Method and apparatus for connecting primary and diverse sites in a satellite communication system

• US 7,783,248 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ladrach, Wayne, Comeaux, Cecilia C., Basse, Hanno, Mui, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/529,950
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/3.2, 455/10, 455/133, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for connecting a primary uplink site and a diverse uplink site includes a satellite and a communication line that couples the primary uplink site and the diverse uplink site. The primary uplink site receives television signals and communicates the signals over the communication line using a video-over-internet protocol. The primary site forms primary uplink signals and selectively communicates the primary uplink signals to the satellite. The diverse uplink site receives the television signals from the primary uplink site through the communication line and forms the diverse uplink signals and selectively communicates the diverse uplink signals to the satellite.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a satellite;

a communication line;

a primary uplink site receiving television signals and communicating the television signals over the communication line using a video over internet protocol, said primary site forming primary uplink signals and selectively communicating the primary uplink signals to the satellite; and

a diverse uplink site receiving the television signals from the primary uplink site through the communication line and forming diverse uplink signals from the television signals and selectively communicating the diverse uplink signals to the satellite when the primary site is not communicating the primary uplink signals.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the television signals comprise digital baseband television signals.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary uplink signal and the diverse uplink signal comprises a Ka band uplink signal.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary uplink signal and the diverse uplink signal comprises a digital television signal.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary uplink signal and the diverse uplink signal comprises a high-definition digital television signal.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the communication line is a dedicated communication line.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a television signal at a primary site;

broadcasting the television signal through a satellite from the primary site;

communicating the television signal through a communication line using a video over internet protocol;

receiving the television signal from the communication line; and

broadcasting the television signal through the satellite from the diverse site when the primary site is not broadcasting the television signal.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein communicating the television signal comprises continually communicating the television signal through the communication line.

9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein communicating the television signal comprises communicating the television signal at a digital baseband.

10. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein broadcasting the television signal through a satellite from the primary site comprises broadcasting the television signal at an upconverted frequency.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the upconverted frequency comprises a Ka band.

12. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein broadcasting the television signal through the satellite from the diverse site comprises broadcasting the television signals at an upconverted frequency.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the upconverted frequency comprises a Ka band.

14. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the television signal comprises a digital television signal.

15. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the television signal comprises a high-definition digital television signal.

16. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the communication line is a dedicated communication line.