing; and

a motor that engages the antenna assembly for mechanically orienting the antenna assembly within the housing to communicate with the wireless network.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the housing is a closed cylinder, the antenna assembly is rotatably mounted within the closed cylinder, and the motor mechanically rotates the antenna assembly about a central axis of the closed cylinder.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the antenna assembly is comprised of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) implementing an antenna and electronics of a broadband wireless modem device, and both the antenna and the electronics are spun about a center axis of the housing.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the antenna assembly is comprised of one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) implementing an antenna and electronics of a broadband wireless modem device, only the antenna is spun about a center axis of the housing, and the electronics are mounted on and fixed to a base of the housing.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the motor is attached to a spacing plate of the antenna assembly, the motor'"'"'s armature serves as a rotation bearing for the antenna assembly, and a rod serves as an upper pivot point, wherein the rod sits in a pilot bushing pressed into the housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the motor is energized and de-energized in response to commands from a controller to properly align the antenna assembly to communicate with the wireless network, based on characteristics of signals received from the wireless network, wherein the characteristics of the signals comprise one or more of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Noise Interference Ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER), and block error/erasure rate (BLER).

27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a mechanism that prevents over-rotation of the antenna assembly.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, further composing a link quality indicator, provisioned on the housing or a base for the housing, that provides a visual status of wireless link quality.