Rotation pointed antenna for fixed wireless wide area networks
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for combining signals received from a direct broadcast satellite system with signals received from a wireless network, includes a satellite antenna for receiving the signals from the direct broadcast satellite system; and a wireless network antenna, co-located with the satellite antenna, for receiving the signals from the wireless network. The wireless network antenna includes an antenna assembly that is rotated by a controller based on characteristics of the signals received from the wireless network. The controller energizes and de-energizes a motor to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly to properly align the wireless network antenna to communicate with the wireless network. The wireless network antenna comprises a closed cylinder, wherein the antenna assembly is rotatably mounted within the closed cylinder, such that, upon command from the controller, the motor engages the antenna assembly to mechanically rotate the antenna about a central axis of the closed cylinder.
1. An apparatus for combining signals received from a direct broadcast satellite system with signals received from a wireless network, comprising:
a satellite antenna for receiving the signals from the direct broadcast satellite system; and
a wireless network antenna, co-located with the satellite antenna, for receiving the signals from the wireless network and for sending signals to the wireless network, wherein the wireless network antenna includes a closed cylinder and an antenna assembly mounted within the closed cylinder that is rotated by a controller based on characteristics of the signals received from the wireless network;
wherein the satellite antenna and the wireless network antenna communicate with either or both a home network for the wireless network and a receiver/decoder of the direct broadcast satellite system using a single coax cable.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics of the signals comprise one or more of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Noise Interference Ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER), and block error/erasure rate (BLER).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller energizes or de-energizes a motor to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly to properly align the wireless network antenna to communicate with the wireless network.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the antenna assembly is rotatably mounted within the closed cylinder, such that, upon command from the controller, the motor engages the antenna assembly to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly about a central axis of the closed cylinder.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network antenna is installed without being aligned, and thus is omnidirectional during installation, but is aligned later by the controller, and thus is directional during operation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted with the satellite antenna.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted on an arm that is coupled to a mast of the satellite antenna.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted separately from the satellite antenna.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network antenna is a repeater for a mobile device that communicates with the home network using a local wireless communications path.
10. A method of combining signals received from a direct broadcast satellite system with signals received from a wireless network, comprising:
receiving the signals from the direct broadcast satellite system at a satellite antenna; and
receiving the signals from the wireless network and for sending signals to the wireless network at a wireless network antenna co-located with the satellite antenna, wherein the wireless network antenna includes a closed cylinder and an antenna assembly mounted within the closed cylinder that is rotated by a controller based on characteristics of the signals received from the wireless network;
wherein the satellite antenna and the wireless network antenna communicate with either or both a home network for the wireless network and a receiver/decoder of the direct broadcast satellite system using a single coax cable.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the characteristics of the signals comprise one or more of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Noise Interference Ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER), and block error/erasure rate (BLER).
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller energizes or de-energizes a motor to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly to properly align the wireless network antenna to communicate with the wireless network.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the antenna assembly is rotatably mounted within the closed cylinder, such that, upon command from the controller, the motor engages the antenna assembly to mechanically rotate the antenna assembly about a central axis of the closed cylinder.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless network antenna is installed without being aligned, and thus is omnidirectional during installation, but is aligned later by the controller, and thus is directional during operation.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted with the satellite antenna.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted on an arm that is coupled to a mast of the satellite antenna.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless network antenna is mounted separately from the satellite antenna.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless network antenna is a repeater for a mobile device that communicates with the home network using a local wireless communications path.