Satellite communications terminal for a ship and associated methods
DCFirst Claim
1. A satellite communications terminal for a ship and comprising:
- an antenna comprising three antenna feeds operable at respective different frequencies;
communications circuitry coupled to said three antenna feeds and being configurable for a selected antenna feed;
a positioner to mount said antenna to the ship and point said antenna; and
a controller to select an antenna feed, configure said communications circuitry, and operate said positioner to point said antenna to a selected satellite all based upon the location of the ship and at least one selection rule, the at least one selection rule comprising at least one of a communications circuitry configuration rule and a service level agreement rule.
8 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite communications terminal for a ship may include an antenna with three antenna feeds operable at respective different frequencies, and communications circuitry coupled to the three antenna feeds and being configurable for a selected antenna feed. The terminal also includes a positioner to mount the antenna to the ship and point the antenna. A controller may select an antenna feed, configure the communications circuitry, and operate the positioner to point the antenna to a selected satellite all based upon the location of the ship and at least one selection rule. The selection rule may be a communications circuitry configuration rule and/or a service level agreement rule.
37 Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A satellite communications terminal for a ship and comprising:
-
an antenna comprising three antenna feeds operable at respective different frequencies; communications circuitry coupled to said three antenna feeds and being configurable for a selected antenna feed; a positioner to mount said antenna to the ship and point said antenna; and a controller to select an antenna feed, configure said communications circuitry, and operate said positioner to point said antenna to a selected satellite all based upon the location of the ship and at least one selection rule, the at least one selection rule comprising at least one of a communications circuitry configuration rule and a service level agreement rule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A satellite communications terminal for a ship and comprising:
-
an antenna comprising three antenna feeds operable at respective different frequencies; said antenna comprising a main reflector cooperating with said three antenna feeds, and a subreflector spaced from said main reflector; communications circuitry coupled to said three antenna feeds and being configurable for a selected antenna feed; a positioner to mount said antenna to the ship and point said antenna; and a controller to select an antenna feed, configure said communications circuitry, and operate said positioner to point said antenna to a selected satellite all based upon the location of the ship and at least one selection rule, the at least one selection rule comprising at least one of a communications circuitry configuration rule and a service level agreement rule; said controller comprising a processor and a memory coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
24. A method for operating a satellite communications terminal for a ship comprising an antenna comprising three antenna feeds operable at respective different frequencies, communications circuitry coupled to the three antenna feeds and being configurable for a selected antenna feed, and a positioner to mount the antenna to the ship and point the antenna, the method comprising:
operating a controller to select an antenna feed, configure the communications circuitry, and operate the positioner to point the antenna to a selected satellite all based upon the location of the ship and at least one selection rule, the at least one selection rule comprising at least one of a communications circuitry configuration rule and a service level agreement rule.
-
31. A satellite communications terminal for a ship and comprising:
-
an antenna comprising three antenna feeds operable at respective different frequencies; communications circuitry coupled to said three antenna feeds and being configurable for a selected antenna feed; a positioner to mount said antenna to the ship and point said antenna; and a controller to select an antenna feed, configure said communications circuitry, and operate said positioner to point said antenna to a selected satellite all based upon the location of the ship and at least one selection rule, said controller storing antenna pointing data for different satellite footprints and different ship locations, and operating said positioner according to the antenna pointing data. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A satellite communications terminal for a ship and comprising:
-
an antenna comprising three antenna feeds operable at respective different frequencies; communications circuitry coupled to said three antenna feeds and being configurable for a selected antenna feed; a positioner to mount said antenna to the ship and point said antenna; and a controller to select an antenna feed, configure said communications circuitry, and operate said positioner to point said antenna to a selected satellite all based upon the location of the ship and at least one selection rule, said controller comprising a remote override interface to permit a remote station to override at least one of selection of the antenna feed, configuration of said communications circuitry, and pointing of said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification