U.S. patent application number 15/906585 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-05 for satellite reception assembly installation and maintenance.
The applicant listed for this patent is Maxlinear, Inc.. Invention is credited to Glenn Chang, Curtis Ling, Sridhar Ramesh.
Application Number | 20180191427 15/906585 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51728602 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180191427 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Glenn ; et
al. |
July 5, 2018 |
Satellite Reception Assembly Installation and Maintenance
Abstract
A direct broadcast satellite (DBS) reception assembly may
receive a desired satellite signal and process the desired
satellite signal for output to a gateway. The DBS assembly may also
receive one or more undesired satellite signals and determine a
performance metric of the one or more undesired satellite signals.
The elevation angle of the assembly and/or the azimuth angle of the
assembly may be adjusted based on the performance metric(s) of the
undesired satellite signal(s). The adjusting of the elevation angle
and/or the azimuth angle may comprise electronically steering a
directivity of a receive radiation pattern of the DBS reception
assembly and/or mechanically steering one or more components of the
assembly via motors, servos, actuators, MEMS, and/or the like. The
performance metric may be received signal strength of the undesired
signals, received signal strength of the desired signal, SNR of the
desired signal, and/or SNR of the undesired signals.
Inventors: |
Chang; Glenn; (Carlsbad,
CA) ; Ling; Curtis; (Carlsbad, CA) ; Ramesh;
Sridhar; (Carlsbad, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maxlinear, Inc. |
Carlsbad |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51728602 |
Appl. No.: |
15/906585 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14245658 |
Apr 4, 2014 |
9912402 |
|
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15906585 |
|
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61808405 |
Apr 4, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/18523
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/185 20060101
H04B007/185 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: in a direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
reception assembly: receiving a desired satellite signal; receiving
one or more undesired satellite signals; determining a performance
metric of said one or more undesired satellite signals; and
adjusting an elevation angle of said DBS reception assembly and/or
azimuth angle of said DBS reception assembly based on said
performance metric of said one or more undesired satellite
signals.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusting said elevation
angle and/or said azimuth angle comprises electronically steering a
directivity of a receive radiation pattern of said DBS reception
assembly.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said DBS reception assembly
comprises one or more electromechanical systems, and said adjusting
performed mechanically via said one or more electromechanical
systems.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said performance metric is
received signal strength.
5. The method of claim 4, comprising, during said adjusting,
seeking a value of said azimuth angle and/or a value of said
elevation angle that corresponds to a minimum of said received
signal strength.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said performance metric is
signal-to-noise ratio.
7. The method of claim 6, comprising: demodulating said one or more
undesired signals via one or more demodulators of said DBS
reception assembly, said demodulating resulting in one or more
demodulated undesired signals; and determining said
signal-noise-ratio based on said one or more demodulated undesired
signals.
8. The method of claim 1, comprising: determining a performance
metric of said desired satellite signal; and adjusting said
elevation angle and/or said azimuth angle based on said signal
strength of said desired signal.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein: said desired satellite signal is
in a first frequency band; each of said one or more undesired
signals is in a respective one of one or more second frequency
bands; said performance metric of said desired signal is
signal-to-noise ratio; and said determining said signal-to-noise
ratio comprises: digitizing a block of frequencies encompassing
said first frequency band and said one or more second frequency
bands; performing a fast Fourier transform on said digitized block
of frequencies; and measuring signal strength in one or more guard
bands between said first frequency band and said one or more second
frequency bands.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said desired signal emanates
from a first satellite in a first orbital slot, and said one or
more undesired signals emanate from one or more second satellites
in a corresponding one or more second orbital slots adjacent to
said first orbital slot.
11. A system, comprising: circuitry for use in a direct broadcast
satellite (DBS) reception assembly, wherein said circuitry is
operable to: receive a desired satellite signal; receive one or
more undesired satellite signals; determine a performance metric of
said one or more undesired satellite signals; and adjust an
elevation angle of said DBS reception assembly and/or azimuth angle
of said DBS reception assembly based on said performance metric of
said one or more undesired satellite signals.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein said DBS reception assembly
comprises circuitry and an array of antennas operable to adjust a
directivity of a receive radiation pattern of said DBS reception
assembly during reception of said desired signal and said one or
more undesired signals.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein said DBS reception assembly
comprises one or more electromechanical systems, and said
adjustment is performed mechanically via said one or more
electromechanical systems.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein said performance metric is
received signal strength.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said circuitry is operable to,
during said adjustment, seek a value of said azimuth angle and/or a
value of said elevation angle that corresponds to a minimum of said
received signal strength.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein said performance metric is
signal-to-noise ratio.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said circuitry is operable to:
demodulate said one or more undesired signals via one or more
demodulators of said DBS reception assembly, said demodulation
resulting in one or more demodulated undesired signals; and
determine said signal-noise-ratio based on said one or more
demodulated undesired signals.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein said circuitry is operable to:
determine a performance metric of said desired satellite signal;
and adjust said elevation angle and/or said azimuth angle based on
said signal strength of said desired signal.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein: said desired satellite signal
is in a first frequency band; each of said one or more undesired
signals is in a respective one of one or more second frequency
bands; said performance metric of said desired signal is
signal-to-noise ratio; and said determination of said
signal-to-noise ratio comprises: digitization a block of
frequencies encompassing said first frequency band and said one or
more second frequency bands; performing a fast Fourier transform on
said digitized block of frequencies; and measuring signal strength
in one or more guard bands between said first frequency band and
said one or more second frequency bands.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein said desired signal emanates
from a first satellite in a first orbital slot, and said one or
more undesired signals emanate from one or more second satellites
in a corresponding one or more second orbital slots adjacent to
said first orbital slot.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority to the following
application(s), each of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference: [0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/245,658
titled "Satellite Dish Installation and Maintenance" filed on Apr.
4, 2014. [0003] U.S. provisional patent application 61/808,405
titled "Satellite Dish Installation and Maintenance" filed on Apr.
4, 2013.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0004] The entirety of each of the following applications is hereby
incorporated herein by reference: [0005] U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/157,028 titled "Satellite Reception Assembly with
Phased Horn Array" filed on Jan. 16, 2014.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A satellite television system may comprise a low noise block
downconverter (LNB) which is generally co-located with a satellite
reception assembly (e.g., a "dish") in the satellite television
system. The conventional LNB may be operable to amplify a received
radio frequency (RF) satellite signal and convert such signal to
lower frequencies such as, for example, intermediate frequencies
(IF). Presently, satellite television systems have become
ubiquitous, primarily due to reductions in the cost of satellite
television reception technology. A plurality of satellite
television systems may be in a neighborhood.
[0007] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and
traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the
art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention
as set forth in the remainder of the present application with
reference to the drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A system and/or method for an Internet protocol LNB
supporting sensors, substantially as shown in and/or described in
connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more
completely in the claims.
[0009] Various advantages, aspects and novel features of the
present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment
thereof, will be more fully understood from the following
description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2A shows an example satellite reception assembly
configured for mechanical alignment.
[0012] FIG. 2B shows an example satellite reception assembly
configured for alignment using beamforming.
[0013] FIG. 3A shows an example satellite reception assembly on
which beams from three satellites are incident.
[0014] FIG. 3B shows a graph of a performance metric for the
satellite signals of FIG. 3A.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows example circuitry of a signal processing
subassembly operable to perform alignment based on received signal
characteristics.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example process for
aligning a satellite reception assembly based on received signal
characteristics.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As utilized herein the terms "circuits" and "circuitry"
refer to physical electronic components (i.e., hardware) and any
software and/or firmware ("code") which may configure the hardware,
be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with
the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor
and memory may comprise a first "circuit" when executing a first
one or more lines of code and may comprise a second "circuit" when
executing a second one or more lines of code. As utilized herein,
"and/or" means any one or more of the items in the list joined by
"and/or". As an example, "x and/or y" means any element of the
three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, "x, y,
and/or z" means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y),
(z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the
term "exemplary" means serving as a non-limiting example, instance,
or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms "e.g.," and "for
example" set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples,
instances, or illustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is
"operable" to perform a function whenever the circuitry comprises
the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform
the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is
disabled, or not enabled, by some user-configurable setting.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a communication
system 100. The communication system 100 comprises a satellite
101.sub.1, a satellite headend 120, a communication network 130, a
data center 180, and customer premises 106. The premises 106 may
be, for example, a house, multi-dwelling unit, or office. The
premises 106 comprises a satellite reception assembly 102 and a
gateway 105.
[0019] In the example implementation depicted, the satellite
reception assembly 102 comprises a parabolic reflector 176 and a
subassembly 103 mounted (e.g., bolted or welded) to a support
structure 178 which, in turn, comprises a boom 190 and attaches
(e.g., via bolts) to the premises 106 (e.g., to the roof). At least
a portion of the subassembly 103 may be mounted at or near the
focal point of the reflector 176. The subassembly 103 may comprise
one or more antennas 108 and circuitry for processing signals
received via the antenna(s), as described below with reference to
FIG. 4. The antenna(s) 108 may comprise a plurality of fixed feed
horns as in a conventional DBS reception assembly. Alternatively,
the antenna(s) 108 may comprise a phased-array of feed horns or
planar antenna elements. An example implementation of the
subassembly 103 is described below with reference to FIG. 4.
[0020] The gateway 105 is operable to receive data (e.g.,
television content, data from the Internet, etc.) from the
satellite reception assembly 102 via cable(s) 184. The gateway 105
may transmit data onto and receive data from the WAN 130 via
broadband connection 188. The gateway 105 may transmit data to and
receive data from user equipment 128 (e.g., a television, speakers,
computer, and/or the like) via connections 186 (e.g.,
point-to-point audio and/or video connections such as HDMI and/or
IP-based connections such as Ethernet).
[0021] The satellite headend 120 comprises circuitry operable to
communicate data to satellite 101.sub.1 via uplink 121. Such data
may include data for configuring/controlling the satellite
101.sub.1 and content which is retransmitted on the downlink 123
for reception by assemblies such as 102
[0022] The data center 180 comprises circuitry operable to store
and communicate data to and from assembly 102 via the gateway 105,
for example. The data may include, for example, information about
signal reception by the assembly (e.g., performance metrics such as
signal-to-noise ratio for one or more frequency bands) and/or
information about a configuration (e.g., azimuth and/or elevation
angles or other metrics characterizing an alignment of the
assembly) The data center 180 may process and/or aggregate the data
from multiple assemblies. The aggregated data may be analyzed and
used for configuring one or more satellite assemblies such as 102
(e.g., sending instructions for particular assemblies to change
their alignment) and/or for configuring the satellite
101.sub.1.
[0023] The communication network 130 comprises circuitry operable
to provide wide area network (WAN) services via various
communication technologies such as, for example, DOCSIS, DSL,
Carrier Ethernet, ATM, Frame Relay, ISDN, x.25 and/or other
suitable WN technology. For example, the communication network 130
may provide access to the Internet.
[0024] In operation, the satellite reception assembly 102 may be
operable to dynamically autonomously align itself using
electromechanical adjustment of the physical alignment of the
assembly 102 (e.g., as described below with reference to FIG. 2A)
and/or electronic steering of the receive pattern of the assembly
102 (e.g., as described below with reference to FIG. 2B). In this
manner, the satellite reception assembly 102 may be operable to
automatically compensate for misalignment during installation, due
to wind, due to vibration, and/or the like.
[0025] FIG. 2A shows an example satellite reception assembly
configured for mechanical alignment. The example satellite
reception assembly 102 in FIG. 2A comprises the subassembly 103,
antenna(s) 108, reflector 176, support structure 110, and cable 184
previously discussed. The example satellite reception assembly 102
in FIG. 2A also comprises mechanical alignment assembly 501.
[0026] The mechanical alignment subassembly 501 may comprise, for
example, first one or more first motors, servos, actuators,
microelectromechanical systems, or the like for controlling azimuth
angle of the satellite reception assembly 102 motor, and one or
more second motors, servos, actuators, or the like for controlling
elevation angle of the satellite reception assembly 102. The
example mechanical alignment subassembly 501 is controlled by
circuitry in the signal processing subassembly 103 via cable 208.
Generation of the signals for adjusting the alignment may be as
described below with reference to FIGS. 3A-5.
[0027] FIG. 2B shows an example satellite reception assembly
configured for alignment using beamforming. The example satellite
reception assembly 102 in FIG. 2B comprises the subassembly 103,
antenna(s) 108, reflector 176, support structure 110, and cable 184
previously discussed. Explicitly shown in FIG. 2B, however, is that
the antenna(s) 108 may comprise a one or two-dimensional array of
antenna elements (e.g., feed horns, microstrip patches, and/or the
like) for creating an antenna pattern having one or more beams the
directivity of which is/are dynamically adjustable during operation
of the satellite reception assembly 102. Example details of such a
satellite reception assembly are provided in the above-incorporated
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/157,028.
[0028] FIG. 3A shows an example satellite reception assembly on
which beams from three satellites are incident. Shown again is the
DBS satellite 101.sub.1 along with two other DBS satellites
101.sub.2 and 101.sub.3. The three satellites 101.sub.1-101.sub.3
may reside, for example, in three adjacent orbital slots (e.g.,
101.sub.1 may be separated from 101.sub.2 by approximately
-3.degree. and from 101.sub.3 by approximately +3.degree.). The
satellite 101.sub.1 is transmitting signal 302.sub.1, the satellite
101.sub.2 is transmitting signal 302.sub.2 and the satellite
101.sub.3 is transmitting signal 302.sub.3. For purposes of
illustration, it is assumed that it is desired for the satellite
reception assembly 102 to receive the signal 302.sub.1 (e.g.,
because a gateway 105 is requesting content carried in signal
302.sub.1) and that the signals 302.sub.2 and 302.sub.3 are
undesired signals (e.g., because no gateway 105 connected to the
assembly 102 is requesting data carried in signals 302.sub.2 and
302.sub.3).
[0029] In another implementation, the reflector 176 may be formed
to have multiple focal points, and the subassembly 103 may comprise
multiple antennas (or antenna arrays) 108, each positioned at a
corresponding focal point. For example, in FIG. 3 the reflector 176
may have three focal points and the assembly 103 may comprise three
steerable arrays 108, each of which is at a respective one of the
three focal points. In such an implementation, the optimal
alignment may be determined by looking at the received signal
strength of all three desired signals simultaneously via the three
antennas/antenna arrays.
[0030] FIG. 3B shows a graph of a performance metric for the
satellite signals of FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3B the Y axis corresponds to
the performance metric (e.g., received signal strength or
signal-to-noise ratio) and the X axis corresponds to angle of the
satellite reception assembly. For clarity and simplicity of
illustration, a two-dimensional line graph representing only one of
the two angles (azimuth and elevation) is presented, however the
same concepts apply for a three-dimensional surface graph with the
Z axis corresponding to the other of the two angles. The
lightweight solid line 352.sub.1 corresponds to the performance
metric for the desired signal 302.sub.1. The lightweight solid line
352.sub.2 corresponds to the performance metric for the undesired
signal 302.sub.2. The lightweight solid line 352.sub.3 corresponds
to the performance metric for the undesired signal 302.sub.3. The
heavy dashed line 356 corresponds to the sum of the two lines
352.sub.2 and 352.sub.3.
[0031] In an example implementation, the measured or estimated
performance metric of undesired signal(s) may be used for
aligning/tuning the satellite reception assembly 102 instead of, or
in addition to, using a measured or estimated performance metric
for desired signal(s).
[0032] Use of the performance metric of the undesired signals
instead of the performance metric of the desired signal may improve
alignment/tuning because the peak of the performance metric for the
desired signal may be relatively flat over a relatively broad range
of azimuth and/or elevation angles, whereas the performance metric
of the undesired signals may increase/decrease rapidly over small
angular changes.
[0033] Use of the performance metric of the undesired signals in
combination with the performance metric of the desired signal may
improve alignment/tuning because the peak of the performance metric
for the desired signals may occur at a first combination of
elevation and/or azimuth and the null of the combined interference
may occur at a second combination of elevation and/or azimuth.
Accordingly, there may be some combination of azimuth and elevation
that is an optimal compromise between the first combination and
second combination.
[0034] In FIG. 3B, for example, the maximum of line 352.sub.1
(within the resolution of the circuitry performing the measurement
or estimation) spans the range of angles indicated as 310 whereas
the minimum of line 356 (within the resolution of the circuitry
performing the measurement or estimation) spans only 308, where
308<310. Accordingly, aligning based on a seeking of the minimum
of 356 (instead of or in addition to seeking the maximum of
352.sub.1) may provide an alignment of the satellite reception
assembly 102 that maximizes (within tolerances) the signal-to-noise
ratio of the desired signal 352.sub.1. An example method for
aligning the satellite reception assembly 102 based on the
performance metric(s) is described below with reference to FIG.
5.
[0035] Shown in FIG. 4 is example circuitry of a signal processing
subassembly operable to perform alignment based on received signal
characteristics. The example subassembly 103 comprises feedhorn(s)
108, RF/Analog front-end circuitry 402, analog-to-digital
converters (ADCs) 404.sub.1-404.sub.3, digital circuitry 406,
spectrum analysis circuitry 410, and alignment control circuitry
412.
[0036] The front-end 402 is operable to perform RF/analog domain
processing of signals captured by the antenna(s) 108. Such
processing may include, for example, amplifying, downconverting,
and filtering. In an example implementation, the downconversion may
be from K-band to L-band. Where the antenna(s) 108 are a phased
array, associated signal processing (signal phasing and/or gain
control) for controlling the directivity of one or more lobes of
the radiation pattern may be performed in RF/analog circuitry
402.
[0037] The digital circuitry 406 is operable to perform digital
processing of the digitized signals output by the ADCs
404.sub.1-404.sub.3. Such processing may include, for example,
interference cancellation, I/O phase/frequency calibration,
channelization (i.e., channel-select filtering), multiplexing of
channels and/or bands (i.e., "channel stacking" and/or "band
stacking), and/or the like. Where the antenna(s) 108 are a phased
array, associated signal processing (signal phasing and/or gain
control) for controlling the directivity of one or more lobes of
the radiation pattern may be performed in the digital circuitry
406.
[0038] Each of the ADCs 404.sub.1-404.sub.3 is operable to digitize
a respective one of a plurality of signals output by circuitry 402.
In an example implementation, each ADC 404 may be operable to
concurrently digitize the entirety of a -1 GHz wide L-band signal
output by circuitry 402. For example, each of the ADCs 404 may be
operable to digitize the entire bandwidth of a respective one of
the satellite signals 302.sub.1, 302.sub.2, and 302.sub.3 and
output a respective one of signals 405.sub.1, 405.sub.2, and
405.sub.3.
[0039] The circuitry 410 is operable to process the signals
405.sub.1-405.sub.3 (corresponding to signals 302.sub.1-302.sub.3,
respectively) to determine one or more performance metrics (e.g.,
received signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and/or the like)
for each of the signals. The circuitry 410 is also operable to
provide the performance metric(s) to the alignment control
circuitry as signal 411.
[0040] In an example implementation, the circuitry 410 may also be
operable to output the performance metric(s) and/or other test
and/or calibration data as signal 409. This data may, for example,
be provided to the gateway 105 (via cable 184) and may be used by a
technician during installation. This data may also be provided to
the satellite service provider that operates the satellites 101
(e.g., via the gateway 105 and the Internet). Additionally or
alternatively, this data may be output to a test/calibration
interface (e.g., to which a technician may connect a terminal).
[0041] In an example implementation, the circuitry 410 may be
operable to estimate signal-to-noise ratio of the desired signal
405.sub.1 by digitizing the full spectrum of the desired satellite
beam, performing a fast Fourier transform (FFT), and then
calculating SNR based on the noise level in the guard band(s).
Additionally or alternatively, the SNR may measure directly via a
demodulator integrated in the subassembly 103. That is, the digital
circuitry 406 may comprise a demodulator 408 operable to demodulate
one or more of the signals 405.sub.1-405.sub.3 and measure
signal-to-noise ratio of one or more of the 405.sub.1-405.sub.3
using the demodulated signals.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example process for
aligning a satellite reception assembly based on received signal
characteristics. The process begins in block 502 and proceeds to
block 504. In block 504, the signal processing subassembly 103
determines an orbital slot of the desired satellite. This may be
determined, for example, based on geographical coordinates, input
from a technician, and/or the like. In block 506, the signal
processing subassembly 103 determines operating parameters (e.g.,
frequency, polarization, etc.) of undesired signals being
transmitted by satellites that are in orbital slots adjacent to the
orbital slot of the desired satellite. This may be done, for
example, using a lookup table of satellites and their parameters.
In block 508, the satellite reception assembly 102 captures energy
of the undesired signals from the satellites in the adjacent
orbital slots. In block 510, the undesired signals are digitized
and processed (e.g., an FFT is performed on them followed by a
frequency-domain analysis) to determine one or more performance
metrics for the undesired signals. In block 512 the elevation angle
and/or azimuth angle of the satellite reception assembly 102 may be
adjusted, if necessary, based on the performance metric(s) of the
undesired signals. The process then returns to block 508. The
return to block 508 may be, for example, immediately for continuous
alignment, after a period of time for periodic alignment, or in
response to a particular event for event-driven alignment (e.g., a
user entering a "re-align" command via the gateway 105).
[0043] In accordance with an example implementation of this
disclosure, a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) reception assembly
may receive a desired satellite signal, and process the desired
satellite signal for output to a gateway. The DBS assembly may also
receive one or more undesired satellite signal(s), and determine a
performance metric of the one or more undesired satellite
signal(s). The elevation angle of the DBS satellite reception
assembly and/or the azimuth angle of the DBS satellite reception
assembly may be adjusted based on the performance metric(s) of the
one or more undesired satellite signal(s). The adjusting of the
elevation angle and/or the azimuth angle may comprise
electronically steering a directivity of a receive radiation
pattern of the DBS reception assembly. The DBS reception assembly
may comprise one or more electromechanical systems (e.g., motor,
servo, actuator, and/or the like), and the adjusting may comprise
mechanically steering the DBS reception assembly using the
electromechanical system(s). The performance metric may be received
signal strength of the undesired signal(s), received signal
strength of the desired signal, signal-to-noise ratio of the
desired signal, or signal-to-noise ratio of the undesired
signal(s). The circuitry of the DBS reception assembly may comprise
one or more demodulator(s) (e.g., 408) and may demodulate the one
or more undesired signal(s) via the one or more demodulator(s) to
generate one or more demodulated signal(s). The demodulated
signal(s) may enable direct measurement of the signal-to-noise
ratio of the undesired signal(s).
[0044] The desired signal may be in a first frequency band (e.g.,
first chunk in the Ka or Ku band) and each of the one or more
undesired signal(s) is in a respective one of one or more second
frequency bands (each in a respective second chunk of the Ka or Ku
band). The circuitry may determine the signal-to-noise ratio of the
desired signal. Such a determination may comprise digitizing a
block of frequencies encompassing the first frequency band and the
one or more second frequency band(s), performing a fast Fourier
transform on the digitized block of frequencies, and measuring
signal strength in one or more guard band(s) between the first
frequency band and the one or more second frequency band(s).
[0045] Other embodiments of the invention may provide a
non-transitory computer readable medium and/or storage medium,
and/or a non-transitory machine readable medium and/or storage
medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer
program having at least one code section executable by a machine
and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to
perform the processes as described herein.
[0046] Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in
hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The
present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at
least one computing system, or in a distributed fashion where
different elements are spread across several interconnected
computing systems. Any kind of computing system or other apparatus
adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A
typical combination of hardware and software may be a
general-purpose computing system with a program or other code that,
when being loaded and executed, controls the computing system such
that it carries out the methods described herein. Another typical
implementation may comprise an application specific integrated
circuit or chip.
[0047] The present invention may also be embedded in a computer
program product, which comprises all the features enabling the
implementation of the methods described herein, and which when
loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.
Computer program in the present context means any expression, in
any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended
to cause a system having an information processing capability to
perform a particular function either directly or after either or
both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or
notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
[0048] While the present invention has been described with
reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present
invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the teachings of the present
invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is
intended that the present invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention
will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
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