Method and system for remote diagnostics of a satellite receiver

• US 6,445,907 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Scott, Michael J., Guzman, Jorge H., Middeke, Michael B., Armstrong, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/285,950
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/226.1, 455/12.1, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/427, 455/67.1, 348/563, 348/564
• US Class Current: 455/226.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18519 Operations control, administration or maintenance

Abstract

A method (120) and system (20) for reporting satellite receiver diagnostic information to a remote location is provided. A satellite receiver (24) includes an interface for receiving a service request for diagnostic information, a controller (69) for gathering the diagnostic information in response to the request, and a modem (66) for transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network (32). This arrangement permits remote trouble-shooting by service technicians located at customer service centers.

Claims

1. A satellite receiver, comprising:

an interface for receiving a request for diagnostic information;

a controller, operatively coupled to the interface, for accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request; and

a modem, operatively coupled to the controller, for transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network,

wherein the interface includes a user interface permitting a customer to manually enter the request for the diagnostic information.

2. The satellite receiver of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving the request.

3. The satellite receiver of claim 2, wherein the request is included in an RF transmission from a satellite.

4. The satellite receiver of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes means for generating a graphical user interface (GUI) having a software button permitting the customer to generate the request.

5. The satellite receiver of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information includes information selected from the group consisting of preference settings, configuration information, status information, and operational information.

6. The satellite receiver of claim 1, wherein the satellite receiver is responsive to a command generated by a service center station in response to the diagnostic information.

7. The satellite receiver of claim 1, further comprising an external memory interface, operatively coupled to the controller, for communicating with an external memory.

8. A satellite receiver comprising:

an interface for receiving a request for diagnostic information;

a controller, operatively coupled to the interface, for accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request;

a modem, operatively coupled to the controller, for transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network; and

means for causing the modem to transfer startup information over the telephone network in response to initial activation of the satellite receiver.

9. A satellite receiver, comprising:

an interface for receiving a request for diagnostic information;

a controller, operatively coupled to the interface, for accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request;

a modem, operatively coupled to the controller, for transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network; and

an external memory interface, operatively coupled to the controller, for communicating with an external memory,

wherein the diagnostic information includes information selected from the group consisting of information regarding the external memory interface and information regarding the external memory.

10. A satellite receiver, comprising:

means for receiving a request for diagnostic information;

means for accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request; and

means for transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network,

wherein the receiving means includes means for manually entering the request for the diagnostic information at the satellite receiver.

11. The satellite receiver of claim 10, wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the request from a remote location.

12. In a communication system, a method of obtaining diagnostic information from a satellite receiver, comprising:

providing a request for the diagnostic information to the satellite receiver;

accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request;

transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network to a remote location; and

permitting a customer to manually enter the request for the diagnostic information.

13. The method of claim 12, for resolving problems with the satellite receiver, further comprising:

receiving the diagnostic information at the remote location;

analyzing the diagnostic information to generate a command;

transferring the command to the satellite receiver; and

configuring the satellite receiver based on the command.

14. A communication system, comprising:

a service provider station;

a satellite receiver in communication with a telephone network;

an orbiting satellite for providing a radio frequency (RF) communication link between the service provider station and the satellite receiver; and

a service center station capable of communicating with the satellite receiver over the telephone network;

the satellite receiver being configured to transfer diagnostic information to the service center station over the telephone network in response to a status request,

wherein the satellite receiver includes a user interface permitting a customer to manually enter the request for the diagnostic information.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the satellite receiver includes a modem for communicating over the telephone network.

16. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the service provider transmits data broadcasts.

17. A computer-usable medium storing a software program for directing a programmable satellite receiver having a modem to transfer, via the modem, receiver diagnostic information to a predetermined remote station in response to a status request and for permitting a customer to manually enter the request for the diagnostic information.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 17, wherein the software program includes a routine for gathering the receiver diagnostic information.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 17, wherein the software program includes a routine for receiving the status request over a radio frequency (RF) communication link.

20. A satellite receiver, comprising:

means for receiving a request for diagnostic information;

means for accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request;

means for transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network; and

means for causing the transferring means to transfer startup information over the telephone network in response to initial activation of the satellite receiver.

21. A satellite receiver, comprising:

means for receiving a request for diagnostic information;

means for accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request;

means for transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network;

means for communicating with an external memory,

wherein the diagnostic information includes information selected from the group consisting of information regarding the communicating means and information regarding the external memory.

22. In a communication system, a method of obtaining diagnostic information from a satellite receiver, comprising:

providing a request for the diagnostic information to the satellite receiver;

accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request;

transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network to a remote location; and

causing the modem to transfer startup information over the telephone network in response to initial activation of the satellite receiver.

23. In a communication system, a method of obtaining diagnostic information from a satellite receiver, comprising:

providing a request for the diagnostic information to the satellite receiver;

accessing the diagnostic information in response to the request;

transferring the diagnostic information over a telephone network to a remote location;

communicating with an external memory via an external memory interface; and

including in the diagnostic information, information selected from the group consisting of information regarding the external memory interface and information regarding the external memory.

24. A communication system, comprising:

a service provider station;

a satellite receiver in communication with a telephone network;

an orbiting satellite for providing a radio frequency (RF) communication link between the service provider station and the satellite receiver; and

a service center station capable of communicating with the satellite receiver over the telephone network,

wherein the satellite receiver is configured to transfer diagnostic information to the service center station via modem over the telephone network in response to a status request, and

the satellite receiver is configured to cause the modem to transfer startup information over the telephone network in response to initial activation of the satellite receiver.

25. A communication system, comprising:

a service provider station;

a satellite receiver in communication with a telephone network and including an external memory interface, operatively coupled to a controller, for communicating with an external memory;

an orbiting satellite for providing a radio frequency (RF) communication link between the service provider station and the satellite receiver; and

a service center station capable of communicating with the satellite receiver over the telephone network,

wherein the satellite receiver is configured to transfer diagnostic information to the service center station over the telephone network in response to a status request, and

the diagnostic information includes information selected from the group consisting of information regarding the external memory interface and information regarding the external memory.

26. A computer-usable medium storing a software program for directing a programmable satellite receiver having a modem to transfer, via the modem, receiver diagnostic information to a predetermined remote station in response to a status request and for causing the modem to transfer startup information over the telephone network in response to initial activation of the satellite receiver.

27. A computer-usable medium storing a software program for directing a programmable satellite receiver having a modem to transfer, via the modem, receiver diagnostic information to a predetermined remote station in response to a status request, for communicating with an external memory via an external memory interface, and for including in the diagnostic information, information selected from the group consisting of information regarding the external memory interface and information regarding the external memory.