Patent ID: 8224241
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: G01S,H01Q,H04Q,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for automatically orienting an antenna of a mobile system comprising: receiving, by the mobile system, a radio frequency (RF) signal from a fixed remote system using the antenna; detecting, by the mobile system, a current signal characteristic of the RF signal; detecting, by the mobile system, environmental conditions in the proximity of the mobile system, determining, by the mobile system, a current position for the mobile system; accessing, by the mobile system, a pre-recorded expected signal characteristic for the RF signal at the current position; determining, by the mobile system, an adjusted expected signal characteristic for the RF signal based on the expected signal characteristic for the RF signal and the environmental conditions; determining, by the mobile system, a difference between the current signal characteristic and the adjusted expected signal characteristic; adjusting, by the mobile system, a current orientation of the antenna when said difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein adjusting the current orientation of the antenna comprises adjusting the current orientation of the antenna to an adjusted orientation; and readjusting the antenna, detecting a new current signal characteristic of the RF signal, and determining a difference between the new current signal characteristic and the adjusted expected signal characteristic, on an iterative basis until the difference between the new current signal characteristic and the adjusted signal characteristic does not exceed the predetermined threshold.