# US 12,113,605 B2 · Determining an attenuation environment of a satellite communication terminal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,605 B2 - Document ID: US12113605B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/798,785 - Filed: 2020-02-24 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-22 - Assignees: ViaSat, Inc. - Applicants: Viasat Inc. - Inventors: Ramanamurthy V. Darapu; Ian A. Cleary - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113605B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/18513: {Transmission in a satellite or space-based system} - G01S 19/22: Multipath-related issues - G01S 19/28: Satellite selection - G01S 19/21: Interference related issues {; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service} - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 8/20: Transfer of user or subscriber data - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Described techniques and apparatuses relate to determining an attenuation environment surrounding a satellite terminal in a satellite communication system. The satellite terminal may receive signals from an auxiliary satellite system, and determine aspects of an attenuation environment that may affect communications with a communications satellite system. For example, transmissions from an auxiliary satellite system may be associated with a respective location of the transmitting satellite in order to define an attenuation profile for the satellite terminal antenna assembly. Subsequent signals from the auxiliary satellite system may be compared with the attenuation map, and the comparison may be used to identify a diagnostic condition for communications with a communications satellite system. In some examples the comparison of signals to the attenuation profile may indicate an obstruction between the satellite terminal antennas and a communications satellite, or a misalignment of a satellite terminal antenna assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for communications at a satellite terminal, the method comprising: receiving, at the satellite terminal, signals transmitted from one or more first satellites as the one or more first satellites traverse respective orbital paths across the sky relative to the satellite terminal; determining a mapping of an attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on mapping one or more radio frequency (RF) signal characteristics associated with the signals received from the one or more first satellites with respective positions of the one or more first satellites along their respective orbital paths when transmitting the signals and on applying spatial filtering for interpolating the one or more RF signal characteristics between the respective positions, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment indicates one or more obstructions between the satellite terminal and the one or more first satellites across two spatial dimensions; and installing an antenna of the satellite terminal with a boresight alignment aligned with a second satellite based at least in part on the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal, wherein the second satellite is not of the one or more first satellites, and wherein the antenna of the satellite terminal comprises an array of antenna elements operable for electronically configuring a direction of transmission or reception that is based at least in part on the boresight alignment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a communications link with the second satellite based at least in part on installing the antenna with the boresight alignment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the second satellite is associated with a low earth orbit or a medium earth orbit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites comprises: receiving the signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites via a second antenna of the satellite terminal that is configured for unidirectional communications. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring, at the satellite terminal, the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the received signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites; and associating each of the received signals with a respective location of a satellite of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signal, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal is determined based at least in part on the measured one or more RF signal characteristics and the respective locations of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signals. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein determining the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal is based at least in part on a physical location of the satellite terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the signals comprises one or more of: RF signal strength, RF signal attenuation, RF signal interference, RF signal-to-noise ratio, or RF signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first satellites comprises a global navigation satellite system constellation. ### Claim 9 A satellite terminal for communications in a satellite communication system, the satellite terminal comprising: an antenna comprising an array of antenna elements operable for electronically configuring a direction of transmission or reception that is based at least in part on a boresight alignment; a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: receive, at the satellite terminal, signals transmitted from one or more first satellites as the one or more first satellites traverse respective orbital paths across the sky relative to the satellite terminal; determine a mapping of an attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on mapping one or more radio frequency (RF) signal characteristics associated with the signals received from the one or more first satellites with respective positions of the one or more first satellites along their respective orbital paths when transmitting the signals and on applying spatial filtering for interpolating the one or more RF signal characteristics between the respective positions, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment comprising indicates one or more obstructions between the satellite terminal and the one or more first satellites, across two spatial dimensions; and indicate a diagnostic condition for installing the antenna with a boresight alignment aligned with a second satellite based at least in part on the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal, wherein the second satellite is not of the one or more first satellites. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The satellite terminal of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: establish a communications link with the second satellite based at least in part on installing the antenna with the boresight alignment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The satellite terminal of claim 10, wherein the second satellite is associated with a low earth orbit or a medium earth orbit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The satellite terminal of claim 9, further comprising: a second antenna configured for unidirectional communications, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to receive, via the second antenna, the signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The satellite terminal of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: measure, at the satellite terminal, the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the received signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites; and associate each of the received signals with a respective location of a satellite of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signal, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal is determined based at least in part on the measured one or more RF signal characteristics and the respective locations of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The satellite terminal of claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: determine the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on a physical location of the satellite terminal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The satellite terminal of claim 10, wherein the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the signals comprises one or more of: RF signal strength, RF signal attenuation, RF signal interference, RF signal-to-noise ratio, or RF signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The satellite terminal of claim 9, wherein the one or more first satellites comprises a global navigation satellite system constellation. ### Claim 17 A method for communications at a satellite terminal, the method comprising: receiving, at the satellite terminal, signals transmitted from one or more first satellites as the one or more first satellites traverse respective orbital paths across the sky relative to the satellite terminal; determining a mapping of an attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on mapping one or more radio frequency (RF) signal characteristics associated with the signals received from the one or more first satellites with respective positions of the one or more first satellites along their respective orbital paths when transmitting the signals and on applying spatial filtering for interpolating the one or more RF signal characteristics between the respective positions, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment indicates one or more obstructions between the satellite terminal and the one or more first satellites across two spatial dimensions; installing an antenna of the satellite terminal with a boresight alignment aligned with a second satellite based at least in part on the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal, wherein the second satellite is not of the one or more first satellites; and establishing a communications link with the second satellite based at least in part on installing the antenna with the boresight alignment, wherein the second satellite is associated with a low earth orbit or a medium earth orbit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites comprises: receiving the signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites via a second antenna of the satellite terminal that is configured for unidirectional communications. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: measuring, at the satellite terminal, the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the received signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites; and associating each of the received signals with a respective location of a satellite of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signal, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal is determined based at least in part on the measured one or more RF signal characteristics and the respective locations of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein determining the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal is based at least in part on a physical location of the satellite terminal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the signals comprises one or more of: RF signal strength, RF signal attenuation, RF signal interference, RF signal-to-noise ratio, or RF signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more first satellites comprises a global navigation satellite system constellation. ### Claim 23 A method for communications at a satellite terminal, the method comprising: measuring, at the satellite terminal, one or more radio frequency (RF) signal characteristics associated with a plurality of transmissions received from a first satellite; associating each of the plurality of transmissions with a respective location of the first satellite along an orbital path; determining a mapping of an attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on mapping the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the plurality of transmissions received from the first satellite with the respective locations of the first satellite along the orbital path and on applying spatial filtering for interpolating the one or more RF signal characteristics between the respective locations, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment indicates one or more obstructions between the satellite terminal and the first satellite across two spatial dimensions; and installing an antenna of the satellite terminal with a boresight alignment aligned with a second satellite based at least in part on the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal, the second satellite being different from the first satellite. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein measuring the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the plurality of transmissions comprises: receiving the plurality of transmissions via a second antenna of the satellite terminal that is configured for unidirectional communications. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein determining the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal is based at least in part on a physical location of the satellite terminal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the plurality of transmissions comprises one or more of: RF signal strength, RF signal attenuation, RF signal interference, RF signal-to-noise ratio, or RF signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first satellite is one of a plurality of first satellites that comprises a global navigation satellite system constellation. ### Claim 28 A satellite terminal for communications in a satellite communication system, the satellite terminal comprising: an antenna; a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: receive, at the satellite terminal, signals transmitted from one or more first satellites as the one or more first satellites traverse respective orbital paths across the sky relative to the satellite terminal; determine a mapping of an attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on mapping one or more radio frequency (RF) signal characteristics associated with the signals received from the one or more first satellites with respective positions of the one or more first satellites along their respective orbital paths when transmitting the signals and on applying spatial filtering for interpolating the one or more RF signal characteristics between the respective positions, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment indicates one or more obstructions between the satellite terminal and the one or more first satellites across two spatial dimensions; indicate a diagnostic condition for installing the antenna with a boresight alignment aligned with a second satellite based at least in part on the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal, wherein the second satellite is exclusive of the one or more first satellites; and establish a communications link with the second satellite based at least in part on installing the antenna with the boresight alignment, wherein the second satellite is associated with a low earth orbit or a medium earth orbit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The satellite terminal of claim 28, further comprising: a second antenna configured for unidirectional communications, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to receive, via the second antenna, the signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The satellite terminal of claim 28, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: measure, at the satellite terminal, the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the received signals transmitted from the one or more first satellites; and associate each of the received signals with a respective location of a first satellite of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signal, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal is determined based at least in part on the measured one or more RF signal characteristics and the respective locations of the one or more first satellites that transmitted the signals. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The satellite terminal of claim 30, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: determine the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on a physical location of the satellite terminal. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The satellite terminal of claim 28, wherein the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the signals comprises one or more of: RF signal strength, RF signal attenuation, RF signal interference, RF signal-to-noise ratio, or RF signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The satellite terminal of claim 28, wherein the one or more first satellites comprises a global navigation satellite system constellation. ### Claim 34 A satellite terminal for communications in a satellite communication system, the satellite terminal comprising: a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: measure, at the satellite terminal, one or more radio frequency (RF) signal characteristics associated with a plurality of transmissions received from a first satellite; associate each of the plurality of transmissions with a respective location of the first satellite along an orbital path; determine a mapping of an attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on mapping the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the plurality of transmissions received from the first satellite with the respective locations of the first satellite along the orbital path and on applying spatial filtering for interpolating the one or more RF signal characteristics between the respective locations, wherein the mapping of the attenuation environment indicates one or more obstructions between the satellite terminal and the first satellite across two spatial dimensions; and indicate a diagnostic condition for installing an antenna of the satellite terminal with a boresight alignment aligned with a second satellite based at least in part on the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal, the second satellite being different from the first satellite. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The satellite terminal of claim 34, further comprising: a second antenna configured for unidirectional communications, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to receive the plurality of transmissions from the first satellite via the second antenna. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The satellite terminal of claim 34, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the satellite terminal to: determine the mapping of the attenuation environment surrounding the satellite terminal based at least in part on a physical location of the satellite terminal. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The satellite terminal of claim 34, wherein the one or more RF signal characteristics associated with the plurality of transmissions comprises one or more of: RF signal strength, RF signal attenuation, RF signal interference, RF signal-to-noise ratio, or RF signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The satellite terminal of claim 34, wherein the first satellite is one of a plurality of first satellites that comprises a global navigation satellite system constellation.