Patent ID: 7508342

Claim:
A method for mitigating blockages in a line of sight between an antenna carried on a mobile platform, and a remotely located communications device, the method comprising: supporting the antenna on a support component; and using a processing system to determine if a line of sight between the antenna and the communications device is at least partially blocked; creating a blockage database of information indicative of blockage information relating to blockages caused by structures being carried on said mobile platform, with a line of sight to said communications device, depending on one of a location, a direction of travel and an attitude of said mobile platform, and said blockage database having at least one alternative location for said antenna being carried on said mobile platform that restores an unimpeded line of sight from said antenna to said communications device when said antenna is physically moved, with respect to said mobile platform, to said one alternative location; using the processing system to access said blockage database to determine if said line of sight blockage between said antenna and said communications device can be mitigated by moving said antenna from an existing position to a different position, relative to said mobile platform; and causing said antenna to be physically moved from said existing position to said alternative position obtained from said blockage database, to mitigate said line of sight blockage and to improve antenna performance.