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Distribution of satellite television programs to passengers in an aircraft when it is out of range of the satellites

  • US 5,801,751 A
  • Filed: 06/19/1996
  • Issued: 09/01/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A satellite television system that distributes television programs to passengers on an aircraft derived from direct broadcast satellites, said system comprising:

  • an antenna that comprises steering means for steering the antenna toward the satellites in response to control signals supplied thereto;

    antenna control means for providing the control signals to the antenna and for processing status signals derived from the antenna to steer the antenna so that it is locked onto encoded RF signals transmitted by the satellite, and for downconverting the encoded RF signals to provide encoded left hand and right hand circularly polarized RF signals that correspond to a plurality of encoded television channels;

    a receiver coupled to the antenna control means for processing the downconverted encoded RF signals to provide encoded video and audio output signals corresponding to at least one television channel;

    a storage medium coupled to the receiver for storing the encoded video and audio signals;

    a modulator coupled to the receiver for selectively modulating the downconverted encoded video and audio signals when the aircraft is within a coverage area of the satellites, and the stored encoded video and audio signals when the aircraft is outside the coverage area of the satellites; and

    a video and audio distribution system coupled to the modulator for distributing the modulated and encoded video and audio signals for viewing by the passengers.

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