Dual antenna transfer switch system, method and apparatus

A system comprising:

• a first steerable antenna;
• a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second steerable antenna;
• a second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• a transfer switch operably coupled to the first antenna control unit, the first steerable antenna, the second antenna control unit, and the second steerable antenna, the transfer switch configured to transfer a connection from the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna at a second point in time, in response to a change in satellite visibility based on the first steerable antenna at least one of (i) entering a preprogrammed blockage zone and (ii) an unexpected loss of satellite visibility;
• and
• at least one modem operably coupled to the transfer switch for transmitting and receiving data with a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna,
• wherein the transfer switch is configurable to receive global positioning system (“GPS”) data from at least an external GPS unit, the first antenna control unit, and the second antenna control unit, and
• wherein the transfer switch is configured to buffer the GPS data to the at least one modem.

A system comprising:

• a first steerable antenna;
• a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second steerable antenna;
• a second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• a transfer switch operably coupled to the first antenna control unit, the first steerable antenna, the second antenna control unit, and the second steerable antenna, the transfer switch configured to transfer a connection from the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna at a second point in time, in response to a change in satellite visibility based on the first steerable antenna at least one of (i) entering a preprogrammed blockage zone and (ii) an unexpected loss of satellite visibility;
• and
• at least one modem operably coupled to the transfer switch for transmitting and receiving data with a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna,
• wherein the transfer switch is configured to provide a modem receive-lock signal used to retarget a line of sight in response to an antenna drift to the first antenna control unit and the second antenna control unit.

A system comprising:

• a first steerable antenna;
• a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second steerable antenna;
• a second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• a transfer switch operably coupled to the first antenna control unit, the first steerable antenna, the second antenna control unit, and the second steerable antenna, the transfer switch configured to transfer a connection from the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna at a second point in time, in response to a change in satellite visibility based on the first steerable antenna at least one of (i) entering a preprogrammed blockage zone and (ii) an unexpected loss of satellite visibility;
• and
• at least one modem operably coupled to the transfer switch for transmitting and receiving data with a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna,
• wherein the transfer switch is configured to transfer the connection between the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a determined satellite visibility value based on at least one of a signal reception quality and a modem receive-lock status.

A system comprising:

• a first steerable antenna;
• a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second steerable antenna;
• a second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• a transfer switch operably coupled to the first antenna control unit, the first steerable antenna, the second antenna control unit, and the second steerable antenna, the transfer switch configured to transfer a connection from the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna at a second point in time, in response to a change in satellite visibility based on the first steerable antenna at least one of (i) entering a preprogrammed blockage zone and (ii) an unexpected loss of satellite visibility;
• and
• at least one modem operably coupled to the transfer switch for transmitting and receiving data with a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna,
• wherein the transfer switch is configured to:
• determine a first uplink transmission power level of the first steerable antenna and a second uplink transmission power level of the second steerable antenna, and
• set an attenuation level for one of the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a difference in the first uplink transmission power level and the second uplink transmission power level, wherein a higher uplink transmission power is attenuated to be balanced with a lower uplink transmission power.

A method of operating a system including a first steerable antenna, a second steerable antenna, a first antenna control unit associated with the first steerable antenna, a second antenna control unit associated with the second steerable antenna, a transfer switch, and at least one modem, comprising:

• determining a first preprogrammed blockage zone parameter of the first steerable antenna;
• determining a second preprogrammed blockage zone parameter of the second steerable antenna;
• determining a first satellite visibility value of the first steerable antenna based on at least one of a first reception quality value and a first modem receive-lock status;
• determining a second satellite visibility value of the second steerable antenna based on at least one of a second reception quality value and a second modem receive-lock status;
• determining a first antenna availability parameter of the first steerable antenna based on the first preprogrammed blockage zone parameter and the first satellite visibility value;
• determining a second antenna availability parameter of the second steerable antenna based on the second preprogrammed blockage zone parameter and the second satellite visibility value;
• and
• transferring a connection between the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna based on the first antenna availability parameter and the second antenna availability parameter.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first radio frequency coupling to a first steerable antenna;
• a first control coupling to a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second radio frequency coupling to second steerable antenna;
• a second control coupling to second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• at least one modem coupling for transmitting and receiving data between at least one modem and a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna;
• and
• a transfer switch processor configured to:
• receive global positioning system (“GPS”) data from at least one of an external GPS unit, the first antenna control unit, and the second antenna control unit, and buffer the GPS data to the at least one modem;
• provide a modem receive-lock signal used to retarget a line of sight in response to an antenna drift to the first antenna control unit and the second antenna control unit;
• transfer a connection between the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a determined satellite visibility value based on at least one of a signal reception quality and a modem receive-lock status;
• determine a first uplink transmission power level of the first steerable antenna and a second uplink transmission power level of the second steerable antenna;
• and
• set an attenuation level for one of the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a difference in the first uplink transmission power level and the second uplink transmission power level, wherein a higher uplink transmission power is attenuated to be balanced with a lower uplink transmission power.

A method comprising:

• receiving global positioning system (“GPS”) data from at least one of an external GPS unit, a first antenna control unit, and a second antenna control unit;
• buffering the GPS data to at least one modem;
• providing a modem receive-lock signal used to retarget a line of sight in response to an antenna drift to the first antenna control unit and the second antenna control unit;
• determining a satellite visibility value of a first steerable antenna and a second steerable antenna based on at least one of a signal reception quality and a modem receive-lock status;
• transferring a connection between the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to the determined satellite visibility value;
• determining a first uplink transmission power level of the first steerable antenna and a second uplink transmission power level of the second steerable antenna;
• and
• setting an attenuation level for one of the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a difference in the first uplink transmission power level and the second uplink transmission power level, wherein a higher uplink transmission power is attenuated to be balanced with a lower uplink transmission power.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first radio frequency coupling to a first steerable antenna;
• a first control coupling to a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second radio frequency coupling to second steerable antenna;
• a second control coupling to second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• at least one modem coupling for transmitting and receiving data between at least one modem and a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna;
• and
• a transfer switch that is configurable to receive global positioning system (“GPS”) data from at least an external GPS unit, the first antenna control unit, and the second antenna control unit, wherein the transfer switch is configured to buffer the GPS data to the at least one modem.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first radio frequency coupling to a first steerable antenna;
• a first control coupling to a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second radio frequency coupling to second steerable antenna;
• a second control coupling to second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• at least one modem coupling for transmitting and receiving data between at least one modem and a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna;
• and
• a transfer switch processor configured to provide a modem receive-lock signal used to retarget a line of sight in response to an antenna drift to the first antenna control unit and the second antenna control unit.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first radio frequency coupling to a first steerable antenna;
• a first control coupling to a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second radio frequency coupling to second steerable antenna;
• a second control coupling to second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• at least one modem coupling for transmitting and receiving data between at least one modem and a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna;
• and
• a transfer switch processor configured to transfer a connection between the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a determined satellite visibility value based on at least one of a signal reception quality and a modem receive-lock status.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first radio frequency coupling to a first steerable antenna;
• a first control coupling to a first antenna control unit operably coupled to the first steerable antenna;
• a second radio frequency coupling to second steerable antenna;
• a second control coupling to second antenna control unit operably coupled to the second steerable antenna, wherein the first steerable antenna is configured to provide a data connection at a first point in time;
• at least one modem coupling for transmitting and receiving data between at least one modem and a satellite using the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna;
• and
• a transfer switch processor configured to:
• determine a first uplink transmission power level of the first steerable antenna and a second uplink transmission power level of the second steerable antenna;
• and
• set an attenuation level for one of the first steerable antenna and the second steerable antenna in response to a difference in the first uplink transmission power level and the second uplink transmission power level, wherein a higher uplink transmission power is attenuated to be balanced with a lower uplink transmission power.