Method and system for asymmetric satellite communications for local area networks

• US 20010023435A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: John K. Thomasson, Myron L. Mosbarger
• Inventors: Thomasson, John K. (Jack), Mosbarger, Myron L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols

Abstract

A method and system for providing high-speed, satellite-based information delivery is described. Improved communication channel efficiency is accomplished by employing an asymmetric data flow. The high bandwidth channel capacity of digital satellite systems is used for the download of large volumes of data. While relatively low speed communication channels are used for upstream data requests. The use of separate channels for upstream data and downloaded data provides an increased efficiency of use for typical internet and other electronic information service subscribers. A typical user in such systems generally makes relatively short information requests. These requests are then followed by large amounts of information being transferred to the user'"'"'s computer in response to the request. The volume of data being downloaded often causes a capacity overload of typically used land lines. This invention solves this problem, without becoming prohibitively expensive, by employing digital satellite dish receivers to receive the high volume of downloaded data and using the relatively low speed communication channels low volume upstream requests. Moreover, this invention is designed to interface with all common communication devices as well as being designed to operate on and with all common computing platforms.

Claims

1. A communications system for communicating between an information provider and a user, comprising:

(A) a client computer system, wherein said client computer system is a digital computer;

(B) a local area network connected to said client computer system;

(C) a server computer connected to said local area network to provide a means of communicating between said local area network and one or more external communication channels;

(D) a satellite communication channel connected to said server computer by a radio frequency link; and

(E) an information provider connected to one or more external communication channels for the purpose of providing information to one or more said client computer systems.

2. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system is a personal computer.

3. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system is a Macintosh computer.

4. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system is a computer workstation.

5. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system is a mini computer.

6. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system is a mainframe computer.

7. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system is a special purpose digital computer.

8. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system has a Windows operating system.

9. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system has a Windows 95 operating system.

10. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system has a Windows NT operating system.

11. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system has a Macintosh operating system.

12. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system has a Unix operating system.

13. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system has a Linux operating system.

14. A communication system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said client computer system has an OS/2 operating system.

15. A communications system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said local area network is a IPX network.

16. A communications system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said local area network is a IP network.

17. A communications system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said information provider is an internet service provider.

18. A communications system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, wherein said information provider is a software distributor.

19. A communications system for communicating between an information provider and a user, as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a modem electrically connected to said server computer to transmit data electronically to a telephone land line.

20. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, comprising:

(A) receiving data from said information service provider by a satellite communications channel; and

(B) conveying said received data across a local area network to one or more digital computer systems.

21. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

(C) generating a request from said one or more digital computer systems to said information service provider.

22. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

(D) conveying said generated request to said information service provide by a land line communication channel.

23. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

(D) conveying said generated request to said information service provide by a satellite communication channel.

24. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

(D) conveying said generated request to said information service provide by a wireless communication channel.

25. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

(D) conveying said generated request to said information service provide by a routed communication channel.

26. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider an a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

receiving data from said satellite communications channel into computer hardware memory.

27. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider an a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

checking to determine if said received data has an IP format.

28. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 20

, further comprising:

checking to determine if said received data has a packetized format.

29. A process for asymmetrically communicating between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 20

, wherein said one or more digital computer systems are connected electrically by a local area network.

30. A method for controlling the transfer of information between an information service provider and a user, comprising:

(A) receiving data from said information service, wherein said received data has a protocol identifier;

(B) determining the protocol of said received data; and

(C) delivering said data according to said protocol of said received data to a client computer.

31. A method for controlling the transfer of information between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 30

, further comprising:

(D) receiving a return packet of data from said client computer.

32. A method for controlling the transfer of information between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 31

, further comprising:

(E) delivering said returned packet of data from said client computer to said information service provider.

33. A computer program to manage communications between an information service provider and a user, comprising:

A) a routine for receiving information from said information service;

(B) a routine for testing said received information to determine the source of said information;

(C) a routine for delivering said received information to a digital computer system.

34. A computer program to manage communications between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 33

, further comprising:

a routine for determining an age value for said received information.

35. A computer program to manage communications between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 33

, further comprising:

a routine for replacing old received information with newer received information.

36. A system for managing the communications between an information service provider and a user, comprising:

(A) a digital computer system connected to a local area network;

(B) a first interface device for communicating between said local area network and a satellite communication channel;

(C) a first connection between said satellite communication channel and a source of information;

(D) a second connection between said land line communication channel and a source of information; and

(E) a means for controlling the flow of information between said digital computer system and said source of information.

37. A system for managing the communications between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 36

further comprising a second interface device for communicating between said local area network and a land line.

38. A system for managing the communications between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 36

further comprising a second interface device for communicating between said local area network and a wireless channel.

39. A system for managing the communications between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 36

further comprising a second interface device for communicating with said local area network to a satellite.

40. A system for managing the communications between an information service provider and a user, as recited in

claim 36

further comprising a second interface device for communicating with said local area network to a routed channel.