Patent ID: 8730103
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a first steerable antenna; a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna; a second steerable antenna; a second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time; a transfer switch operably coupled to the first antenna control unit, the first steerable antenna, the second antenna control unit, and the second steerable antenna, the transfer switch configured to transfer a connection from the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna at a second point in time, in response to a change in satellite visibility based on the first steerable antenna at least one of (i) entering a preprogrammed blockage zone and (ii) an unexpected loss of satellite visibility; and at least one modem operably coupled to the transfer switch for transmitting and receiving data with a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna, wherein the transfer switch is configured to: receive global positioning system (“GPS”) data from at least one of an external GPS unit, the first antenna control unit, and the second antenna control unit, and buffer the GPS data to the at least one modem, provide a modem receive-lock signal used to retarget a line of sight in response to an antenna drift to the first antenna control unit and the second antenna control unit, transfer the connection between the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a determined satellite visibility value based on at least one of a signal reception quality and a modem receive-lock status, determine a first uplink transmission power level of the first steerable antenna and a second uplink transmission power level of the second steerable antenna, and set an attenuation level for one of the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a difference in the first uplink transmission power level and the second uplink transmission power level, wherein a higher uplink transmission power is attenuated to be balanced with a lower uplink transmission power.