Multimedia two-way communication terminal
First Claim
1. A bidirectional multimedia communication terminal comprising two orientable antennas for sending/receiving radio signals conveying multimedia data, an electronic signal processor for processing signals received or to be sent via said antennas, a pointing system associated with each antenna for pointing the respective antenna at a predetermined satellite from a constellation of non-geostationary satellites forming part of a multimedia telecommunication system, and a switching system for selectively switching the transmission of multimedia data between the terminal and the satellites of said constellation from a satellite at which one of said antennas is pointed to another satellite at which the other antenna is pointed, so as to guarantee continuous transmission of a data stream between said terminal and said constellation, said pointing system including an antenna orientation unit associated with each antenna and a control unit for controlling said orientation units on the basis of data on the position of said terminal in a frame of reference tied to the Earth and on ephemerides of visible satellites of said constellation supplied by a mission center of said constellation, said terminal further including a terminal positioning system for delivering said data on the position of said terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bidirectional multimedia communication terminal with two orientable antennas for sending/receiving radio signals conveying multimedia data, electronic signal processors for processing signals received/sent via the antennas, a pointing system for pointing each antenna at a predetermined satellite from a constellation of non-geostationary satellites forming part of a multimedia telecommunication system, and a switching system for selectively switching the transmission of multimedia data between the terminal and the satellites of the constellation from the satellite at which one of the antennas is pointed to the satellite at which the other antenna is pointed. The pointing system includes an antenna orientation unit associated with each antenna and a control unit for controlling the orientation units on the basis of data on the position of the terminal in a frame of reference tied to the Earth and on ephemerides of visible satellites of the constellation.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A bidirectional multimedia communication terminal comprising two orientable antennas for sending/receiving radio signals conveying multimedia data, an electronic signal processor for processing signals received or to be sent via said antennas, a pointing system associated with each antenna for pointing the respective antenna at a predetermined satellite from a constellation of non-geostationary satellites forming part of a multimedia telecommunication system, and a switching system for selectively switching the transmission of multimedia data between the terminal and the satellites of said constellation from a satellite at which one of said antennas is pointed to another satellite at which the other antenna is pointed, so as to guarantee continuous transmission of a data stream between said terminal and said constellation, said pointing system including an antenna orientation unit associated with each antenna and a control unit for controlling said orientation units on the basis of data on the position of said terminal in a frame of reference tied to the Earth and on ephemerides of visible satellites of said constellation supplied by a mission center of said constellation, said terminal further including a terminal positioning system for delivering said data on the position of said terminal.
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11. A bidirectional multimedia communication terminal comprising:
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two orientable antennas for sending/receiving radio signals conveying multimedia data;
an electronic signal processor for processing signals received or to be sent via said antennas;
an antenna orientation unit associated with each antenna for pointing the respective antenna at a predetermined satellite from a constellation of non-geostationary satellites forming part of a multimedia telecommunication system;
a control unit for controlling said orientation units on the basis of data on the position of said terminal in a frame of reference tied to the Earth and on ephemerides of visible satellites of said constellation of non-geostationary satellites;
means for receiving said ephemerides from a mission center and for transmitting them to said control unit;
a switching system for selectively switching the transmission of multimedia data between the terminal and the satellites of said constellation from a satellite at which one of said antennas is pointed to another satellite at which the other antenna is pointed, so as to guarantee continuous transmission of a data stream between said terminal and said constellation; and
a terminal positioning system for delivering said data on the position of said terminal, said positioning system being built into said terminal and including an antenna for receiving GPS signals sent by satellites of a GPS constellation, an electronic circuit card for processing said GPS signals, and an interface for communication with said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification