TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to determining parameters, such as quality, of an audio/video
signal such as satellite, cable, terrestrial.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One of most common measures of signal quality is a number of bit errors, which is
the number of received bits of a data stream, over a communication channel, that have
been altered due to noise, interference, distortion or bit synchronization errors
(source: Wikipedia).
[0003] The bit error rate or bit error ratio (BER) is the number of bit errors divided by
the total number of transferred bits during a studied time interval. BER is a unitless
performance measure, often expressed as a percentage.
[0004] Other techniques of measuring signal quality are packet error rate or Signal-to-noise
ratio (often abbreviated as SNR or S/N) or a combination of any of the aforementioned
techniques.
[0005] In addition to signal quality, signal strength may be monitored in such systems.
[0006] The technical concept presented herein relates to a method that finds its application
preferably in a satellite antenna installation.
[0007] Currently, almost all of receivers of satellite signal, such as set-top box (STB),
are equipped with satellite signal level and quality indicators. Such indicators can
be displayed on a display screen or on STB's front panel LED/LCD displays.
[0008] When an installer, of a satellite signal reception system, is to use the known indicator
for the signal adjustments (e.g. aligning sat-tv dish), it usually requires another
person, who passes the information to the installer on the roof about its exact reading
value. It would be advantageous if the installer had a direct access to the reading
information.
[0009] Prior art discloses satellite signal meters that assist with aligning a satellite-TV
dish without having to take the receiver outside. Such satellite signal meters help
in optimizing dish alignment. In order to use such satellite signal meter one must
disconnect the coaxial cable running from the receiver to a low-noise block LNB (typically
at the LNB's end) and then connect the satellite signal meter to the LNB using a short
coaxial cable. The receiver may then also be connected to the signal meter. The signal
meter may then also be connected between receiver and the LNB.
[0010] Prior art publication
US 6937188 B1, entitled "Satellite antenna installation tool", discloses a portable device for
assessing the degree of alignment between antenna and a satellite. In one embodiment,
the device includes a portable housing that includes components for producing an audio
and/or visual indication of the antenna's alignment with the satellite. The device
may be self-contained and provide power to the antenna's frequency converter during
the alignment process. The portable device is electronically coupled by a coaxial
cable to a conventional RF input F-connector.
[0011] Drawback of this solution is that the measurement is executed on a different device
than will ultimately use the signal. In practice there is a different tuner-demodulator
arrangement.
[0012] Another prior art publication
US 20060181455 A1 entitled "Method and device for accurately pointing a satellite earth station antenna",
discloses an antenna pointing indicator system 60a may also include a housing 140
that encloses particular components of antenna pointing indicator system 60a and/or
to which particular components of antenna pointing indicator system 60a are mounted
and forms a single physical device that includes the relevant components. FIG. 2,
of the aforementioned publication, shows two exemplary configurations of housing 140
to illustrate that signal meter 180 may or may not be enclosed along with signal amplifier
170, filter selector 160, and filters 150 in a common housing 140. If signal meter
180 is not enclosed with the filter assembly 150, filter selector 160 and optional
amplifier 170 in a common housing; signal meter 180 may couple to output port 172
using, for example, a coaxial cable to connect the two components. In such an embodiment,
signal meter 180 may also be configured to provide power to signal amplifier 170 through
the coaxial cable or other element coupling the two components. In general, however,
antenna pointing indicator system 60a may include a housing 140 shaped and/or configured
to include any appropriate combination of the individual elements of antenna pointing
indicator system 60a. Alternatively, antenna pointing indicator system 60a may not
include a housing 140 of any type and the elements of antenna pointing indicator system
60a may all represent physically separate components.
[0013] In operation, in the illustrated embodiment, antenna pointing indicator system 60
receives an input signal at input port 162. Antenna pointing indicator system 60a
may couple to user Earth station antenna 20 and this input signal may comprise the
total composite signal received by user Earth station antenna 20 from satellite antennas
70, including background noise and interference. In a particular embodiment, input
port 162 couples to user Earth station antenna 20 through a coaxial cable.
[0014] Similarly, a drawback of this solution is that the measurement is executed on a different
device than will ultimately use the signal. In practice there is a different tuner-demodulator
arrangement.
[0015] Another prior art publication
EP2830241 entitled "A method and system for determining parameters of a satellite signal",
discloses a method for determining parameters of a satellite signal present in a coaxial
cable, the method comprising the steps of aligning two capacitive coupling sensors
in proximity to a length of the coaxial cable, wherein the distance between the capacitive
coupling sensors is below 10 centimeters; receiving from the two capacitive coupling
sensors a signal being a differential voltage in the coaxial cable between the locations
of the capacitive coupling sensors wherein the voltage is relative to a voltage level
in a coaxial cable; amplifying the differential voltage by a bandpass amplifier; detecting
a valid DiSEqC command sequence being indicative of signal quality.
[0016] A drawback of this solution is that it is limited to DiSEqC systems only.
[0017] It is therefore desirable to and improved method and system for determining parameters
of an audio/video signal, in which the measurement is executed on the same device
that will ultimately use the signal. Additionally, such device should be cost effective
and provide information about the parameters of an audio/video signal in proximity
to the installation location such as by a satellite antenna.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0018] The object of the present invention is a method for determining parameters of an
audio/video signal, received by an audio/video signal receiver, the method being characterized
that it comprises the step of: wirelessly connecting a mobile device to the audio/video
signal receiver; receiving by the mobile device, signal parameters of a currently
received signal, by the audio/video signal receiver; displaying, by the mobile device,
said signal parameters; adjusting, by the mobile device a signal reception adjustment
means associated with the audio/video signal receiver and; returning to step in order
to receive, from the audio/video signal receiver, updated signal parameters by the
mobile device.
[0019] Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving, by the mobile device
an audio/video signal, from the receiver, corresponding to the currently received
signal; and displaying said audio/video signal by the mobile device.
[0020] Preferably, the method further comprises a step of receiving, by the mobile device
a request to change channel or signal source by the receiver and transmitting that
request to the receiver.
[0021] Another object of the present invention is a computer program comprising program
code means for performing all the steps of the computer-implemented method according
to the present invention when said program is run on a computer.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is a computer readable medium storing computer-executable
instructions performing all the steps of the computer-implemented method according
to the present invention when executed on a computer.
[0023] Lastly, an object of the present invention is a mobile device for determining parameters
of an audio/video signal, received by an audio/video signal receiver, the mobile device
being characterized in that it comprises: a manager of signal reception adjustment
means, configured to control signal reception adjustment means based on information
provided by said audio/video signal receiver; a controller configured to execute all
steps of the method according to the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The present invention is shown herein by means of exemplary embodiments on a drawing,
in which:
Fig. 1 presents a schematic diagram of audio/video data reception system;
Fig. 2 presents an example of a cable content distribution network;
Fig. 3 shows a signal reception adjustment means applicable in a satellite system;
Fig. 4 shows a method according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 presents an overview of the system;
Fig. 6 depicts modules of a mobile device;
Fig. 7 shows modules of an audio/video receiver; and
Figs. 8A-E show examples of a graphical user interface of the mobile device.
NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE
[0025] Some portions of the detailed description which follows are presented in terms of
data processing procedures, steps or other symbolic representations of operations
on data bits that can be performed on computer memory. Therefore, a computer executes
such logical steps thus requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.
[0026] Usually these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable
of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer
system. For reasons of common usage, these signals are referred to as bits, packets,
messages, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
[0027] Additionally, all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate
physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.
Terms such as "processing" or "creating" or "transferring" or "executing" or "determining"
or "detecting" or "obtaining" or "selecting" or "calculating" or "generating" or the
like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system that manipulates and
transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer's
registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities
within the memories or registers or other such information storage.
[0028] A computer-readable (storage) medium, such as referred to herein, typically may be
non-transitory and/or comprise a non-transitory device. In this context, a non-transitory
storage medium may include a device that may be tangible, meaning that the device
has a concrete physical form, although the device may change its physical state. Thus,
for example, non-transitory refers to a device remaining tangible despite a change
in state.
[0029] As utilized herein, the term "example" means serving as a non-limiting example, instance,
or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms "for example" and "e.g." introduce
a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Fig. 1 presents a schematic diagram of audio/video data reception system. In this
example, an STB receiver 113, connected to a TV set 114, is configured to receive
audio/video data from a plurality of sources 111, 112, 150 (it is clear that at least
one audio/video signal source must be present).
[0031] A satellite antenna 111 receives a signal from a satellite transmitter 160. The satellite
antenna 111 comprises a position adjustment device 115A, which may be operated manually
or automatically by for example electric engine(s).
[0032] A coaxial cable is typically passed to the inside of a household 110 where it is
connected to an STB 113, comprising a satellite tuner and demodulator. After processing
the satellite signal, the STB 113 passes its output signal to a display 114 connected
to it.
[0033] Similarly, a terrestrial audio/video data stream may be received via a terrestrial
antenna 112 from a terrestrial head-end transmitter 140. The terrestrial antenna 112
may comprise a position adjustment device 115B, which may be operated manually or
automatically by for example electric engine(s).
[0034] Further, a cable audio/video data stream may be received via a cable signal reception
means from a cable head-end transmitter 120. A cable network may be a DOCSIS network,
DVB-C, IPTV network or the like. A suitable content distribution network 150 may comprise
signal adjustment device(s) 115C (as will be shown in Fig. 2), which may be operated
remotely by operators and/or installers.
[0035] The adjustment devices 115A, 115B and 115C may be generically called signal reception
adjustment means.
[0036] Fig. 2 presents an example of a cable content distribution network. Such network
is physically transmitting data between a content provider 120 and one or more receivers
113. One or more network distribution hubs 210, 220, 230 are typically present in
order to aggregate subgroups of network nodes 231, 232, 233 and operate as local content
distribution means. Local nodes, such as optical nodes 231, 232, 233 aggregate subgroups
of households 110 and their respective receivers 113.
[0037] On the cable content distribution path, from the content provider 120 to an STB 113,
there may be present different signal reception adjustment means 115C, 115D, 115E.
For example, 115E may be a Distribution RF amplifier while 115D may be a Local Bus
RF amplifier and 115C may be a household amplifier. The Line RF amplifier 115D affects
a signal for a single household 110 while the Bus RF amplifier 115E may affect signal
transmitted to a plurality of households 110.
[0038] A difference lies in the signal level, at which the respective amplifiers operate
in the signal delivery path.
[0039] Fig. 3 shows a signal reception adjustment means applicable in a satellite system.
[0040] A satellite antenna 111 must be positioned in a correct manner in order to receive
a proper signal from a satellite 160. Sometimes the process of positioning said antenna
is referred to as Satellite Antenna Alignment aimed at finding a correct pointing
direction 301 and angle X1 with respect to a horizontal axis and angle X2 with respect
to cardinal directions.
[0041] Fig. 4 shows a method according to the present invention. The aim of the method is
to improve testing and calibrating of an audio video signal be it an analog television
signal, a digital terrestrial, cable or satellite television signal or the like. The
method aims at verifying signal quality (and or strength) as evaluated by the receiver
113. To this end, the receiver 113 is in communication with a mobile device configured
to receive parameters of the audio/video signals received by the receiver 113. Therefore,
a single technician is able to configure the best possible signal reception parameters
being physically away from the receiver 113.
[0042] At step 401 there is wirelessly connected a mobile device to an audio/video signal
receiver 113. The wireless connection is preferred (e.g. Wi-Fi, UMTS, LTE or the like)
but in certain embodiments a wired connection may be implemented. Next, at step 402,
the mobile device receives signal parameters of a currently received signal (received
by the receiver 113). Preferably, the receiver 113 transmits such signal parameters
to the mobile device.
[0043] In case a proper signal is received 403 by the receiver 113, proper meaning that
audio/video may be decoded and output, the process advances to step 404, otherwise
to step 406. Subsequently, at step 404, the mobile device receives audio/video channels
list from the audio/video signal receiver 113. This is of course optionally possible
if a proper audio/video signal has been previously received, wherein typically such
signal also comprises a channels list. In case a proper signal has not yet been received,
steps 404 and 405 will have to be skipped and executed after such proper signal has
been received by the receiver 113.
[0044] Further, at step 405, the mobile device receives audio/video signal from the receiver
113. The audio/video signal from the STB 113 is what will normally be output by the
receiver 113 for example to a TV set 114. Such audio/video signal may have a different
form than received by said receiver 113 i.e. have different format or be reduced in
terms of resolution but shall still give the technician a good overview of what is
currently received by said receiver 113.
[0045] Next, at step 406, the mobile device displays, preferably simultaneously, said audio/video
and signal parameters received from the receiver 113. In case video is not available,
it will obviously not be presented.
[0046] At this point, a technician may execute either manually or automatically (that is
remotely using the mobile device), different adjustments of the aforementioned signal
reception adjustment means 115A-E. Such signal reception adjustment means may be adjusted
by means of the receiver 113 (for example by instructing DiSEqC (Digital Satellite
Equipment Control) compatible dish antenna rotor to adjust) or directly by respective
devices responsible for associated signal reception adjustment means.
[0047] The receiver 113 may provide (preferably at its connection at step 401) the mobile
device with a list of associated signal reception adjustment means wherein such means
may be identified for example with an IP address and/or supported configuration options.
Therefore, at step 407, the mobile device may remotely execute adjustment of signal
reception adjustment means associated with the receiver 113.
[0048] When said adjustments have been executed, at step 408, the mobile device may optionally
receive (from a user) a request to change channel or signal source by the receiver.
In more complex embodiments the mobile device may remotely control the receiver 113
as a user would normally do using a dedicated remote control unit. Thus commands may
be sent from the mobile device 502 to the receiver 113 in order to execute at least
a channel change and preferably all actions a dedicated remote control unit could
execute.
[0049] Lastly, the mobile device returns to step 402 where the mobile device receives updated
signal parameters and respective audio/video signal from the receiver 113 and presents
these data to said technician. To this end, the mobile device preferably comprises
a display screen.
[0050] Fig. 5 presents an overview of the system wherein a technician 501 has a mobile device
502 communicating with a receiver 113 and a signal reception adjustment means 115A.
A satellite antenna 111 may be installed on a roof of further away from the household
110 as shown in broken lines.
[0051] Fig. 6 depicts modules of a mobile device 502. The mobile device 502 comprises an
external interface module 630 responsible for bidirectional communication 603 with
the receiver 113 and any external signal reception adjustment means (e.g. Wi-Fi, UMTS,
LTE or the like). Other typical modules include a memory 640 for storing data (including
software, configuration and the like) as well as software executed by a controller
610, a clock module 660 configured to provide clock reference for other modules of
the system, and a media player 650 configured to process audio/video data 603 received
by means of the external interface module 630.
[0052] Other, typical, but optional modules of the mobile device 502 are a display module
670 configured to display user interface and audio/video signal to a user.
[0053] A suitable bidirectional data bus 601 may be employed in order to facilitate communication
between modules and the controller 610.
[0054] The controller 610 comprises a manager of signal reception adjustment means 611.
This module is configured to control signal reception adjustment means based on information
received at steps 401, 407. Further, the controller 610 may comprise a manager of
remote control 612 configured to facilitate remote control the receiver 113.
[0055] Fig. 7 shows modules of an audio/video receiver 113. The audio/video receiver 113
comprises an external interface module 730 responsible for bidirectional communication
703 with the mobile device 502 and any external signal reception adjustment means
(e.g. using wireless interface e.g. Wi-Fi, UMTS, LTE or the like). Other typical modules
include a memory 740 (which may comprise different kinds of memory such as flash 741
and/or RAM 742 and/or HDD 743) for storing data (including software, configuration
and the like) as well as software executed by a controller 710, a clock module 760
configured to provide clock reference for other modules of the system, and an audio/video
block 770 configured to process audio/video data, received via the data receiving
block 720, and output a video signal 707 by means of a video output interface.
[0056] Further, the receiver 113 comprises a remote control unit controller 750 configured
to receive commands 705 from a remote control unit (typically using an infrared communication).
[0057] The controller 710 comprises a manager of signal reception adjustment means 711.
This module is configured to control signal reception adjustment means based on information
received from the mobile device 502. Further, the controller 710 may comprise a manager
of remote control 712 configured to facilitate remote control the receiver 113 by
the mobile device 502.
[0058] Figs. 8A-E show examples of a graphical user interface of the mobile device. A GUI
shown in Fig. 8A presents an antenna configuration 802 on a mobile device 502. An
antenna in this example comprises LNB 1 830 and LNB 2 840 that are to be fixed on
selected satellites 831, 841. These parameters (or similar parameters, local to the
receiver 113) may only be communicated from the receiver 113 to the mobile device
502 and optionally may be modified by the mobile device 502 by communication between
the manager of remote control 612 (of the mobile device) and the manager of remote
control 712 (of the receiver).
[0059] Fig. 8B presents exemplary selection of satellites for an LNB while Fig. 8C presents
information on a particular transponder of a selected satellite wherein said transponder
may be selected as shown in Fig. 8E. In this screen signal parameters are presented
854, 855, 856. When such parameters are insufficient, e.g. quality below 50%, a user
may access adjustment means such as the position adjustment device 115A by selecting
an option 'Antenna Alignment' 859. As another option, a user may view live signal
by selecting option 858.
[0060] Fig. 8D depicts remote configuration of the position adjustment device 115A by the
mobile device 502. Said remote configuration may be executed directly or via the receiver
113. A user may use controls 859A-D to adjust antenna positioning while monitoring
signal parameters 854, 855, 856.
[0061] It can be easily recognized, by one skilled in the art, that the aforementioned method
for determining parameters of an audio/video signal, or parts thereof, may be performed
and/or controlled by one or more computer programs. Such computer programs are typically
executed by utilizing the computing resources of the device. The computer programs
can be stored in a non-volatile memory, for example a flash memory or in a volatile
memory, for example RAM and are executed by the processing unit. These memories are
exemplary recording media for storing computer programs comprising computer-executable
instructions performing all the steps of the computer-implemented method according
the technical concept presented herein.
[0062] While the invention presented herein has been depicted, described, and has been defined
with reference to particular preferred embodiments, such references and examples of
implementation in the foregoing specification do not imply any limitation on the invention.
It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto
without departing from the broader scope of the technical concept. The presented preferred
embodiments are exemplary only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the technical
concept presented herein.
[0063] Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the preferred embodiments
described in the specification, but is only limited by the claims that follow.