Method and apparatus for receiving broadcast entertainment transmissions at a moving receiver station
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the reception of broadcast entertainment transmissions at a moving receiver station, comprising:
- a tracking antenna for receiving broadcast entertainment transmissions from a first transmitter having a first coverage area and from a second transmitter having a second, different coverage area;
an antenna controller coupled to said tracking antenna for pointing said tracking antenna toward at least a first set of predetermined coordinates corresponding to the location of said first transmitter and a second set of predetermined coordinates corresponding to the location of said second transmitter and causing said tracking antenna to track said first set of predetermined coordinates or said second set of predetermined coordinates;
a region controller coupled to said antenna controller and receiving position information related to the location of said moving receiver station, said region controller storing coverage area data associated with at least said first and second coverage areas;
said region controller sending a first control signal corresponding to said first set of predetermined coordinates to said antenna controller when said position information and said coverage area data indicates that said moving receiver is within said first coverage area for causing said antenna to track said first transmitter; and
said region controller sending a second control signal corresponding to said second set of predetermined coordinates to said antenna controller when said position information and said coverage area data indicates that said moving receiver is within said second coverage area for causing said antenna to track said second transmitter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure describes a moving receiver station capable of receiving broadcast entertainment signals from a first geostationary satellite associated with a first program provider, or from a second geostationary satellite associated with a second program provider. The receiver station is part of an aircraft and includes a tracking antenna and switching and control system that locks the tracking antenna on either the first or second satellite. The switching and control system receives position information, program attribute information and satellite coverage area information to determine when the aircraft is leaving one coverage area and entering another. The switching and control system switches the antenna to the second satellite when the aircraft enters the second coverage area, and limits the availability of received programming based on whether the aircraft is leaving the first coverage area or entering the second coverage area.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the reception of broadcast entertainment transmissions at a moving receiver station, comprising:
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a tracking antenna for receiving broadcast entertainment transmissions from a first transmitter having a first coverage area and from a second transmitter having a second, different coverage area; an antenna controller coupled to said tracking antenna for pointing said tracking antenna toward at least a first set of predetermined coordinates corresponding to the location of said first transmitter and a second set of predetermined coordinates corresponding to the location of said second transmitter and causing said tracking antenna to track said first set of predetermined coordinates or said second set of predetermined coordinates; a region controller coupled to said antenna controller and receiving position information related to the location of said moving receiver station, said region controller storing coverage area data associated with at least said first and second coverage areas; said region controller sending a first control signal corresponding to said first set of predetermined coordinates to said antenna controller when said position information and said coverage area data indicates that said moving receiver is within said first coverage area for causing said antenna to track said first transmitter; and said region controller sending a second control signal corresponding to said second set of predetermined coordinates to said antenna controller when said position information and said coverage area data indicates that said moving receiver is within said second coverage area for causing said antenna to track said second transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18)
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13. A method of receiving broadcast entertainment transmissions on-board a moving aircraft, comprising:
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receiving position information about a location of said aircraft; receiving first program attribute data related to programs broadcast as part of said broadcast entertainment transmissions; using said position information to determine whether said aircraft is within a range of leaving a first coverage area associated with a first geostationary satellite broadcasting first entertainment transmissions from a first program provider; using said position information, said program attribute information and said determination of whether said aircraft is within a range of leaving said first coverage area to limit the availability of said first broadcast entertainment transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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Specification