Systems and methods for selecting digital content channels using low noise block converters including digital channelizer switches

Abstract

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include converting satellite signals to an intermediate frequency signal for content decoding, and selecting modulated digital data within the satellite signals for content decoding using digital signal processing. One embodiment includes a system configured to select at least one content channel from an input signal including a plurality of content channels modulated onto a carrier, the system including: a digital channelizer switch including: a high speed analog to digital converter configured to digitize an intermediate frequency signal; a digital channelizer configured to digitally tune a content channel from the digitized intermediate frequency signal; and a high speed digital to analog converter configured to generate an analog output signal using the content channel digitally tuned from the digitized intermediate frequency signal by the digital channelizer.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) band, the system comprising:
 a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to digitize the RF band; and   a digital channelizer configured to digitally select one or more content channels from the digitized RF band, where the digital channelizer comprises:
 a demultiplexer configured to sequentially distribute samples of the digitized RF band to N paths, 
 an N-points Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) configured to receive the N paths comprising samples of the digitized RF band, 
 a plurality of selectors, wherein each selector is operable to select, among a plurality of outputs of the N-points FFT, one or more FFT outputs corresponding to a particular content channel of the one or more content channels, and 
 a plurality of digital mixers, each digital mixer being operable to adjust a frequency of an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of selectors, wherein the adjustment is according to a signal from a direct digital frequency synthesis. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the RF signal is transmitted by a satellite. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a sample rate of the first ADC is less than a lowest frequency of the RF band. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system comprises a second ADC, configured to digitize the RF band, the first ADC being operably coupled to a vertical polarization antenna, the second ADC being operably coupled to a horizontal polarization antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a sample rate of the second ADC is less than a lowest frequency of the RF band. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the output of each digital mixer is operably coupled to a decimation circuit. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the output of each digital mixer is operably coupled to a combiner. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the output of the combiner is operably coupled to a digital to analog converter (DAC). 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the output of each digital mixer is operably coupled to a digital to analog converter (DAC). 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the output of each digital mixer is at an intermediate frequency (IF). 
     
     
         21 . A method for receiving a radio frequency (RF) band, the method comprising:
 digitizing the RF band; and   digitally selecting one or more content channels from the digitized RF band, wherein digitally selecting comprises:
 sequentially distributing samples of the digitized RF band to N paths, 
 performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) across the N paths that comprise samples of the digitized RF band, 
 selecting one or more FFT outputs corresponding to the one or more content channels, and 
 adjusting a frequency of the selected one or more FFT outputs according to a signal from a direct digital frequency synthesis. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the RF signal is transmitted by a satellite. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein digitizing the RF band is at a sample rate less than a lowest frequency of the RF band. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein digitizing the RF band utilizes a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a second ADC, the first ADC being operably coupled to a vertical polarization antenna, the second ADC being operably coupled to a horizontal polarization antenna. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a sample rate of the second ADC is less than a lowest frequency of the RF band. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises decimating the one or more frequency adjusted FFT outputs. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein method comprises combining the one or more frequency adjusted FFT outputs. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method comprises converting the combined one or more frequency adjusted FFT outputs to an analog signal. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises converting the output of each digital mixer to an analog signal. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the output of each digital mixer comprises an intermediate frequency (IF).