Indoor over the air antenna systems

Abstract

Described are systems and methods for providing improved indoor reception of OTA (Over-the-Air) broadcast signals. The systems described include antenna systems with one or more network interfaces for providing a transport stream received by an antenna to a network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for receiving radiofrequency signals, comprising:
 a plurality of antenna panels, each configured to receive a signal delivered by a same communication network over one of a plurality of frequency bands utilized by the same communication network, each antenna panel having a respective antenna characteristic that impacts receipt of the signal by the antenna panel;   one or more processors in data communication with the plurality of antenna panels; and   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium in data communication with the one or more processors and having, stored thereon:
 a list identifying which of the plurality of antenna panels to use for receiving the signal for each of the plurality of frequency bands, the list compiled by scanning the signal using each of the plurality of antenna panels, and identifying a reception metric for the signal on each of the plurality of frequency bands on each of the plurality of antenna panels, such that the list indicates which of the plurality of antenna panels is identified as having a best reception metric for the signal with respect to each of the plurality of frequency bands; and 
 instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
 receiving identification of one of the plurality of frequency bands of the communication network by a device; 
 querying the list to identify a particular one of the antenna panels from the plurality of antenna panels for use in receiving the signal over the identified one of the plurality of frequency bands; and 
 directing communicative coupling of the particular one of the antenna panels with the device for receipt of the signal over the identified one of the plurality of frequency bands in accordance with the querying. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 generating a digital transport stream from the signal, responsive to receiving the signal by the particular one of the antenna panels; and   transmitting the digital transport stream to the device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more digital tuners coupled with the plurality of antenna panels to scan over the plurality of frequency bands.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 generating the list in accordance with using the one or more digital tuners to scan the plurality of antenna panels over the plurality of frequency bands.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna panels is configured to be incorporated with structural elements of a piece of furniture or home furnishing. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the at least one of the plurality of antenna panels comprises a power connector;   the piece of furniture or home furnishing includes at least one electronic component coupled with a power source; and   the at least one of the plurality of antenna panels is configured to be incorporated with the structural elements of the piece of furniture or home furnishing such that the power connector is electrically coupled with the power source.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of antenna panels are incorporated with structural elements of a same piece of furniture or home furnishing and are arranged to provide the respective antenna characteristics. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna panels comprises at least a first directional antenna having a first absolute directional orientation, and a second directional antenna having a second absolute directional orientation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna panels comprises at least a first polarized antenna to receive the signal in accordance with a first polarization and a second polarized antenna to receive the signal in accordance with a second polarization. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels is communicatively coupled with the device via one or more of a WiFi interface, an Ethernet interface, or a powerline network interface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels is configured as one of a planar antenna, a directional antenna, an omni-directional antenna, or an amplified antenna. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a device, identification of one of a plurality of frequency bands of a communication network corresponding to receipt of a signal;   identifying a particular one of a plurality of antenna panels for use in receiving the signal over the identified one of the plurality of frequency bands in accordance with a stored list that identifies which of the plurality of antenna panels to use for receiving the signal for each of the plurality of frequency bands,   wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels is configured to receive the signal delivered by a same communication network over one of the plurality of frequency bands utilized by the same communication network, and each antenna panel has a respective antenna characteristic that impacts receipt of the signal by the antenna panel, and   wherein the list is compiled by scanning the signal using each of the plurality of antenna panels, and identifying a reception metric for the signal on each of the plurality of frequency bands on each of the plurality of antenna panels, such that the list indicates which of the plurality of antenna panels is identified as having a best reception metric for the signal with respect to each of the plurality of frequency bands; and   directing communicative coupling of the particular one of the antenna panels with the device for receipt of the signal over the identified one of the plurality of frequency bands in accordance with the querying.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 generating a digital transport stream from the signal, responsive to receiving the signal by the particular one of the antenna panels; and   transmitting the digital transport stream to the device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 compiling the list by using one or more digital tuners coupled with the plurality of antenna panels to scan over the plurality of frequency bands.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna panels is configured to be incorporated with structural elements of a piece of furniture or home furnishing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the at least one of the plurality of antenna panels comprises a power connector;   the piece of furniture or home furnishing includes at least one electronic component coupled with a power source; and   the at least one of the plurality of antenna panels is configured to be incorporated with the structural elements of the piece of furniture or home furnishing such that the power connector is electrically coupled with the power source.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least two of the plurality of antenna panels are incorporated with structural elements of a same piece of furniture or home furnishing and are arranged to provide the respective antenna characteristics. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of antenna panels comprises at least a first directional antenna having a first absolute directional orientation, and a second directional antenna having a second absolute directional orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of antenna panels comprises at least a first polarized antenna to receive the signal in accordance with a first polarization and a second polarized antenna to receive the signal in accordance with a second polarization. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels is communicatively coupled with the device via one or more of a WiFi interface, an Ethernet interface, or a powerline network interface.