Coordinate-based system, method and computer program product for adjusting an antenna

• US 7,671,797 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Fear, Andrew C., Herz, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull; Fred H
• Application Number:
  US11/532,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 342/359, 342368-377, 455/69
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided. In use, a plurality of coordinates is identified. Further, at least one aspect of an antenna is adjusted based on the coordinates. In addition, the coordinates include source coordinates that indicate a location of a source of a signal received by the antenna. Additionally, the at least one aspect of the antenna is adjusted includes an orientation of the antenna, where the orientation is further determined based on a strength of the signal received by the antenna.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of coordinates; and

adjusting at least one aspect of an antenna based on the coordinates;

wherein the coordinates include source coordinates indicating a location of a source of a signal received by the antenna;

wherein the source coordinates are updated utilizing a network by communicating an updated set of source coordinates over the network for use in place of a previous set of source coordinates;

wherein the at least one aspect of the antenna that is adjusted includes an orientation of the antenna;

wherein the orientation is further determined based on a strength of the signal received by the antenna and a time of day.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinates include antenna coordinates indicating a location of the antenna.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinates are identified utilizing a global positioning system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinates are identified utilizing manual entry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation is further determined based on an environment of the antenna.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the environment of the antenna includes natural or manmade terrain.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the orientation is further determined based on anticipated reflections associated with the environment of the antenna.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation is determined utilizing a look-up table.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation is further determined based on a frequency of the signal received by the antenna.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation is adjusted utilizing a servo.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna is coupled to a mobile receiver.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a plurality of elements of the antenna is adjusted based on the coordinates.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes at least one of a satellite antenna and a terrestrial antenna.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the coordinates includes utilizing a manually entered address to derive the coordinates.

15. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for identifying a plurality of coordinates; and

computer code for adjusting at least one aspect of an antenna based on the coordinates;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the coordinates include source coordinates indicating a location of a source of a signal received by the antenna;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the source coordinates are updated utilizing a network by communicating an updated set of source coordinates over the network for use in place of a previous set of source coordinates;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the at least one aspect of the antenna that is adjusted includes an orientation of the antenna;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the orientation is further determined based on a strength of the signal received by the antenna and a time of day.

16. A system, comprising:

a controller for adjusting at least one aspect of an antenna based on a plurality of coordinates;

wherein the system is operable such that the coordinates include source coordinates indicating a location of a source of a signal received by the antenna;

wherein the system is operable such that the source coordinates are updated utilizing a network by communicating an updated set of source coordinates over the network for use in place of a previous set of source coordinates;

wherein the system is operable such that the at least one aspect of the antenna that is adjusted includes an orientation of the antenna;

wherein the system is operable such that the orientation is further determined based on a strength of the signal received by the antenna and a time of day.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of coordinates; and

adjusting at least one aspect of an antenna based on the coordinates;

wherein the coordinates include source coordinates indicating a location of a source of a signal received by the antenna;

wherein the source coordinates are updated utilizing a network by communicating an updated set of source coordinates over the network for use in place of a previous set of source coordinates;

wherein the at least one aspect of the antenna that is adjusted includes an orientation of the antenna;

wherein the orientation is further determined based on a strength of the signal received by the antenna;

wherein the source coordinates are updated with at least one of new terrain characteristics and modified terrain characteristics.