# US 10,122,440 B2 · Remote spectrum analysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,440 B2 - Document ID: US10122440B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/748,311 - Filed: 2015-06-24 - Published: 2016-12-29 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-24 - Assignees: Hughes Network Systems, LLC - Applicants: Hughes Network Systems, LLC - Inventors: Brian Smith; Zengquan Fan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122440B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/18528: {Satellite systems for providing two-way communications service to a network of fixed stations, i.e. fixed satellite service or very small aperture terminal [VSAT] system} - H04B 7/18517: {Transmission equipment in earth stations} - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A computer for a communications terminal includes a memory and a processor. The computer is programmed to identify a spectrum analysis test triggering event. The computer specifies a set of test parameters that include a test frequency range. The computer further sets a receiver to receive sequentially a plurality of signals. Each signal is received in one of a plurality of frequency bands within the frequency range. The computer measures, via the receiver, at least one characteristic of the signal received in each frequency band. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A very small aperture terminal comprising a computer comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to: recognize a failure event during operation in a first mode for exchanging messages with a second terminal; initiate a spectrum analysis test based on recognizing the failure event; generate one or more measurement parameters based on a type of the recognized failure event; specify a set of test parameters based at least in part on the generated one or more measurement parameters, the set of test parameters including one or more of a test frequency range, a resolution, a dwell time, an RX polarization and a number of passes; reconfigure, for the very small aperture terminal in radio frequency communications with the second communications terminal, a receiver in the very small aperture terminal from the first mode for exchanging messages with the second communications terminal to a second mode for receiving sequentially a plurality of signals from the second communications terminal, each signal being received in one of a plurality of frequency bands within the test frequency range based on the specified set of test parameters; and measure, via the receiver, at least one characteristic of the signal received respectively in each frequency band. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, the computer further programmed to: select the plurality of frequency bands such that substantially all frequencies within the specified frequency test range are measured. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, the computer further programmed to: store at least one of the measured signal characteristics from at least one of the settings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The very small aperture terminal of claim 3, the computer further programmed to: analyze the stored signal characteristics to determine a spectrum distribution over the frequency test range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The very small aperture terminal of claim 4, the computer further programmed to: store data representing the spectrum distribution. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the signal includes I and Q sample values, wherein the I value includes an amplitude and phase as a function of time of a real component of the signal and the Q value includes an amplitude and phase as a function of time of an imaginary component of the signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, the computer further programmed to: receive a trigger event from at least one of user input and a remote communications device in communication with the first communications terminal; and initiate the spectrum analysis test based on the trigger event. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, wherein specifying the spectrum analysis test includes: identifying a start frequency; identifying an end frequency; and identifying a frequency band width for each measurement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, the computer further programmed to: send a notification to one or more remote communications devices that the very small aperture terminal is out of service prior to starting the spectrum analysis test. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, the computer further programmed to: reset the receiver for communications with one or more remote communications devices following the spectrum analysis test; and send the notification to at least one of the one or more remote communications devices that the very small aperture terminal is back in service. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, wherein at least one of the test parameters is stored in a memory communicatively coupled with the computer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The very small aperture terminal of claim 1, the computer further programmed to: receive at least one of the test parameters from at least one of user input and a remote communications device. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: recognizing, by a computer in a very small aperture terminal, a failure event during operation in a first mode for exchanging messages with a second terminal; initiating a spectrum analysis test triggering event based on recognizing the failure event; generating one or more measurement parameters based on a type of the recognized failure event; specifying a set of test parameters based at least in part on the generated one or more measurement parameters, the set of test parameters including one or more of a test frequency range, a resolution, a dwell time, an RX polarization and a number of passes; reconfiguring a receiver in the very small aperture terminal from the first mode for exchanging messages with the second communications terminal to a second mode for receiving sequentially a plurality of signals from the second communications terminal, each signal being received in one of a plurality of frequency bands within the test frequency range based on the specified set of test parameters; and measuring, via the receiver, at least one characteristic of the signal received respectively in each frequency band. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic of the signal includes I and Q values of the signal; the I value including an amplitude and phase as a function of time of a real component of the signal and the Q value including an amplitude and phase as a function of time of an imaginary component of the signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: storing the I and Q values in a memory; and analyzing the stored signal characteristics to determine a spectrum distribution over the frequency test range. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: storing data representing the spectrum distribution. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: identifying a trigger event from at least one of user input, a remote communications device communicatively coupled with the very small aperture terminal and data indicating that a failure event has occurred during operation of the very small aperture terminal; and initiating the spectrum analysis test based on the trigger event. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: sending a notification to one or more remote communications devices that the very small aperture terminal is out of service, prior to starting the spectrum analysis test; resetting the receiver for communications with one or more remote communications devices following the spectrum analysis test; and sending notification to at least one of the one or more remote communications devices that the very small aperture terminal is back in service. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving at least one of the test parameters from at least one of user input and a remote communications device.