Patent US6147642A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6147642A
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Method and apparatus for limiting access to satellite communication signals
Assignee: Titantv Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-05
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Granted: 2000-11-14
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Expires: 2018-06-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlling the reception of satellite signals as a function of the location of a receiver for receiving said satellite signals and further as a function of the signal strength of a terrestrially broadcast television signal at said location of the satellite receiver is disclosed. In one embodiment, a GPS receiver and a radio receiver are utilized to control the reception at the location. In another embodiment, a distributed approach is utilized which uses at least two separated servers in which one is used for inputting information relating to a location of the satellite receiver and another server is utilized for determining the relationship of the signal strength of that position to a predetermined threshold and either directly through a hardware connection or indirectly through a display terminal providing for manipulation of the satellite receiver and satellite transmitter combination so as to restrict access to signal reception by said satellite receiver at the location if a strength of a terrestrially broadcast television signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Perry
- 👤 David J. Cechota
- 👤 Kenneth A. Franken
- 👤 Martha S. McCurry
- 👤 Toufic T. Moubarak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4524; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18545; H04B7/18547; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for regulating access to satellite communication signals comprising: means for locating latitude and longitude coordinate for a particular location on the surface of the earth, and generating a location signal in response thereto; means, responsive to said location signal, for generating a signal strength signal which is representative of a strength of a terrestrially broadcast television signal at said particular location; and means for manipulating a combination of a satellite receiver and a satellite transmitter in response to said signal strength signal; so that access to a predetermined satellite signal can be alternatively enabled and disabled for said particular location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for regulating access to satellite communication signals comprising: means for locating latitude and longitude coordinate for a particular location on the surface of the earth, and generating a location signal in response thereto; means, responsive to said location signal, for generating a signal strength signal which is representative of a strength of a terrestrially broadcast television signal at said particular location; and means for manipulating a combination of a satellite receiver and a satellite transmitter in response to said signal strength signal; so that access to a predetermined satellite signal can be alternatively enabled and disabled for said particular location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for locating a longitude and latitude coordinate for a particular location comprises a GPS receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for generating a signal strength signal comprises a radio receiver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for locating a latitude and longitude coordinate for a particular location includes a geocoding server which takes street addresses and generates corresponding latitude and longitude coordinates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for generating signal strength signals includes a signal server utilizing a Longley-Rice signal strength calculator to determine a geographic reception area having a signal strength above a predetermined threshold and further using a Puckett point-in-polygon tester to compare said coordinates with points inside said geographic reception area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for locating a latitude and longitude coordinate for a particular location includes a geocoding server which takes street addresses and generates corresponding latitude and longitude coordinates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for manipulating includes a display screen for visually displaying information relating to a satellite communication signal access characteristic for said particular location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said geocoding server is a first computer coupled to a computer network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said signal strength server is provided by said computer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of regulating access to satellite communication signals comprising: determining geographic reference information for a particular location on the surface of the earth wherein said determining geographic reference information utilizes a geocode server; generating signal strength signals representative of a signal strength of a predetermined terrestrially broadcast signal at said particular location; inhibiting use of a predetermined satellite signal in response to said signal strength signal, when said signal strength signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of regulating access to satellite communication signals comprising: determining geographic reference information for a particular location on the surface of the earth wherein said determining geographic reference information utilizes a geocode server; generating signal strength signals representative of a signal strength of a predetermined terrestrially broadcast signal at said particular location; inhibiting use of a predetermined satellite signal in response to said signal strength signal, when said signal strength signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 10 wherein said determining geographic reference information utilizes a GPS receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 10 wherein said determining geographic reference information utilizes a geocode server.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 12 wherein said inhibiting use of a predetermined satellite signal utilizes a display screen to display access information relating to an access characteristic.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of regulating satellite communication signals comprising the steps of: receiving an address of a predetermined location and generating a geographic reference signal having a predetermined signal format in response thereto; determining a signal strength signal representative of a strength of a television signal received at said predetermined location; and comparing said signal strength signal to a predetermined threshold and generating in response thereto a satellite signal control signal for regulating access to satellite signals received at said predetermined location.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of regulating satellite communication signals comprising the steps of: receiving an address of a predetermined location and generating a geographic reference signal having a predetermined signal format in response thereto; determining a signal strength signal representative of a strength of a television signal received at said predetermined location; and comparing said signal strength signal to a predetermined threshold and generating in response thereto a satellite signal control signal for regulating access to satellite signals received at said predetermined location.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus comprising: means for receiving an address of a predetermined location and generating a geographic reference signal having a predetermined signal format in response thereto; means for determining a signal strength signal representative of a strength of a television signal received at said predetermined location; and means for comparing said signal strength signal to a predetermined threshold and generating in response thereto a satellite signal control signal for regulating access to satellite signals received at said predetermined location.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus comprising: means for receiving an address of a predetermined location and generating a geographic reference signal having a predetermined signal format in response thereto; means for determining a signal strength signal representative of a strength of a television signal received at said predetermined location; and means for comparing said signal strength signal to a predetermined threshold and generating in response thereto a satellite signal control signal for regulating access to satellite signals received at said predetermined location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for receiving an address and generating a geographic reference signal is a first computer utilizing a Web browser to communicate with a coupled second computer utilizing a geocode server.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for determining is a third computer coupled to said second computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus of claim 17 further including a display device for displaying information relating to said satellite signal control signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
140 words
A satellite signal control apparatus comprising: a browser means at a first location for receiving information relating to a street address of a second location, a geocoding means for generating a latitude and longitude reference signal corresponding to said street address for said second location; a processor based means, disposed at a third location and coupled to said first location via a computer network, said processor based means for generating a signal strength signal representative of a strength of a terrestrially broadcast signal at said second location, where said processor based means for generating utilizes a point in polygon approach and a Longley-Rice signal strength calculator to generate said signal strength signal; said processor based means for generating further for comparing said signal strength signal with a predetermined reference level and generating in response thereto a satellite signal control signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
140 words
A satellite signal control apparatus comprising: a browser means at a first location for receiving information relating to a street address of a second location, a geocoding means for generating a latitude and longitude reference signal corresponding to said street address for said second location; a processor based means, disposed at a third location and coupled to said first location via a computer network, said processor based means for generating a signal strength signal representative of a strength of a terrestrially broadcast signal at said second location, where said processor based means for generating utilizes a point in polygon approach and a Longley-Rice signal strength calculator to generate said signal strength signal; said processor based means for generating further for comparing said signal strength signal with a predetermined reference level and generating in response thereto a satellite signal control signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-14 | 2004-05-15 | 2004-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-14 | 2008-05-15 | 2008-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-14 | 2012-05-15 | 2012-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |