METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMALLY ORIENTING A SATELLITE DISH

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimally orienting a satellite dish in a satellite television system to receive signals from more than one satellite. The satellite television system comprises a satellite dish, a plurality of low noise block converters (LNB), a receiver and a television. The apparatus generates an on-screen display having a signal strength display for more than one satellite. In operation, a user executes the dish tuning software on the satellite receiver and the receiver displays a graphical interface on a television screen. The interface comprises a plurality of radio buttons, one for each satellite. Additionally, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, a third radio button is provided that facilitates a fine tuning process.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMALLY ORIENTING A SATELLITE DISH BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1 . Field of the Invention The invention relates to satellite television systems and, more particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for optimally orienting a satellite dish to receive signals from a plurality of satellites. 2. Description of the Background Art A satellite television receiver system comprises a satellite dish, a low noise block converter (LNB), a receiver and a television. The satellite dish and LNB are remotely located from the receiver, e.g., the dish and LNB are on the roof and the receiver is in the house. To orient the dish such that it points at a proper satellite, the receiver generates an on-screen display. This display shows the received signal strength and, to enable a single person to align the dish, a tone is generated that changes pitch with the magnitude of the signal strength. Thus, the user points the dish and physically moves the dish until a high pitched tone is heard. The user then views the display of the relative signal strength, e.g., a number between 0 and 1 00, to identify the magnitude of the received signal. The dish is now properly aligned with the satellite. One drawback of the first generation satellite television receiver systems was that the dish received signals from a single satellite. Recent advances in satellite television systems use an elliptical dish antenna having a plurality of LNBs that simultaneously receives signals from multiple satellites. However, pointing the dish to receive signals from multiple satellites is rather complicated. Heretofore, there has been no method developed for consumer's to optimally orient an elliptical satellite dish to receive signals from multiple satellites. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a method and apparatus for optimally orienting a satellite dish to receive signals from a plurality of satellites. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by a method and apparatus for optimally orienting a satellite dish in a satellite television system to receive signals from more than one satellite. The satellite television system comprises a satellite dish, a plurality of low noise block converters (LNB), a receiver and a television. The apparatus generates an on-screen display having a signal strength display for more than one satellite. In operation, a user executes the dish orientation software on the satellite receiver and the receiver displays a graphical, interactive display on a television screen. The display comprises a plurality of radio buttons, one for each satellite. Additionally, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, a third radio button is provided that facilitates a "fine tuning" process. When a satellite radio button is selected, a first signal strength display (e.g., a bar graph having a range of 0 to 1 00) displays the relative signal strength of the first satellite. The satellite dish elevation and tilt is adjusted to increase the signal strength. Once the signal strength achieves a level that allows the forward error correction (FEC) process to lock, a "signal is locked" text appears on the display. The user then selects the second radio button for the second satellite and again adjusts the elevation and tilt of the dish until a signal strength display associated with the second button reaches a level that causes the "signal is locked" text to appear. The first radio button is then selected to ensure that the satellite signal strength is still locked. If the signal is not locked, the user must reestablish lock by adjusting the dish. Once both signals are locked, the receiver receives and decodes satellite signals from both satellites. The alternative embodiment adds another radio button to facilitate fine tuning of the satellite signal strength to achieve a balance between the signals, i.e., achieve equal strength in each of the satellite signals. In the fine tuning mode, the receiver automatically alternates between selection of the satellites. As such, periodically (e.g., every four seconds) the receiver switches between satellites. The user may "tweak" the elevation and tilt during these periods to achieve a maximal signal strength for each satellite. Additionally, to aid the user in adjusting the dish, each signal strength display is accompanied by a tone whose pitch/frequency increases with increasing signal strength. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a satellite television system; FIG. 2 depicts an on-screen display that is used to optimally orient a satellite dish for the system of FIG. 1 ; and FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of a method of optimally orienting a satellite dish in accordance with the present invention. To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a satellite television system 1 00. The system 1 00 comprises a plurality of satellites 1 02A and 1 02B, a satellite dish 1 04, a plurality of low noise block converters 1 06A and 1 06B, receiver 1 08 and a television 1 1 0. To orient the satellite dish 1 04, the receiver 1 08 detects the signal strength received by the dish 1 08 and displays that signal strength within a graphical display 1 20 on the television 1 1 0. By adjusting the azimuth and elevation of the dish and while monitoring the display 1 20, a user can optimally orient the dish 1 04 to receive signals from multiple satellites. The receiver 1 08 comprises systems and subsystems for receiving and displaying programming from the satellites. However, these portions of the receiver are not important to the present invention and, as such, are not depicted in FIG. 1 . The components of the receiver that implement the present invention comprise a signal detector 1 24, a central processing unit (CPU) 1 1 2, a memory 1 14, I/O circuits 1 1 6, support circuitry 1 1 8, and a display generator 1 22. The signal detector 1 24 (e.g., the tuner) monitors the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signals received from each of the satellites and produces a digital value that represents the SNR of the signals received by the dish 1 04. The SNR is assumed to be proportional to the signal power received by the dish. The detected signal strength is coupled to the CPU 1 1 2 to facilitate display generation. The CPU 1 1 2 is supported by memory 1 1 4, I/O circuits 1 1 6 and support circuits 1 1 8. The memory 1 1 4 may be any combination of random access memory, read only memory, removable storage devices and mass storage devices. The memory 1 1 4 stores the software routine(s) that are executed by the CPU 1 1 2 to produce the on-screen display that is used to facilitate satellite dish orientation. The I/O circuits 1 1 6 provide a well known interfaces for the user to enter information via a remote control into the receiver 1 08. The support circuitry 1 1 8 comprises well known circuits such as cache, clock circuits, power supplies, and the like. The receiver 1 08 also comprises a display generator 1 22 that produces the graphics for the on-screen display that aids the user in orienting a satellite dish 1 04. FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative on-screen display 1 20 that is used to aid a user in orienting a satellite dish in a system having two satellites. The display 1 20 comprises an operation selection region 208, a first satellite information region 200, a second satellite information region 202, a fine tuning information region 204, and a satellite location information region 206. The operation selection region 208 comprises a sequence of selectable buttons that facilitate entry of information into the receiver. Button selection is implemented via a control device such as an infrared remote control, front panel buttons, wireless keyboard and mouse, and the like. Button 21 0 launches an input screen that requests the user to select the type of satellite dish that they are using, i.e., is the dish a multiple satellite dish or a single satellite dish. If the user selects a dish that is capable of receiving signals from only a single satellite, then a prior art tuning display for a single satellite is displayed to the user. A multiple satellite selection enables the display 1 20. To identify the approximate location of the satellite in the sky, the user must input their location. The location can be input by entering the user's zip code, city, or latitude and longitude. This information is entered by selecting one of the buttons 21 2, 214, and 21 6 and entering the requested information. Once all the information is entered, the user selects the signal meter button 21 8 to return to the display 1 20. The receiver uses the user's location information to look up in a table an approximate location of a center line between the two satellites in the sky with respect to the user's location. This center line location information is displayed in the satellite location information region 206. The user can use this information to initially point the dish in the approximate direction of the satellite. To aid the user, the satellite dish has tilt (with respect to the horizon) and elevation scales located on a mounting bracket for the dish. To achieve accurate dish orientation, the user selects a satellite radio button 220 or 222 associated with a satellite information region 200 or 202. The satellite information region 200 or 202 comprises a signal strength meter, a numerical current signal strength value, a peak signal strength value, a transponder identification number, and signal lock indicator text. The operation of these portions of the display shall be discussed with respect to FIG. 3 below. Suffice it to say that each region is used to achieve signal lock while the elevation and tilt of the satellite dish are adjusted. Once signal lock is achieved, the user may optionally select the fine tuning radio button 224 to activate the fine tuning process. The fine tuning process automatically alternates between selection of each satellite. The alternation occurs, for example, every 4 seconds. While each satellite's information region is active, the user can "tweak" the orientation of the dish to optimize the signal strength for the "active" satellite. By repeatedly tweaking the dish orientation, the signal strength can be optimized for both satellites. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a process 300 for optimally orienting a satellite dish in accordance with the invention. The process 300 begins at step 302 and proceeds to step 304. At step 304, the user selects the type of satellite dish being used, i.e., single or multiple satellite dish. If the dish is a single satellite dish, the process proceeds to a prior art single satellite dish orientation process 306. If the dish is a multiple satellite dish, the process proceeds from step 304 to step 308. At step 308, the user is prompted to enter their location information, i.e., enter their zip code, city, or latitude/longitude. At step 31 0, the user selects the signal meter button. At step 31 2, the user selects a satellite radio button associated with one of the satellites. At step 31 4, the user adjusts the orientation of the dish to cause a rising signal strength in the signal strength display. The adjustment continues until the satellite information region indicates that the signal is locked. To assist in adjusting the dish by a single user, the receiver produces a tone having a frequency or pitch that increases with rising signal strength. As such, the user can adjust the dish without directly viewing the display. At step 31 6, the process 300 queries whether the dish has been oriented to all the satellites such that all the signals from the satellites are locked. If the dish needs to be adjusted for other satellites, the routine proceeds to step 31 2 where the user selects the radio button of another satellite and the dish is adjusted until lock is achieved. Once all the satellite signals are locked, the user may continue adjusting the dish in an attempt to maximize the signal strength received from each satellite using the process of steps 31 2, 31 4 and 31 6 and then exit the process along path 326. In essence, the user is attempting to attain a "best compromise" amongst the signals. However, an alternative embodiment of the invention automates this "fine tuning" process. To begin the fine tuning process, the user selects, at step 31 8, the fine tuning radio button and the process 300 proceeds to step 320. At step 320, the process periodically switches between the satellite information regions and, at step 322, the user adjusts the dish. The process switches between satellites, for example, every four seconds. Thus, for four seconds, the user can adjust the dish to maximize the signal strength from one satellite, then four seconds to maximize the signal strength for the next satellite and so on until the user has optimized the signal strength received from all the satellites. The process ends at step 324. In summary, the invention provides a method and apparatus for orienting a satellite dish in a satellite television system such that signals from a plurality of satellites can be received. Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1 . A method of orienting a satellite dish to receive signals from a plurality of satellites comprising the steps of: generating an on-screen display comprising a signal strength meter for each of the satellites; selecting a particular satellite from a menu of satellites; adjusting elevation and tilt of the satellite dish while monitoring the signal strength meter of the selected satellite; and selecting other satellites and adjusting the satellite dish while monitoring the signal strength meter of the selected satellite. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining when the dish has been oriented to enable a receiver to achieve signal lock on signals from all the satellites; and automatically switching between satellites while further orienting the satellite dish. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of automatically switching between satellites switches periodically. 4. An apparatus for orienting a satellite dish to receive signals from a plurality of satellites comprising: means for generating an on-screen display comprising a signal strength meter for each of the satellites; means for selecting a particular satellite from a menu of satellites; means for adjusting elevation and tilt of the satellite dish while monitoring the signal strength meter of the selected satellite; and means for selecting other satellites and adjusting the satellite dish while monitoring the signal strength meter of the selected satellite. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising the steps of: means for determining when the dish has been oriented to enable a receiver to achieve signal lock on signals from all the satellites; and means for automatically switching between satellites while further orienting the satellite dish. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for automatically switching between satellites switches periodically between satellites. 7. An on-screen display comprising: a plurality of selectable satellite information regions, each region comprising a signal strength meter. 8. The on-screen display of claim 7 wherein each region further comprises a signal lock indicator. 9. The on-screen display of claim 7 further comprising: a selectable fine tuning region. 1 0. The on-screen display of claim 7 further comprising: a satellite location information region that displays a centerline orientation between available satellites. 1 1 . The on-screen display of claim 7 further comprising: an information input region.

Inventors: CHERRY PAUL CHARLES, CURTIS JOHN JOSEPH III, RANDALL DARREL WAYNE, WETZEL DANIEL THOMAS, CHERRY, PAUL, CHARLES, CURTIS, JOHN, JOSEPH, III, RANDALL, DARREL, WAYNE, WETZEL, DANIEL, THOMAS
Applicants: CHERRY PAUL CHARLES, CURTIS JOHN JOSEPH III, RANDALL DARREL WAYNE, THOMSON LICENSING SA, WETZEL DANIEL THOMAS, CHERRY, PAUL, CHARLES, CURTIS, JOHN, JOSEPH, III, RANDALL, DARREL, WAYNE, THOMSON LICENSING S.A., WETZEL, DANIEL, THOMAS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01Q
IPC codes: H01Q3