SATELLITE COMMUNICATION NETWORK TERMINAL INSTALLATION METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20180097285A1
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Published: 04/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: TANG, Yeqing, WHITEFIELD, David, PUGAONKAR, Aniket, AXELROD, Adam, GHARPURAY, Archana
• Granted Patent: US 10,461,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for installing a terrestrial antenna for a satellite communication network. In the system and method, a remote unit is provided to an installation location for the terrestrial antenna. The remote unit is configured to communicate with a satellite of the satellite communication network and includes a memory in which is stored antenna information pertaining to positioning of the terrestrial antenna with respect to a virtual beam generated by the satellite. The information is accessible by a code. Thus, the antenna information is access from the memory at the installation location using the code, and the terrestrial antenna in relation to a virtual beam generated by the satellite based on the antenna information accessed from the memory at the installation location.

Claims

1. A method for installing a terrestrial antenna for a satellite communication network, the method comprising:

providing a remote unit to an installation location for the terrestrial antenna, the remote unit being configured to communicate with a satellite of the satellite communication network and including a memory in which is stored antenna information pertaining to positioning of the terrestrial antenna with respect to a virtual beam generated by the satellite, the information being accessible by a code;

accessing the antenna information from the memory at the installation location using the code; and

positioning the terrestrial antenna in relation to a virtual beam generated by the satellite based on the antenna information accessed from the memory at the installation location.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the accessing comprises operating a user interface to enter the code and display the antenna information accessed from the memory.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the positioning comprises

pointing the terrestrial antenna in a first pointing direction based on the antenna information;

and

performing a verification operation using the user interface to verify whether the terrestrial antenna pointing in the first pointing direction meets a predetermined condition.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the positioning further comprises

maintaining the terrestrial antenna in the first pointing direction when the verification operation indicates that the terrestrial antenna pointing in the first pointing direction meets the predetermined condition;

and

adjusting the terrestrial antenna to point in a second pointing direction when the verification operation indicates that the terrestrial antenna pointing in the first pointing direction fails to meet the predetermined condition.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein

the performing a verification operation includes performing communication between the remote unit and the satellite and determining whether the communication meets a predetermined condition.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the providing includes storing in the memory a plurality of sets of antenna information, each of the sets of antenna information being accessible by a respective code and including information pertaining to positioning of the terrestrial antenna with respect to a respective virtual beam generated by the satellite.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein

the accessing comprises operating a user interface to enter the code to cause the remote unit to select one of the sets of antenna information that corresponds to the code, and operating the user interface to display the selected antenna information.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the terrestrial antenna includes a satellite dish;

and

the pointing includes pointing the satellite dish in a first pointing direction based on the antenna information.

10. A system for installing a terrestrial antenna for a satellite communication network, the system comprising:

a remote unit comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with a satellite of the satellite communication network, and a memory in which is stored antenna information pertaining to positioning of the terrestrial antenna with respect to a virtual beam generated by the satellite, the information being accessible by a code.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising

a controller, configured to retrieve the antenna information from the memory in response to entry of the code by a user interface, and provide the antenna information to the user interface.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein

the memory stores a plurality of sets of antenna information, each of the sets of antenna information being accessible by a respective code and including information pertaining to positioning of the terrestrial antenna with respect to a respective virtual beam generated by the satellite.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising

a controller, configured to select one of the sets of antenna information from the memory in response to entry of the code by a user interface, and provide the selected antenna information to the user interface.

14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising

a controller, configured to perform testing to verify accuracy of pointing of the terrestrial antenna with respect to the virtual beam.