Transponder plot system and method

• US 6,362,772 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Loral Skynet Corporation (MHR Holdings LLC (New York))
• Original Assignee: Loral Spacecom Corp.
• Inventors: McDowell, David H., Skotch, Derwin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US09/580,046
• Time in Patent Office: 668 Days
• Field of Search: 342/42-52, 342/450-565, 342/175, 342/192, 342/193-197, 342/29-32, 342/36, 342/37, 342/38, 342/39, 342/40, 342/41, 342/385, 342/417, 342/442, 342/352-358, 340/988-995, 340/501, 340/505
• US Class Current: 342/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18519 Operations control, administration or maintenance

Abstract

A system and method for providing remote viewing of satellite transponder plots. The system and method piovides for remote viewing of transponder plots derived from transponders located on a satellite that communicate with ground terminals having an antenna. The system comprises an antenna switch for receiving transponder signals from the antenna. A spectrum analyzer is coupled to the antenna switch for generating transponder plots. An equipment control computer is coupled to the antenna switch and the spectrum analyzer that selectively routes signals from the antenna switch to the spectrum analyzer and routes transponder plots generated by the spectrum analyzer. A server computer is coupled to the equipment control computer that stores the transponder plots generated by the spectrum analyzer that are routed by the equipment control computer. One or more remotely located client computers are coupled to the server computer that each comprise a software program for remotely viewing the transponder plots stored on the server computer. In a exemplary method, transponder plots derived from data received by the antennas are selectively generated. The transponder plots are stored on the server computer. The transponder plots stored on the server computer are remotely viewed from one or more remotely located client computers using the computer program.

Claims

1. A system that provides for remote viewing of satellite transponder plots derived from transponders located on a satellite that communicate with ground terminals that each have an antenna, comprising:

an antenna switch for receiving transponder signals from the antenna;

a spectrum analyzer coupled to the antenna switch for generating transponder plots;

an equipment control computer coupled to the antenna switch and the spectrum analyzer for selectively routing signals from the antenna switch to the spectrum analyzer and for routing transponder plots generated by the spectrum analyzer;

a server computer coupled to the equipment control computer that stores the transponder plots generated by the spectrum analyzer and routed by the equipment control computer;

one or more remotely located client computers coupled to the server computer that comprise a software program for remotely viewing the transponder plots stored on the server computer.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the client computers are coupled to the server computer by a communication link.

3. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the client computers are coupled to the server computer by a network.

4. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the software program comprises a spreadsheet program, and a macro or a dedicated plot viewer.

5. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the software program comprises a dedicated plot viewer.

6. A method for remotely viewing satellite transponder plots derived from transponders located on a satellite that communicate with ground terminals that each have an antenna, comprising:

selectively generating transponder plots derived from data received by the antennas;

storing the transponder plots on a server computer; and

remotely viewing the transponder plots stored on the server computer from one or more remotely located client computers.

7. The method recited in claim 6 wherein the transponder plots are remotely viewable using a software program disposed on the one or more remotely located client computers.

8. The method recited in claim 7 wherein the software program comprises a spreadsheet program and a macro or a dedicated plot viewer.

9. The method recited in claim 7 wherein the software program comprises a dedicated plot viewer.