# US 12,183,071 B2 · Methods, devices, and systems for identifying potential obstructions of antennae > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,183,071 B2 - Document ID: US12183071B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/538,968 - Filed: 2023-12-13 - Published: 2024-04-04 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-29 - Assignees: DISH Network L.L.C. - Applicants: DISH Network L.L.C. - Inventors: Rajiv Singh Cullen Pal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183071B2 ## CPC - G06V 20/13: Satellite images - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - G06T 7/20: Analysis of motion (motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51) - G06T 7/70: Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) - G06V 20/52: Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) - H01Q 1/125: {Means for positioning} - H01Q 1/247: {with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar} - H01Q 19/12: wherein the surfaces are concave (H01Q19/18 takes precedence) - H01Q 19/132: {Horn reflector antennas; Off-set feeding} - H04N 7/185: {from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control} - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Disclosed is a system including a content receiver and an antenna coupled to the content receiver. A camera is mounted on the antenna. The content receiver includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver to: output a control signal to the camera mounted on the antenna, receive image data from the camera mounted on the antenna, determine that the image data received from the camera mounted on the antenna indicates a potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna, and output a message indicating that the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna device has been detected, in response to determining that the image data received from the camera mounted on the antenna indicates the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A content receiver device comprising: a first interface device; a processor coupled to the first interface device; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver device to: output a control signal via the first interface device, receive image data via the first interface device after the control signal is output via the first interface device, determine that the image data received via the first interface device indicates a potential or actual obstruction of an antenna device coupled to the content receiver device or movement of the antenna device coupled to the content receiver device, and output a message indicating that the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device coupled to the content receiver device or movement of the antenna device coupled to the first interface device has been detected, in response to determining that the image data received via the first interface device indicates the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device coupled to the content receiver device or movement of the antenna device coupled to the first interface device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The content receiver device according to claim 1, further comprising: a transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver device to output the message via the transceiver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The content receiver device according to claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver device to: receive input from a remote control device, and output the message via the transceiver in response to determining that the image data received via the first interface device indicates the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device coupled to the content receiver device or movement of the antenna device coupled to the first interface device and in response to receiving the input from the remote control device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The content receiver device according to claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver device to: receive a request from another device, and transmit via the transceiver the image data received via the first interface device in response to receiving the request from the other device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The content receiver device according to claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver device to: receive a request from another device, and output the control signal via the first interface device in response to receiving the request from the other device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The content receiver device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second interface device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver device to output a signal via the second interface device, wherein the signal output via the second interface device is configured to indicate that the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device coupled to the content receiver device or movement of the antenna device coupled to the first interface device has been detected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The content receiver device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second interface device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver device to output a signal via the second interface device, and wherein the signal output via the second interface device is based on the image data received via the first interface device. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: outputting, by a content receiver device, a control signal via a first interface device; receiving, at the content receiver device, image data via the first interface device after the control signal is output via the first interface device; determining, by the content receiver device, whether the image data received via the first interface device indicates a potential or actual obstruction of an antenna device coupled to the content receiver device or movement of the antenna device; and in response to determining that the image data received via the first interface device indicates the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device or movement of the antenna device, outputting, by the content receiver device, a message indicating detection of the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device or movement of the antenna device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein outputting the message, comprises: outputting the message via a transceiver of the content receiver device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein outputting the message, comprises: outputting the message in response to receiving input from a remote control device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: transmitting the image data received via the first interface device in response to receiving a request for the image data from another device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein outputting the control signal via the first interface device comprises: receiving a request from another device; and outputting the control signal via the first interface device in response to receiving the request from the other device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: outputting a signal via a second interface device to indicate that the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device or movement of the antenna device has been detected. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: outputting a signal via a second interface device based on the image data received via the first interface device. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a content receiver device, cause the at least one processor to perform actions, the actions comprising: outputting a control signal via a first interface device; receiving image data via the first interface device after the control signal is output via the first interface device; determining whether the image data received via the first interface device indicates a potential or actual obstruction of an antenna device coupled to the content receiver device or movement of the antenna device; and in response to determining that the image data received via the first interface device indicates the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device or movement of the antenna device, outputting a message indicating detection of the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device or movement of the antenna device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein outputting the message, comprises: outputting the message via a transceiver of the content receiver device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein outputting the message, comprises: outputting the message in response to receiving input from a remote control device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform further actions, the further actions comprising: transmitting the image data received via the first interface device in response to receiving a request for the image data from another device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein outputting the control signal via the first interface device comprises: receiving a request from another device; and outputting the control signal via the first interface device in response to receiving the request from the other device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform further actions, the further actions comprising: outputting a signal via a second interface device to indicate that the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna device or movement of the antenna device has been detected.