Multi-medium closed-loop controlled satellite broadcast network for simple end-user operation

Claim 2

A satellite-program user equipment, comprising: a fixed-location microwave radio receiver for connection to a steerable-dish antenna for receiving plurality of satellite signals comprising program and command signal transmissions broadcast from a plurality of orbiting satellites; a program decoder connected to the microwave radio receiver for deciphering individual programs and commands from said received satellite signals; a pager-service receiver for detecting radio signals and decoding commands addressed to said user equipment; a command decoder connected to receive said commands from the program decoder and the pager-service receiver and for organizing said commands into control signals; a telephone interface for communicating with a remote network controller in charge of said program and command signal transmission broadcasts; and a diagnostic unit connected to receive condition information from the microwave radio receiver, the program decoder and the pager-service receiver and to report an output with a phone connection initiated by the telephone interface to a network controller.

Claim 3

The equipment of claim 1, further comprising: a command decoder connected to receive command signals originated from said network controller from the microwave radio receiver, the program decoder, the pager-service and the telephone interface and to output control signals in response to tune the microwave radio receiver.

Claim 4

The equipment of claim 2, further comprising: a dish-pointing controller connected to the command decoder for controlling the aiming of said steerable-dish antenna.

Claim 5

The equipment of claim 1, further comprising: a time-of-day clock providing for time information to time-tag said conditions stored in a local memory connected to the diagnostic unit.

Claim 6

A satellite-program user equipment, comprising: a fixed-location microwave radio receiver for connection to a steerable-dish antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite signals comprising program and command signal transmissions broadcast from a plurality of orbiting satellites; a program decoder connected to the microwave radio receiver for deciphering individual programs and commands from said received satellite signals; a pager-service receiver for detecting radio signals and decoding commands addressed to said user equipment; a command decoder connected to receive said commands from the program decoder and the pager-service receiver and for organizing said commands into control signals; a telephone interface for communicating with a remote network controller in charge of said program and command signal transmission broadcasts; a diagnostic unit connected to receive condition information from the microwave radio receiver, the program decoder and the pager-service receiver and to report said conditions with a phone connection initiated by the telephone interface to a network controller; a command decoder connected to receive command signals originated from said network controller from the microwave radio receiver, the program decoder, the pager-service and the telephone interface and to output control signals in response to tune the microwave radio receiver; and a dish-pointing controller connected to the command decoder for controlling the aiming of said steerable-dish antenna.

Claim 7

A satellite-program user equipment, comprising: a fixed-location microwave radio receiver for connection to a steerable-dish antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite signals comprising program and command signal transmissions broadcast from a plurality of orbiting satellites; a program decoder connected to the microwave radio receiver for deciphering individual programs and commands from said received satellite signals; a pager-service receiver for detecting radio signals and decoding commands addressed to said user equipment; a command decoder connected to receive said commands from the program decoder and the pager-service receiver and for organizing said commands into control signals; a telephone interface for communicating with a remote network controller in charge of said program and command signal transmission broadcasts; a diagnostic unit connected to receive condition information from the microwave radio receiver, the program decoder and the pager-service receiver and to report said conditions with a phone connection initiated by the telephone interface to a network controller; a command decoder connected to receive command signals originated from said network controller from the microwave radio receiver, the program decoder, the pager-service and the telephone interface and to output control signals in response to tune the microwave radio receiver; and a dish-pointing controller connected to the command decoder for controlling the aiming of said steerable-dish antenna.

Claim 8

A computer-implemented process for controlling the tuning of a satellite receiver and the aiming of a dish antenna at a user site without direct user intervention, comprising the steps of: checking the tuning and reception quality of said satellite receiver and logging its condition in a memory; checking the tuning and reception quality of a pager receiver and logging its condition in said memory; initiating a report from said user site over a telephone connection to a network controller if said receivers condition indicates a problem requiring attention; receiving a command from said network controller via one of said satellite receiver, said pager receiver and said telephone connection; and controlling said tuning of said satellite receiver and the pointing of an antenna connected to said satellite receiver according to said commands from said network controller.

Claim 9

A computer-implemented process for controlling the tuning of a satellite receiver and the aiming of a dish antenna at a user site without direct user intervention, comprising the steps of: checking the tuning and reception quality of said satellite receiver and logging its condition in a memory; checking the tuning and reception quality of a pager receiver and logging its condition in said memory; initiating a report from said user site over a telephone connection to a network controller if said receivers condition indicates a problem requiring attention; receiving a command from said network controller via one of said satellite receiver, said pager receiver and said telephone connection; and controlling said tuning of said satellite receiver and the pointing of an antenna connected to said satellite receiver according to said commands from said network controller.