IP Library Granted Patent US 7,675,462
Granted Patent B2
US 7,675,462 · App. 11/884,061 · Granted Mar 9, 2010

Method and system for the alignment of an earth station antenna with a satellite antenna

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,675,462
App. No.
11/884,061
Granted
Mar 9, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is described a method for the alignment of an earth station antenna with a satellite antenna, wherein a reference signal, emitted by the earth station antenna is analyzed in a monitoring station, wherein the reference signal is used as a carrier for authentication information about the earth station.

Claims (31)

1. A method for an alignment of an earth station antenna with a satellite antenna of a satellite, comprising:

initiating an alignment request for an earth station by emitting a reference signal at a predetermined identification frequency range by an antenna of the earth station to a satellite antenna of a satellite;

scanning the identification frequency range by an antenna misalignment monitoring station (AMMS) in communication with the satellite to detect and decode the reference signal, wherein the reference signal is used as a carrier for authentication information about the earth station;

authenticating the earth station to enable communication between the AMMS and the earth station via the satellite through a forward link;

after authentication, commanding the earth station by the AMMS via the forward link to transmit the reference signal at a dedicated frequency outside the identification frequency range for communicating antenna misalignment information; and

receiving by earth station from the AMMS antenna misalignment information for alignment of the earth station antenna with the satellite antenna.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reference signal is detected and analyzed in a monitoring station in accordance with a random frequency divided multiple access protocol.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission of information is based on a digital modulation of the reference signal.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission of information is based on a digital modulation of the reference signal.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication information comprises an address selected from the group consisting of a MAC Address, a IP-Address, and a combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication information comprises a PID-Filter information.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication information comprises an installation ID.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication information comprises a Time Slot Information.

9. A system to align a earth station antenna with a satellite antenna, comprising:

an earth station terminal with an antenna and a generator for a modulated reference signal, wherein the earth station initiates an alignment request by emitting the modulated reference signal at a predetermined identification frequency range by the antenna of the earth station to a satellite antenna of a satellite; and

an antenna misalignment monitoring station (AMMS) in communication with the satellite to detect alignment requests by scanning the identification frequency range by the AMMS to decode the modulated reference signal, wherein the reference signal is used as a carrier for authentication information about the earth station, to authenticate alignment requests and command the earth station to thereafter transmit the reference signal at a dedicated frequency outside the identification frequency range for communicating antenna misalignment information, to measure a antenna characteristic and a transmission characteristic based upon the reference signal transmitted from the earth station terminal to the satellite, and to monitor the antenna characteristic and the transmission characteristic, and to transmit to the earth station misalignment information for alignment of the earth station antenna with the satellite antenna.

10. A method for an alignment of an earth station for a communication link between the earth station and a satellite, comprising:

initiating an alignment request for an earth station by emitting a reference signal at a predetermined frequency range in accordance with a random frequency divided multiple access protocol by an antenna of the earth station to an antenna of a satellite;

sending authentication information to the satellite via the reference signal; scanning the identification frequency range by an antenna misalignment monitoring station (AMMS) in communication with the satellite in accordance with the random frequency divided multiple access protocol to detect and decode the reference signal;

analyzing the reference signal by the AMMS to authenticate the earth station to enable communication between the AMMS and the earth station via a forward link;

after authentication, commanding the earth station by the AMMS via the forward link to transmit the reference signal at a dedicated frequency outside the identification frequency range for communicating antenna misalignment information; and

receiving by earth station from the AMMS antenna misalignment information for alignment of the earth station antenna with the satellite antenna.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the authentication information comprises an address selected from the group consisting of a MAC-Address, a IP-Address, and a combination thereof.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the authentication information comprises a PID-Filter information.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the authentication information comprises an installation ID.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the authentication information comprises a Time Slot Information.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the monitoring device is a monitoring station.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the transmission of information is based on digital modulation of the reference signal.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the reference signal is a continuous wave signal.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the authentication information is modulated on the reference signal based upon a on-off keying.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the modulation is based on different amplitude levels.

Assignments (7)
MERGER Recorded Feb 10, 2023
From: ATOS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
To: ATOS IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES GMBH
Reel/Frame 062651/0830 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2022
From: ATOS IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES GMBH
To: BULL SAS
Reel/Frame 061620/0515 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S POSTAL CODE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050630 FRAME: 0865. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: SIEMENS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
To: ATOS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 050673/0163 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY OF THE ORIGINAL COVERSHEET FROM *2 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 50597 FRAME: 0133. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 3, 2019
From: SIEMENS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
To: ATOS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 050630/0865 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 1, 2019
From: 2.) SIEMENS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
To: ATOS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 050597/0133 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2013
From: SIEMENS AG OESTERREICH
To: SIEMENS CONVERGENCE CREATORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 030994/0959 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2009
From: GERLINGER, LEOPOLD; GREILINGER, ERWIN; HAUSLEITNER, CHRISTIAN
To: SIEMENS AG OESTERREICH
Reel/Frame 023507/0408 →