US 8,789,115 B2Granted

Frequency translation module discovery and configuration

AssigneeThe DIRECTV Group, Inc.

InventorsThomas H. James, Dipak M. Shah

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Abstract

Intelligent switching networks for selectively delivering satellite video signals. A network in accordance with the present invention comprises an antenna for receiving the satellite video signals, a plurality of amplifiers, coupled to the antenna, each amplifier receiving and amplifying specific satellite video signals based on an originating satellite for each of the satellite video signals, a multiswitch, having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein at least some of the inputs are coupled to the plurality of amplifiers in a respective fashion, an interface, coupled to the multiswitch, and at least one Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD), coupled to the interface, wherein the IRD sends signals to the interface to determine a type of the interface.

Claims9

Dependent claims

In a system for receiving media programs transmitted on a plurality of wireless signals, a method of automatically configuring a receiver to control an antenna interface to select among a plurality of wireless signals, wherein the receiver is configurable to control the antenna interface according to one of a first command protocol and a second command protocol, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first command comprising an 88 kHz signal from the receiver to the antenna interface according to the first command protocol;
determining if the antenna interface responds to the first command;
if the antenna interface responds to the first command, configuring the receiver to control the antenna interface according to the first command protocol and transmitting a subsequent command according to the first command protocol;
if the antenna interface does not respond to the first command, configuring the receiver to control the antenna interface according to the second command protocol, and transmitting the subsequent command according to the second command protocol, wherein the subsequent command comprises a 22 kHz signal;
and
if the antenna interface responds to the first command, transmitting a receiver identifier (ID) to the antenna interface and receiving an antenna interface ID from the antenna interface, and wherein the antenna interface refuses to accept commands from the receiver until the receiver transmits the receiver ID to the antenna interface and the receiver refuses to accept commands from the antenna interface until the receiver receives the antenna interface ID.

3 more elements

In a system for receiving media programs transmitted on a plurality of wireless signals, an apparatus, comprising:

a receiver for controlling an antenna interface to select among a plurality of wireless signals, wherein the receiver is automatically configurable to control the antenna interface according to one of a first command protocol and a second command protocol, by:
transmitting a first command comprising an 88 kHz signal from the receiver to the antenna interface according to the first command protocol;
determining if the antenna interface responds to the first command;
if the antenna interface responds to the first command, controlling the antenna interface according to the first command protocol and transmitting a subsequent command according to the first command protocol;
if the antenna interface does not respond to the first command, controlling the antenna interface according to the second command protocol, and transmitting the subsequent command according to the second command protocol wherein the subsequent command comprises a 22 kHz signal;
and
if the antenna interface responds to the first command, transmitting a receiver identifier (ID) to the antenna interface and receiving an antenna interface ID from the antenna interface, and wherein the antenna interface refuses to accept commands from the receiver until the receiver transmits the receiver ID to the antenna interface and the receiver refuses to accept commands from the antenna interface until the receiver receives the antenna interface ID.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.