Satellite broadcast receiving and distribution system

• US 7,826,791 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Global Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Global Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Coker, Austin S., Green, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego; Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US12/314,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/98, 455/427, 455/428, 455/14, 455/20, 455/22, 455/179.1, 455/3.01, 455/3.04, 348/E7.04, 348/E7.093, 725/63, 725/67, 725/68
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

The present invention provides a satellite broadcast receiving and distribution system that will permit for the transmission of vertical and horizontal or left-hand circular and right-hand circular polarization signals simultaneously via a single coaxial cable. The system of the present invention will accommodate two different polarity commands from two or more different sources at the same time. This satellite broadcast receiving and distribution system of the present invention will provide for the signals received from the satellite to be converted to standard frequencies so as to permit for signals to travel via existing wiring which the present day amplifiers can transport in buildings, high-rises, hospitals, and the like so that satellite broadcasting can be viewed by numerous individuals by way of a single satellite antenna.

Claims

1. Satellite broadcast receiving and distribution equipment for in use receiving satellite broadcast signals in the form of vertical polarization signals and horizontal polarization signals and/or left-hand circular polarization signals and right-hand circular polarization signals, said receiving and distribution equipment distributing received satellite broadcast signals to a plurality of satellite receivers which supply desired broadcasts to respective sources, the equipment comprising:

a satellite dish that in use receives the satellite broadcast signals in the form of vertical polarization signals and horizontal polarization signals and/or left-hand circular polarization signals and right-hand circular polarization signals;

a head-in processor for in use being coupled to the satellite dish, the head-in processor including a low-noise block converter and having a coaxial output for connection to a coaxial cable that in use distributes received satellite broadcast signals to the plurality of satellite receivers;

said head-in processor including converter circuitry structured to in use convert vertical polarization signals and horizontal polarization signals and/or left-hand circular polarization signals and right-hand circular polarization signals the satellite dish receives into non-interfering signals and apply said converted non-interfering signals simultaneously to the coaxial cable via the coaxial output, the processor in use enabling multiple different frequencies and polarities to be transmitted simultaneously to the plurality of satellite receivers via said single coaxial cable;

the plurality of satellite receivers each having a coaxial cable input for in use being coupled to the coaxial cable, the plurality of satellite receivers each controlling selection of polarization on the coaxial cable to be provided thereto via the coaxial cable input thereof so the satellite receiver can receive and provide desired broadcast signals to a source coupled to said satellite receiver.

2. The satellite broadcast receiving and distribution equipment as in claim 1 further including a power source for in use being coupled to said coaxial cable, said power source in use injecting powers onto said cable.

3. The satellite broadcast receiving and distribution equipment as in claim 1 wherein said converter circuitry in use provides for said received satellite signals of different polarizations to be converted separately and independently to said satellite receivers.

4. The satellite broadcast receiving and distribution equipment as in claim 1 wherein said converter circuitry in use provides for a transmitting means for said signals to be selectively converted to each said satellite receiver via said cable.

5. The satellite broadcast receiving and distribution equipment as in claim 4 further includinq polarity switches for in use being connected to switch between polarizations to be selectively converted to said satellite receivers.

6. The satellite broadcast receiving and distribution equipment as in claim 1 wherein said converter circuitry includes a first mixer for converting said signals of a first direction to a desired first frequency range and second mixer for converting said signals of a second direction to a desired second frequency range.

7. The satellite broadcast receiving and distribution equipment of claim 1 wherein said converter circuitry in use converts to avoid the forbidden conversion area.

8. A frequency translation and distribution method for implementation by satellite broadcast signal receiving equipment of the type that in use receives satellite broadcast signals in the form of vertical polarization signals and horizontal polarization signals and/or left-hand circular polarization signals and right-hand circular polarization signals and distributes the satellite broadcast signals to a plurality of satellite receivers each of which supply selected broadcasts to a respective television, said frequency translation and distribution method comprising:

low noise block frequency converting received broadcast signals in the form of vertical polarization signals and horizontal polarization signals and/or left-hand circular polarization signals and right-hand circular polarization signals into plural frequency-converted polarization blocks;

converting the plural frequency-converted polarization blocks for application to be simultaneously conveying by a common wire to the plurality of satellite receivers such that said converted blocks don'"'"'t overlap in frequency or otherwise interfere with one another on said wire; and

enabling each of the plurality of satellite receivers to command selection of a polarization block conveyed on said wire to be supplied thereto so the satellite receivers can each thereby provide desired satellite broadcasts to associated televisions.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said wire comprises a coaxial cable.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said enabling includes switching independently for each of the plurality of receivers.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plural polarization blocks falls within 950 MHz to 1450 MHz.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein another of said plural polarization blocks occupies a frequency range that is lower than 950 MHz.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein another of said plural blocks occupies a frequency range that is higher than 1450 MHz.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said low noise block frequency converting includes down frequency converting a block and said converting includes further converting the same block.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein said selection comprises further frequency converting.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein said converting avoids a forbidden conversion area.

17. The method of claim 8 further including inserting power onto said cable.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein said plural polarization blocks comprise transponders.

19. The method of claim 8 further including connecting the wire to a splitter.

20. A method for conveying received differently-polarized satellite broadcasts for selection by remote receiver equipment via a common cable, said method comprising:

receiving, over the air with a satellite dish antenna, first satellite broadcast signals having first polarization;

receiving, over the air with the satellite dish antenna, second satellite broadcast signals having second polarization different from the first polarization;

frequency down converting said received first and second satellite broadcast signals and providing non-interfering signals responsive thereto;

applying the non-interfering signals to the common cable for simultaneous conveyance to a plurality of remote satellite receivers each coupled to said common cable; and

enabling each of said remote satellite receivers to command polarization is to be supplied thereto so that different ones of said remote satellite receivers can cause selection of different polarizations such that a first remote satellite receiver can be selectively supplied with at least one transponder derived from first polarization and a second remote satellite receiver can simultaneously be selectively supplied with at least one transponder derived from the first or second polarization.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said frequency down converting comprises low noise block conversion.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said applying comprises diplexing.

23. The method of claim 20 further including avoiding a forbidden conversion area.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said enabling comprises switching between polarizations at least in part in response to commands from said remote satellite receivers.

25. A method for distributing received satellite broadcasts via a cable for use by multiple receiver equipment instances, said method comprising:

concurrently receiving from the sky, with a satellite dish antenna, satellite broadcasts having different polarizations;

converting said received satellite broadcasts to provide plural non-interfering broadcasts of different polarizations;

simultaneously applying said plural non-interfering broadcasts of different polarizations to the single cable for simultaneous conveyance by the same cable to at least first and second satellite receivers; and

enabling each of the first and second satellite receivers to command selection between polarizations to be supplied thereto over the cable for use in making satellite broadcasts available to sources.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said sources comprise televisions.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said enabling comprises switching.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said enabling comprises selective further frequency converting.

29. The method of claim 25 further including switching between said plural polarization blocks to be supplied from the cable to the at least first and second satellite receivers.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said cable comprises a coaxial cable.

31. The method of claim 25 further including injecting power onto said cable.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein said converting includes double frequency converting a polarization block.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein said converting includes avoiding a forbidden conversion area.

34. Equipment for conveying satellite broadcasts for selection by plural satellite receivers via coaxial cable, said equipment comprising:

a dish antenna that in use receives plural polarization blocks of satellite broadcasts having different polarizations;

a low noise block converter coupled to the dish antenna that in use down-converts said polarization blocks of received satellite broadcasts,

a frequency processor coupled to said low noise block converter and responsive to said down-converted polarization blocks of received satellite broadcasts, said frequency processor having at least one coaxial cable output configured to in use be connected to said coaxial cable, said at least one coaxial cable output simultaneously delivering non-interfering satellite broadcasts of multiple polarizations to said coaxial cable for distribution to said plurality of satellite receivers so that said plurality of satellite receivers can supply desired broadcasts to associated sources; and

selection circuitry coupled to said processor and responsive to polarization commands from said satellite receivers that in use selects, for each of said plural satellite receivers, between polarizations to be supplied thereto via the at least one coaxial cable output.

35. Equipment of claim 34 wherein said processor is structured to avoid a forbidden conversion area.

36. Equipment of claim 34 wherein said selection circuitry comprises a switch.

37. Equipment of claim 34 wherein said selection circuitry is configured to be controlled by said satellite receivers.

38. Equipment of claim 34 wherein the coaxial cable comprises a single coaxial cable that in use delivers said non-interfering satellite broadcasts of multiple polarizations to said plurality of satellite receivers.

39. Equipment of claim 34 wherein said sources comprise televisions.

40. Equipment for conveying satellite broadcasts to plural satellite receivers via a single cable, the equipment comprising:

a dish antenna that in use concurrently receives satellite broadcasts of different polarizations from the sky;

a low noise block converter coupled to the dish antenna that in use down-converts said received satellite broadcasts of different polarizations;

a processor coupled to said low noise block converter and responsive to said down-converted received satellite broadcasts of different polarizations, said processor providing a cable output configured to in use be coupled to a single cable leading to plural independently-operable satellite receivers and associated televisions, said processor placing non-interfering satellite broadcasts of different polarizations simultaneously onto said cable output for simultaneous distribution to said plural satellite receivers over the single cable; and

selection circuitry external of said plural satellite receivers that in use accommodates different polarization commands from plural different satellite receivers and associated sources at the same time to select, for each said plural satellite receiver, between polarizations to be supplied thereto.

41. Equipment of claim 40 wherein said processor is structured to avoid a forbidden conversion area.

42. Equipment of claim 40 wherein said selection circuitry comprises at least one switch.

43. Equipment of claim 40 wherein said selection circuitry is configured to be controlled by said satellite receivers.

44. Equipment of claim 40 wherein the single cable is a coaxial cable.

45. Equipment of claim 40 wherein said processor comprises a block frequency converter that converts frequency blocks.