Abstract:
A method for validating antenna installation to a broadcast provider to ensure proper alignment of the antenna with the broadcast provider&#39;s satellite system. The feedback provided by the customer, the installer, and signal strength and quality information communicated from the receiver to the broadcast provider are used to confirm proper installation. Upon confirmation of proper installation, the data can be used to troubleshoot equipment, or issue payment to the installer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to digital satellite communication systems, and more particularly to a method for reporting installation of a satellite receiver antenna at a customer site.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In modern digital satellite communication systems, a ground-based transmitter beams an uplink signal to a satellite positioned in a geosynchronous orbit. The satellite in turn relays the signal back to a ground-based receiver antenna installed at a customer site, such as a household or office.  
         [0003]     Direct broadcast Satellite (DBS) systems allow households to receive digital television, audio, data, and video directly from a geosynchronous satellite. Each household subscribing to the system receives the digital broadcast signals on a satellite dish. The typical DBS home receiver includes an outdoor satellite antenna, usually configured as an eighteen inch diameter parabolic dish, and a television set-top decoder module, or an IRD. Cables link the antenna to the IRD and television. Wiring, switches and other distribution components are also included.  
         [0004]     Customers, or subscribers, can install satellite receivers without professional assistance. However, more often, an installer is used to mount the satellite dish in a direct line of sight with the broadcast satellite. Once the dish is mounted, it should not need adjustment.  
         [0005]     Once the dish is installed, fine tuning of the alignment is performed by using an on-screen signal strength meter built into the satellite receiver IRD. The installer adjusts the antenna position until the on-screen meter shows the signal strength and signal quality has been maximized.  
         [0006]     Often satellite broadcasters rely on professional installers to properly install the systems at a customer site. Because the installers performance directly reflects the services of the broadcast provider, it is important to monitor and control the installation process. There is a need for a system and method to monitor and control the installation process.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is a system and method for allowing confirmation of a proper installation at a customer site. The present invention allows a satellite broadcast provider to confirm proper installation without relying on the installer or expecting the customer to assess the installation.  
         [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method for installing a satellite receiver antenna. It is another object of the present invention to closely monitor and control the installation of the satellite receiver antenna that is installed by a professional installer contracted by the satellite broadcast provider. It is still another object of the present invention to utilize the feedback provided by the present invention in troubleshooting and payment to the installer.  
         [0009]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be had to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a figure of a typical direct broadcast satellite system and antenna system at a customer site;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of the method of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the communication between the installed system and the satellite broadcast provider. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     The present invention is described herein with reference to a geosynchronous direct broadcast satellite system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  includes a ground-based broadcast transmitter  12 , a satellite system  14  having at least one satellite and a ground-based customer site  16 . The customer site  16  has a dish antenna  18  and a receiver/decoder box, or IRD  20 , located within the home and connected to a television  22 .  
         [0015]     The broadcast transmitter  12  receives digitally modulated television and/or audio signals and beams them to satellite  14 . The satellite  14  translates the signals and beams them to the dish antenna  18  located at the customer site  16 . The receiver  20  demodulates the signals for viewing on the television  22 .  
         [0016]     The installation process includes fixing the dish antenna  18  to a rigid stable surface. The installer then moves the antenna  18  until the IRD  20  measures a received signal strength that exceeds a predetermined value. The signal strength value is stored in the IRD  20  for communication to the broadcast provider. If the antenna is intended to receive signals from multiple satellite locations, the installer must refine the position of the antenna to achieve the necessary signal strength for all satellite locations.  
         [0017]     According to the present invention, the IRD  20  assesses signal strength measurements, and other signals that are available to the IRD and makes a determination of the signal quality and detects from which satellite locations the IRD is actually receiving signals. Referring now to  FIG. 2  there is shown a flowchart of the method  100  of the present invention. The IRD assesses  102  signal strength measurements along with the existence of L-band signals. In the installation, the IRD cycles through a plurality of potential configurations to determine the optimum antenna configuration. These signals are stored in the IRD and used in the assessment process. The measurements may need to be averaged over a period of time to account for any transient interference such as rain-fade.  
         [0018]     The collected information is reported  104  to a data processing facility at the broadcast provider, where it is compared  106 . The comparison  106  of the installation configuration and the communicated signal strength is against an expected configuration and expected signal strength. The comparison may also be made to the signal strength and installation configuration reported by the installer or customer at the time of the installation. In addition, the comparison  106  may be made using a combination of the reported and expected data. It is possible that the reported data comes directly from the IRD  20  or from the installer. The collected and compared information allows the broadcast provider to make a determination  108  that the installation was done properly and the installation configuration is correct.  
         [0019]     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the determination  108  by the broadcast provider may be used to determine payment for the installation to the installer who provided the service or in trouble shooting processes. This allows the broadcast provider to closely monitor and control the installation process thereby ensuring quality services to their customers.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows the communication process  50  between the data processing facility and the IRD  20  at the customer site. This communication may occur at the time of installation, at a specified frequency, e.g., weekly or monthly, or upon request by the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) provider. The request may be by way of instructions received by satellite, or coincident with communications by telephone with a customer service agent. The request may also be made by the customer, installer, or technician. Typically this information is conveyed by telephone, but other communication paths may be used, such as satellite, cable, digital subscriber line, and terrestrial wireless.  
         [0021]     The expected configuration information may be a set value that is a current expected configuration, or it may be developed by averaging the installation configuration information provided over time by the IRD or the data processing facility. It may also be developed through historical trending of collected data. The historical data may be provided by either the IRD or the data processing facility. Likewise, the expected signal strength data may be a current value, or developed by averaging the signal strength information over time by the IRD or the data processing facility, or it may be historical trending as well. And, as with the configuration information, the historical trending of the communicated signal strength data may be provided by either the IRD or the data processing facility.  
         [0022]     The present invention may also be used in diagnostic applications. The IRD may report signal strength, or installation configuration information over time. A comparison is made with the expected information, as described above. The expected information may be the values initially reported at the time of installation, or it may be the current, averaged, and historical trend data described above. In any event, changes between the currently reported data and the expected data allow an installer, technician, or customer to troubleshoot problems with the alignment of the antenna, the antenna itself, or its related components.  
         [0023]     The invention covers all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.