Abstract:
A method and apparatus allowing an installer to configure and commission a large number of satellite terminals in the field without requiring the installer to either handle papers or to manually enter alphanumeric data into a computer, thus reducing the chances of human error. The installer uses a portable processing device capable of wireless communication to download work orders from a network service provider, obtain identification codes from satellite terminal components, obtain geographic location (e.g., via GPS), load work order and location to satellite terminal, upload configuration data from the satellite terminal, point a dish to optimally receive signals while viewing pointing information generated by the portable processing device, commission the satellite terminal within the satellite communication network, and upload completed work orders and commissioning data from the satellite terminal to the network service provider.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of a U.S. provisional application of Arthur Kaupe entitled “Automatic Collection and Loading of Configuration Data Into Equipment by Installers Using Wireless Technology”, Ser. No. 60/216,097, filed Jul. 6, 2000, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for configuring and commissioning electronic equipment via wireless communications so as not to require manual entry of alphanumeric data by an installer. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method to configure and bring into commission electronic equipment such as a plurality of satellite terminals using a hand-held computer such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) which is portable and can be taken by an installer to the respective sites of the electronic equipment, where the installer does not need to manually enter alphanumeric data to complete configuration and commissioning.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    In a conventional network, configuration and commissioning of electronic equipment such as satellite terminals require the installer to receive work orders, which can be electronic and/or paper documents, and to read installation information provided on the work order documents (e.g., address or location of installation, serial numbers of equipment to be installed, time of installation, identification of the satellite with which the terminal is to be in communication, type of service, such as basic, premium, content preferences, and so on), and to enter information (e.g., time and data of completion of commissioning) on sheets of paper in writing or electronically enter information via a computer keypad, touch screen, mouse, or similar input device. The installer visits the sites of the equipment requiring configuration and commissioning, manually performs the required configuration, and reports the results to a network service provider by returning the completed work order documents. The network service provider is generally operable to manage the equipment such as satellite terminals in a satellite communication or broadcast network. This approach generally requires the installer to carry paper documents and/or a hand-held computer with which the installer enters alphanumeric data on a keypad or other input device and reads alphanumeric data from a screen. Entering alphanumeric data and writing on papers presents the problem of increasing the possibility of errors in the commissioning process and also hinders the ability of the installer to perform a time efficient installation and commission of a large number of satellite terminals.  
           [0006]    A need therefore exists for a method and apparatus that accomplishes configuration and commissioning of electronic equipment such as satellite terminals without requiring the installer to enter alphanumeric data onto a keypad or to require the installer to handle a large number of papers and to manually enter information on these papers into a computerized system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for configuring and commissioning electronic equipment that overcomes the above deficiencies.  
           [0008]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for configuring electronic equipment such as satellite terminals in the field using wireless communications so as not to require alphanumeric keyed or handwritten inputs by the installer.  
           [0009]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an installer with a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other hand-held or portable computer that is capable of wireless communication to enable an installer to configure geographically dispersed electronic equipment such as satellite terminals that does not require the installer to have to electronically enter alphanumeric data or physically manage papers (e.g., sort, file and otherwise complete or write information onto the papers) associated with the installation and commissioning processes.  
           [0010]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an installer with a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other hand-held or portable computer that is capable of wireless communication with the network service provider, the indoor unit of a satellite terminal, the outdoor unit of the satellite terminal and a global positioning satellite system to enable an installer to bring into commission electronic equipment such as satellite terminals located in the field.  
           [0011]    These and other objects are substantially achieved by using a hand-held or portable computer such as a PDA capable of wireless communication to enable an installer to first download work orders from a network service provider. The installer carries the computer into the field where electronic equipment (e.g., satellite terminals) is located and requires initial installation or reconfiguration or otherwise commissioning. The installer reads automatically a bar code, a radio frequency identification tag or other identification data from the electronic equipment using the computer. The installer then proceeds to obtain his position from a global positioning system (GPS) using the computer. The installer transmits the work order and the position information from the computer to the electronic equipment. The installer receives, via the computer, adjustments (e.g., polarization and antenna pointing information) that are preferably generated by the equipment and that need to be implemented by the electronic equipment. The installer makes these adjustments while consulting the display on the computer, for example. The computer communicates with the electronic equipment and can indicate to the installer when the adjustments are complete via real-time feedback data from the equipment. The installer again points the computer at the electronic equipment to initiate commissioning and subsequently upload commission data to the computer. The installer then proceeds to install or reconfigure and commission other electronic equipment located at different locations. Finally, the installer, using the computer, uploads confirmation information and/or commissioning data to the network service provider, thereby completing the installation and commissioning of electronic equipment at a number of locations without the necessity of having to manually enter alphanumeric data into any piece of equipment, including the computer, and without the necessity of having to handle paper documents or write information onto these pieces of paper. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a network service provider in communication with one or more PDAs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a PDA configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 illustrates the PDA scanning information from an indoor unit of a satellite terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 illustrates the PDA scanning information from an outdoor unit of a satellite terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 illustrates the PDA obtaining positioning information from satellites in a GPS constellation according to the principles of the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 illustrates an installer manually pointing the satellite terminal antenna dish, while looking at the screen of the PDA, wherein the PDA is in receive-only communication with the satellite terminal and can indicate to the installer when the antenna is pointed in a proper direction according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates a multiplicity of hand-held or portable computers such as PDAs  10  communicating with a network service provider (NSP)  15 . The communication link is preferably wireless and bidirectional, but can be accomplished via a wireline link or a combination of wireline and wireless links. The communication link between the PDA  10  and the NSP  15  can be a dedicated or shared link and can be implemented via an intranet or the internet.  
         [0020]    A plurality of PDAs  10  are illustrated in FIG. 1, as there can be several installers attempting to communicate with the network service provider  15 . Information relating to one or a plurality of work orders is downloaded from the network service provider  15  to each PDA  10  via wireline or wireless communication. These work orders contain information relating to the electronic equipment to be installed and commissioned such as a satellite terminal. The information can include, but is not limited to, contact information, the customer address, a terminal site identification code corresponding to the customer premises and a service passcode, and a satellite network identification code, among other information. The terminal site identification code and the service passcode are provided to a network operations control center (NOCC) for the network of terminals by the NSP, as well as to the terminal by the PDA, so that the terminal will be able to register with the NOCC. The work order can also specify the type of electronic equipment (e.g., if different models of terminals are available) in the field that needs to be initially configured or reconfigured and brought into commission by an installer. Each PDA  10  is preferably portable and is carried by an installer to the site of each piece of electronic equipment identified in the corresponding work order as being in need of configuration and commissioning. In accordance with the present invention, the process of downloading work orders from a network service provider to the PDA  10  does not require an installer to key in any alphanumeric information on the PDA  10 , nor does it require the installer to handle physical documents or write any information onto paper.  
         [0021]    Bringing a satellite terminal into operation generally involves two phases: 1) installation of the satellite terminal; and 2) commissioning of the satellite terminal. Installation comprises assembly and placement of terminal equipment and cables, entering configuration data relating to the satellite terminal, obtaining location information, setting the polarization of the outdoor unit  20  to either left hand circular polarization or right hand circular polarization, for example, and pointing a dish on an outdoor unit  20  of a satellite terminal towards a geosynchronous satellite  14  (FIG. 6), among other operations. The geosynchronous satellite  14  provides broadcasting or other communication services and is generally a different satellite from the GPS satellites  12  described below in connection with FIG. 5. Commissioning of a satellite terminal, on the other hand, involves establishing communication between the satellite terminal and the geosynchronous satellite, other satellite terminals (i.e., depending on the type of network in which the satellite terminal is deployed), and the NOCC  16 . The NOCC  16  manages customer permissions and payment processes to use the network bandwidth, that is, the extent to which each satellite terminal receives broadcast signals or exchanges data with other terminals, depending on the type of communication network in which the satellite terminal is deployed. In addition, the NOCC manages the address or location of installation of each satellite terminal in the network, serial numbers of equipment to be installed, time of installation, type of service, such as basic, premium, content preferences, and so on. The present invention is advantageous because both of these processes are achieved by an installer using a PDA  10  or other portable computer and the satellite terminal and without requiring the installer to manually input alphanumeric data into the PDA  10  or use paper documents such as a work order provided on paper.  
         [0022]    The present invention can be employed with terminals in a one-way communication network or a two-way communication network. A one-way communication network typically involves broadcast of selected program channels. A two-way communication network can involve terminal-to-terminal communication or, for example, communication between a terminal and an internet service provider. Both one-way and two-way services can be provided from geosynchronous satellites connected to a network containing a NOCC  16 . Once commissioned, satellite terminals in a two-way network can communicate with other terminals pointed toward the same satellite  14  or to satellite terminals directed to a different satellite  14  via an intersatellite gateway.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary PDA  10 . The PDA  10  comprises a memory  20  for storing data and commands, a wireless communication transceiver  25  that can send and receive signals from external devices such as the NSP  15 , a central processing unit  30  to control the overall operation of the PDA  10 , a scanner  34  and an infrared (IR) or other wireless communication interface  35  (e.g., Bluetooth signaling) to allow the PDA  10  to send and receive wireless data signals to a terminal. The scanner  34  is useful for one-way communication such as reading a bar code or receiving a radio frequency code corresponding to an indoor unit (IDU) or an outdoor unit (ODU) of a satellite terminal. The wireless communication interface  35 , on the other hand, can be useful for two-way communication such as for data downloading or uploading between the PDA and the terminal.  
         [0024]    With continued reference to FIG. 2, an input device  40  provides an operator interface that allows the installer to select from buttons or menus displayed on the PDA display  42  such as the function the installer would like the PDA  10  to perform. In addition, the PDA  10  of the present invention can include a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver  45  that allows the installer to determine the position of the terminal within, for example, 100 meters. It is to be understood that other position location methods can be used to determine the location of the terminal being commissioned. The PDA  10  also preferably comprises a port  50  to allow for wireline communication between the PDA  10  and an external device such as the NSP  15 , the NOCC  16  or a personal computer. An installer can use menus on the display  42  to select between wireline or wireless data transmission or reception, whether global positioning is to be used, or whether the display is to display particular information regarding the status of an electronic equipment, for example. An installer can also use menus on the display to control the execution of diagnostic tests by the satellite terminal.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the PDA  10  scanning information provided on or by a piece of electronic equipment. The electronic equipment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a satellite terminal. A satellite terminal comprises an outdoor unit  60  having a satellite dish  61  and a feed horn  62  that is installed, for example, on the rooftop of a building  70 , and an indoor unit  65  located within the building  70 . The indoor unit  65  processes signals received from the outdoor unit  60  and delivers these processed signals to electronic communication equipment (not shown) within the building  70  such as a computer, television or a telephone. FIG. 3 illustrates the PDA  10  scanning the indoor unit  65  for a barcode or other optically scanned indicia on the indoor unit  65 , or receiving a radio frequency identification tag generated by the indoor unit, to notify the PDA  10  of the serial number of the electronic equipment with which the PDA is interfacing. FIG. 4 illustrates the PDA  10  scanning the outdoor unit  60  for a barcode or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag provided by the outdoor unit to notify the PDA  10  of the serial number of the electronic equipment with which the PDA is interfacing. In a satellite terminal, the indoor unit  65  and the outdoor unit  60  are generally both scanned for identification data, since these two units are usually remotely located with respect to each other and it is possible to select and replace one independently of the other.  
         [0026]    An installer (not shown) carries the PDA  10  to the indoor unit  65  and the outdoor unit  60  to scan for the barcode or RFID tag, for example. The present invention is advantageous because the process of scanning the equipment for a barcode or an RFID tag is accomplished without requiring the installer to manually enter this identification information into the PDA  10  and without the installer having to handle papers or write information onto papers, thus reducing the possibility of human errors, and quickening the process of configuration and commissioning.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 illustrates how location determination of the electronic equipment is achieved. A GPS receiver or other position determination device is provided within the PDA  10 . In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the GPS receiver can be provided within the outdoor unit  60 ; however, such an arrangement prohibits an installer from moving to another location to achieve positioning if the outdoor unit  60  is situated where reception of global positioning system signals is poor. When the position determination device (e.g., the GPS receiver  45 ) is co-located with the PDA  10 , an installer (not shown) need only to point the PDA  10  towards the sky. The GPS allows an individual on the ground to determine within approximately 100 meters where he is located by using GPS receiver  45  within the PDA  10 . Generally, reception is possible from three or four satellites  12  above the horizon at any place on the earth&#39;s surface to allow the PDA to determine the position of the satellite terminal that is being configured and commissioned.  
         [0028]    When the PDA  10  is in communication (e.g., via IR or Bluetooth signaling) with the indoor unit  65 , the indoor unit  65  is programmed by the PDA  10  with the work order received from the network service provider  15  and the location information obtained via the global positioning system. In return, the indoor unit  65  sends to the PDA  10  configuration data such as polarization and pointing data needed for the installation of the satellite terminal (e.g., uplink polarization, initial pointing direction, uplink cell and downlink microcell). The installer then points the satellite dish  61  of the satellite terminal to position the dish for good reception.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 illustrates an installer  75  beside the outdoor unit  60  holding the PDA  10  which is in communication (e.g., via cable or wireless signaling) with the outdoor unit  60 . The outdoor unit  60  is programmed to measure signal strength of signals received from satellite  14 . The installer can use this data to determine how far off the dish is from optimal reception and in which direction the dish on the outdoor unit  60  must be pointed to in order to function properly with a network. For example, a voltmeter can be connected to the ODU, or the PDA  10  can be programmed with a voltmeter application, to provide an indication in volts of the measured signal strengths. The installer  75  reads the voltmeter or display device  42  of the PDA  10  while making the pointing adjustments to the outdoor unit  60  until the voltmeter or PDA  10  indicates to the installer  75  that the outdoor unit  60  is pointing in a proper direction. The dish can be moved manually or automatically. The optimal direction is the direction where the outdoor unit  60  points to a geosynchronous satellite  14  providing the desired customer service. When pointed towards the geosynchronous satellite  14 , the satellite terminal can also achieve communication with the NOCC  16  and other satellite terminals, depending on the type of network in which the satellite terminal is located. In addition, prior to pointing the outdoor unit, the installer  75  sets the polarization of the outdoor unit  60  to receive either right hand circularly polarized signals or left hand circularly polarized signals.  
         [0030]    After making the necessary adjustments to the satellite terminal, the installer generally tightens bolts on the outdoor unit  60  so that the orientation of the dish will not change after the installer leaves the work site. Since the outdoor unit  60  is pointing to a geosynchronous satellite  14  which remains essentially stationary with respect to the surface of the earth, the pointing direction of the outdoor unit  60  need not be readjusted after the installer leaves the site. The satellite terminal will, within an error range, remain correctly pointed at the geosynchronous satellite and be in communication with the network and the NOCC.  
         [0031]    Commissioning is generally initiated after the satellite terminal is taken out of pointing mode. FIG. 3 illustrates the PDA  10  receiving data from the indoor unit  65  verifying that the adjustments to and configurations of the satellite terminal have been completed. The installer then brings into commission the satellite terminal that has just been installed by communicating with the indoor unit  65  via the PDA  10 . The indoor unit  65 , in turn, communicates with the NOCC  16 . Data from the ST and the NOCC  16  regarding the commissioning of the newly installed satellite terminal is uploaded into the PDA  10 . This commissioning data includes: 1) information downloaded from the network relating to, for example, transmit synchronization, registration, authentication, software download, login and security; 2) diagnostic information such as test results and measurements of how the newly installed satellite terminal is working; and 3) inventory information pertaining to the newly installed satellite terminal.  
         [0032]    Although the above described process involves configuring and commissioning a single satellite terminal, the installer may then travel with the PDA  10  to configure and commission other satellite terminals before returning to the network service provider  15  since more than one work order can be downloaded to the PDA  10  via the NSP  15  and/or the NOCC  16 . After completing all work orders downloaded via the network service provider  15 , the PDA  10  uploads all of the information pertaining to the completion of the work orders (e.g., serial numbers, GPS information) and the commissioning data to the NSP  15 . This is accomplished without requiring the installer to manually enter information such as alphanumeric data into the PDA  10 . Thus, an installer need only communicate with the network service provider only twice a day, that is, once to download a number of work orders, and again to upload information pertaining to the completion of the work orders. The present invention therefore allows for more efficient communication between the installer and the NSP  15 .  
         [0033]    Although the above-described invention discusses the configuration and commissioning of satellite terminals, the above invention can also be applied to any electronic equipment to change any parameter associate therewith. In the illustrated embodiments, satellite terminals are initialized, registered, commissioned, and repaired. This invention, however, pertains to any type of adjustment to equipment located in the field.  
         [0034]    While the preferred embodiments have been set forth with a degree of particularity, it is to be understood that changes and modifications could be made to the construction thereof which would fall within the teachings of the claimed invention as set forth in the following claims.