Patent ID: 7956806
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: G01S,H04B

Abstract:
1. A method for orienting an antenna in a communications system on a mobile platform to orient a peak of the antenna pattern in a direction associated with a signal source comprising: receiving a signal from a signal source at the antenna; measuring a signal strength from the received signal; predicting a signal strength and a misalignment of the antenna along at least one axis according to a previous estimate of the signal strength, a previous estimate of the misalignment of the antenna, an estimated change in the signal strength, and a known change in the antenna orientation; updating the predicted signal strength and misalignment of the antenna according to the measured signal strength to provide an estimate of a current misalignment of the antenna; and adjusting the orientation of the peak of the antenna pattern according to the estimated current misalignment of the antenna.