Satellite auto alignment and commissioning method for automated antenna terminals
Saved in:
| Title: | Satellite auto alignment and commissioning method for automated antenna terminals |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 11304,207 |
| Publication Date: | April 12, 2022 |
| Appl. No: | 17/116124 |
| Application Filed: | December 09, 2020 |
| Abstract: | A Satellite Auto Alignment and Commissioning System and Method for Automated Antenna terminals (ATT) is disclosed. The method includes receiving Multicast information at a satellite modem from a server, sending the Multicast information to an API, transmitting a Clean carrier Wave (CW) from the satellite modem to the server in a frequency fixed by the Multicast information having a power at the satellite modem, measuring the SNR, the Copol, Cross-pol and ASI parameters and thresholds, stopping the transmission of the CW, comparing the measured parameters with thresholds, if at least one parameter does not meet its respective threshold, the API modifies that parameter at the AAT controlled by an antenna control unit, repeating previous steps until all parameters meet their respective thresholds in which the AAT is correctly aligned and polarized; and, calculating a saturation point at which the power of the satellite modem is maximum without distortion. |
| Inventors: | Integrasys LLC (Herndon, VA, US) |
| Assignees: | Integrasys LLC (Herndon, VA, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A Satellite Auto-Alignment and Commissioning method for Automated Antenna Terminals, comprising: receiving a Multicast information at a satellite modem connected to an automated antenna terminal (AAT), the Multicast information being sent from a server in a continuous way; sending the Multicast information to an Application Protocol Interface (API) connected to the AAT; transmitting a Clean carrier Wave (CW) from the satellite modem via the AAT to the server through a satellite communication in a frequency fixed by the Multicast information having a power at the satellite modem controlled by the API; measuring a Signal-to-Noise rate (SNR) of a signal including the Multicast information at the AAT, and extracting, from the Multicast information, a Copol parameter, a Cross-pol parameter and an ASI parameter along with a plurality of thresholds of the SNR, the Copol parameter, the Cross-pol parameter and the ASI parameter; stopping the transmission of the CW; comparing the measured SNR and the extracted Copol, the extracted Cross-pol and the extracted ASI parameters with the plurality of thresholds; if at least one of the SNR, the Copol, the Cross-pol or the ASI parameters does not meet its respective threshold, the API comprises: modifying the at least one parameter that does not meet its respective threshold at the AAT controlled by an antenna control unit (ACU); repeating until each of the SNR, the COPOL, the Cross-pol and the ASI parameters meet their respective thresholds in which the AAT is correctly aligned and polarized; and, calculating a saturation point named the One dB Compression Point and denoted as “1dBCP” at which the power of the satellite modem is maximum without distortion. |
| Claim: | 2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving the CW through at least two antennas with different polarization, at a signal capture element; selecting an RF output of the signal capture element connected to a measurement instrument, by switching between the at least two antennas commanded by the server; carrying out a sweep and a measure of the SNR, the Copol, the Cross-pol and the ASI parameters of the RF output to form a new multicast information in the measurement instrument; sending the new multicast information to the server; sending the new multicast information to a hub satellite to be converted into a RF format; and multicasting the multicast information. |
| Claim: | 3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising commissioning the AAT with the information provided in the Multicast information and information provided in the API such as a user login and an IP address of the satellite modem. |
| Claim: | 4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing the API in the ACU, and connecting the ACU to the AAT and to the satellite modem. |
| Claim: | 5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing the API in the satellite modem, and connecting the satellite modem to the AAT and to the ACU. |
| Claim: | 6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing the API in a computer, and connecting the computer to the AAT, to the satellite modem and to the ACU. |
| Claim: | 7. Satellite Auto-Alignment and Commissioning system for Automated Antennas Terminals, wherein the system comprises: an automated antenna terminal (AAT); a satellite modem connected to the AA, the satellite modem configured to receive a Multicast information, the Multicast information being sent from a server in a continuous way; an Application Protocol Interface (API) that is configured to receive the Multicast information from the satellite modem wherein: the API is further configured, for the satellite modem, to transmit a Clean carrier Wave (CW) via the AAT to the server through a satellite communication in a frequency fixed by the Multicast information having a power at the satellite modem controlled by the API; the API is further configured to measure a Signal-to-Noise rate (SNR) of a signal including the Multicast information at the AAT, and extracting, from the Multicast information, a Copol parameter, a Cross-pol parameter and an ASI parameter along with a plurality of thresholds of the SNR, the Copol parameter, the Cross-pol parameter and the ASI parameter; the API is further configured, for the satellite modem, to stop the transmission of the CW; the API is further configured to compare the measured SNR and the extracted Copol, the extracted Cross-pol and the extracted ASI parameters with the plurality of thresholds; and, if at least one of the SNR, the Copol, the Cross-pol or the ASI parameters does not meet its respective threshold, the API is further configured to modify the at least one parameter that does not meet its respective threshold at the AAT controlled by an antenna control unit (ACU); and the API is further configured to calculate a saturation point named the One dB Compression Point and denoted as “1dBCP” at which the power of the satellite modem is maximum without distortion. |
| Claim: | 8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising: a signal capture element that is configured to receive the CW through at least two antennas with different polarization; a measurement instrument connected to an RF output of the signal capture element, the RF output configured to be switched between the at least two antennas commanded by the server, wherein: the measurement instrument is further configured to carry out a sweep and a measure of the SNR, the Copol, the Cross-pol and the ASI parameters of the RF output to form the multicast information in the measurement instrument; the measurement instrument is further configured to send the multicast information to the server; the server is further configured to send the multicast information to a hub satellite to be converted into the RF format; and the hub satellite is further configured to multicast the multicast information. |
| Claim: | 9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server further comprises: a server control module; a satellite multicast communication control module, comprising a multitasking sub-module; a server storage module, comprising: a user identification and authentication sub-module; and a measurement system operation save & recall set-up sub-module; an instrumentation command control module comprising a shared instrumentation coordination sub-module; and a data base. |
| Claim: | 10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the API further comprises: a satellite modem command editing and control module; a command editing and control module, comprising: a frequency sub-module; a power sub-module; a transmit sub-module; a transmit off sub-module; a transmit One decibel Compression Point (1dBCP) sub-module; a display selection sub-module; a measurement sub-module; a report parameter sub-module; a commissioning report sub-module; and a the User Authentication and Identification sub-module; a receive only satellite link; a math processor; and a multicast module. |
| Claim: | 11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the ACU further comprises: a connect module; a measurement trace limit mask sub-module; an ACU computer interface screen; a graphics module: a processing sub-module; a zoom-in sub-module; a display; and an ACU computer non-volatile memory. |
| Patent References Cited: | 2003/0050015 March 2003 Kelly 2006/0045038 March 2006 Kay 2016/0191145 June 2016 Fang 2017/0314892 November 2017 Holder 2017/0370678 December 2017 Holder 2020/0036435 January 2020 Ravishankar |
| Primary Examiner: | Acolatse, Kodzovi |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | The Webb Law Firm |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.11304207 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Abstract: | A Satellite Auto Alignment and Commissioning System and Method for Automated Antenna terminals (ATT) is disclosed. The method includes receiving Multicast information at a satellite modem from a server, sending the Multicast information to an API, transmitting a Clean carrier Wave (CW) from the satellite modem to the server in a frequency fixed by the Multicast information having a power at the satellite modem, measuring the SNR, the Copol, Cross-pol and ASI parameters and thresholds, stopping the transmission of the CW, comparing the measured parameters with thresholds, if at least one parameter does not meet its respective threshold, the API modifies that parameter at the AAT controlled by an antenna control unit, repeating previous steps until all parameters meet their respective thresholds in which the AAT is correctly aligned and polarized; and, calculating a saturation point at which the power of the satellite modem is maximum without distortion. |
|---|