System, apparatus and method for single-channel or multi-channel terrestrial communication

• US 7,308,229 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xanadoo Company
• Original Assignee: Xanadoo Company
• Inventors: Hane, John, Gould, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addy, Anthony S.
• Application Number:
  US09/790,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 303, 455/427, 455/12.1, 455/63.1, 455/272, 455/15, 455/25, 455/39, 455/63.4, 455/67.11, 455/430, 455/114.2, 455/562.1, 455/447, 455/3.06, 455/179.1, 455/188.1, 725/63, 725/67, 725/68, 343878-879, 343/893, 343/840
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A terrestrial radio system for delivering to consumers data transmission services, Internet services, two-way capabilities and single-channel or multi-channel video programming, including national, regional and local television broadcast signals, as well as an apparatus and method thereof. The terrestrial radio system transmits terrestrial signals at satellite-allocated frequencies while mitigating interference with satellite signals to reuse satellite-allocated frequencies.

Claims

1. A single-channel or multi-channel system for receiving terrestrial signals at a provider site from a subscriber, which comprises:

a first directional subscriber antenna at a subscriber location with a main axis directed northward for transmitting the terrestrial signals to the provider site at a satellite-allocated frequency selected from a range of frequencies including;

11.7-12.2 GHz, 17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz, and the satellite-allocated frequency is selected so as to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals;

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site with a main axis directed southward for receiving the terrestrial signals at the selected frequency, wherein the directional subscriber antenna and the directional terrestrial antenna are aligned to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals;

a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location for receiving satellite signals at a second satellite allocated frequency from a satellite based transmitter, wherein the second subscriber antenna and the satellite based transmitter are aligned in a second axis to mitigate interference with the first satellite-allocated frequency;

a plurality of proximal non-subscriber antennas, each with a main axis directed in a direction to avoid interference with the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site; and

processing means at the provider site for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

2. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

3. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein said single-channel or multi-channel system provides the subscriber with interactive television.

4. A single-channel or multi-channel system for receiving terrestrial signals at a provider site from a subscriber, which comprises:

a first subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for transmitting the terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency selected from a range of frequencies including;

17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz, to the provider site;

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for receiving the terrestrial signals from the subscriber at the satellite-allocated frequency;

said subscriber antenna and said directional terrestrial antenna being aligned in a first axis to mitigate interference with satellite signals;

a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location for receiving satellite signals at a second satellite allocated frequency from a satellite based transmitter, wherein the second subscriber antenna and the satellite based transmitter are aligned in a second axis to mitigate interference with the first satellite-allocated frequency, and wherein the first axis is different from the second axis;

a plurality of proximal non-subscriber antennas, each with a main axis directed in a direction to avoid interference with the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site; and

processing means at the provider site for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

5. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 4, further comprising means for transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

6. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 4, wherein said single-channel or multi-channel system provides the subscriber with interactive television.

7. A single-channel or multi-channel system for receiving terrestrial signals at a provider site from a subscriber, which comprises:

a first subscriber antenna with a main axis of radiation directed northward at a subscriber location for transmitting and receiving terrestrial signals to and from the provider site at a first satellite-allocated frequency selected from a range of frequencies including;

11.7-12.2 GHz, 17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz;

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for receiving and transmitting terrestrial signals at the first satellite-allocated frequency, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna and the subscriber antenna are aligned in a first axis;

a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location for receiving satellite signals at a second satellite allocated frequency from a satellite based transmitter wherein the second subscriber antenna and the satellite based transmitter are aligned in a second axis to mitigate interference with the first satellite-allocated frequency;

wherein the second satellite-allocated frequency is different from the first satellite-allocated frequency and the first axis is different from the second axis; and

processing means at the provider site for processing said terrestrial signals into an output.

8. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 7, further comprising means for transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

9. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 7, wherein said single-channel or multi-channel system provides the subscriber with interactive television.

10. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals from a primary provider site to a plurality of secondary provider sites, which comprises:

a primary directional terrestrial antenna at the primary provider site aligned in a first axis for transmitting terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency to the plurality of secondary provider sites;

a secondary directional terrestrial antenna at each of the secondary provider sites aligned in a second axis, wherein the second axis is different from the first axis, for receiving the terrestrial signals at the satellite-allocated frequency from the primary directional terrestrial antenna, said primary directional terrestrial antenna and each of said secondary directional terrestrial antennas being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals; and

a plurality of subscriber antennas for receiving the terrestrial signals from the primary directional antennas and one or more of the secondary directional terrestrial antennas, at a plurality of subscriber locations;

wherein the satellite-allocated frequency is reused by the one or more of the primary directional terrestrial antenna and the secondary directional terrestrial antenna and is selected from a range of frequencies consisting of;

11.7-12.2 GHz, 17.3-17.8 GHz or 41.0-42.5 GHz.

11. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 10, further comprising one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites.

12. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 11, wherein the terrestrial signals are transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites.

13. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 10, further comprising a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

14. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 10, further comprising:

one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites; and

a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals from the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

15. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 14, wherein the terrestrial signals are received at the subscriber location after being directly or indirectly transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

16. A method for receiving terrestrial signals from a subscriber at a provider site, comprising:

transmitting to the provider site from a first directional subscriber antenna at a subscriber location the terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency selected from a range of frequencies consisting of;

frequencies including;

11.7-12.2 GHz, 17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz, and the satellite-allocated frequency is selected so as to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals;

receiving at a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site the terrestrial signals at the selected satellite-allocated frequency, wherein the directional subscriber antenna has a main axis directed northward and the directional terrestrial antenna has a main axis directed southward and wherein the directional subscriber antenna and the directional terrestrial antenna are aligned to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals;

receiving at a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location satellite signals at a second satellite allocated frequency from a satellite based transmitter, wherein the second subscriber antenna and the satellite based transmitter are aligned in a second axis to mitigate interference with the first satellite-allocated frequency;

positioning a plurality of proximal non-subscriber antennas in a direction to avoid interference with the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider side; and

processing at the provider site the terrestrial signals into an output.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said method provides the subscriber with interactive television.

19. A method for receiving terrestrial signals from a subscriber at a provider site, comprising:

transmitting to the provider site from a first subscriber antenna at a subscriber location terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency selected from a range of frequencies including;

17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz;

receiving at a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site the terrestrial signals from the subscriber at the selected satellite-allocated frequency;

said subscriber antenna and said receiving at a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location satellite signals at a second satellite allocated frequency from a satellite based transmitter, wherein the second subscriber antenna and the satellite based transmitter are aligned in a second axis to mitigate interference with the first satellite-allocated frequency, and wherein the first axis is different from the second axis;

positioning a plurality of proximal non-subscriber antennas in a direction to avoid interference with the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site; and

processing means for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said method provides the subscriber with interactive television.

22. A method for receiving terrestrial signals from a subscriber at a provider site, comprising:

transmitting from a first subscriber antenna with a main axis of radiation directed northward at a subscriber location to a provider site terrestrial signals at a first satellite-frequencies including;

11.7-12.2 GHz, 17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz;

allocated frequency selected from a range of frequencies consisting of;

frequencies including;

11.7-12.2 GHz, 17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz;

receiving at a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site terrestrial signals at the first satellite-allocated frequency, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna and the subscriber antenna are aligned in a first axis;

receiving at a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location satellite signals at a second satellite allocated frequency from a satellite based transmitter, wherein the second subscriber antenna and the satellite based transmitter are aligned in a second axis to mitigate interference with the first satellite-allocated frequency;

wherein the second satellite-allocated frequency is different from the first satellite-allocated frequency and the first axis is different from the second axis; and

processing means at the provider site for processing said terrestrial signals into an output.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said method provides the subscriber with interactive television.

25. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals from a primary provider site to a plurality of secondary provider sites, which comprises:

transmitting from a primary directional terrestrial antenna at the primary provider site to the plurality of secondary provider sites the terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency;

receiving from the primary directional terrestrial antenna at a secondary directional terrestrial antenna at each of the secondary provider sites the terrestrial signals at the satellite-allocated frequency, said primary directional terrestrial antenna and each of said secondary directional terrestrial antennas being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals; and

receiving from a plurality of subscriber antennas the terrestrial signals from the primary directional antennas and one or more of the secondary directional terrestrial antennas, at a plurality of subscriber locations;

wherein the satellite-allocated frequency is selected from a range of frequencies including;

11.7-12.2 GHz, 17.3-17.8 GHz and 41.0-42.5 GHz, and is reused by the one or more of the primary directional terrestrial antenna and the secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting the terrestrial signals from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting the terrestrial signals from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting the terrestrial signals to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna; and

transmitting to the subscriber location from the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna the terrestrial signals.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the terrestrial signals are received at the subscriber location after being directly or indirectly transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted from a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location to the secondary directional terrestrial antenna or the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to the primary directional terrestrial antenna.