Apparatus and method for efficient live webcasting and network connectivity
First Claim
1. A satellite uplink for use in connection with a webcasting system for capturing live media content at a first location and webcasting the live media content to a second location, said webcasting system including a satellite communication link having a transmission propagation delay, a communication satellite, an encoder encoding the live media content into a first webcast format at the first location, said webcast format being sensitive to the transmission propagation delay and requiring at least one transmission acknowledgment signal, the satellite uplink comprising:
- a control processor receiving the live media content in the first webcast format and providing the at least one transmission acknowledgment signal to the encoder, said control processor converting the live media content to a second webcast format having a characteristic such that the second webcast format is insensitive to the transmission propagation delay;
a satellite communications signal converter receiving the live media content in the second webcast format, said satellite communications signal converter converting the live media content received in the second webcast format to a satellite transmission signal compatible with the satellite communication link; and
a satellite transceiver receiving the satellite transmission signal and transmitting the satellite transmission signal to the satellite over the satellite communication link wherein the satellite downlinks the satellite transmission signal for reception on the earth at the second location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing efficient connectivity to the Internet via a satellite communication link. A particularly useful embodiment of the invention comprises a an apparatus and method for webcasting live events over a satellite communication link. Digital multimedia data is converted to a bitstream format by an encoder. The encoder supplies the bitstream data to an uplink subsystem for transmission to a satellite. The satellite retransmits the data to a ground-based facility which makes the content available to subscribers over the Internet, either directly or through an independent Content Delivery Network. A novel TCP proxy process adjusts for propagation delays associated with the satellite path. Preferably, the TCP proxy resides in the uplink and the ground-based receiver that receives the bitstream data that is transported by the satellite, or by a router configured to provide such a TCP proxy process.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A satellite uplink for use in connection with a webcasting system for capturing live media content at a first location and webcasting the live media content to a second location, said webcasting system including a satellite communication link having a transmission propagation delay, a communication satellite, an encoder encoding the live media content into a first webcast format at the first location, said webcast format being sensitive to the transmission propagation delay and requiring at least one transmission acknowledgment signal, the satellite uplink comprising:
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a control processor receiving the live media content in the first webcast format and providing the at least one transmission acknowledgment signal to the encoder, said control processor converting the live media content to a second webcast format having a characteristic such that the second webcast format is insensitive to the transmission propagation delay;
a satellite communications signal converter receiving the live media content in the second webcast format, said satellite communications signal converter converting the live media content received in the second webcast format to a satellite transmission signal compatible with the satellite communication link; and
a satellite transceiver receiving the satellite transmission signal and transmitting the satellite transmission signal to the satellite over the satellite communication link wherein the satellite downlinks the satellite transmission signal for reception on the earth at the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A webcasting system for webcasting media content over a satellite communication link having a transmission propagation delay and including a communication satellite, said webcasting system comprising:
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an encoder encoding said media content into a first digital webcast signal having a first digital webcast format that is sensitive to the transmission propagation delay, said encoder requiring receipt of at least one transmission acknowledgment signal; and
an uplink router comprising;
a control processor receiving the first digital webcast signal and providing the at least one transmission acknowledgment signal to the encoder, said control processor converting the first digital webcast signal to a second digital webcast signal being insensitive to the transmission propagation delay;
a satellite communications signal converter receiving the second digital webcast signal, said satellite communications signal converter converting the second digital webcast signal into a satellite transmission signal; and
a satellite transceiver receiving the satellite transmission signal and transmitting the satellite transmission signal to the satellite such that the satellite downlinks the satellite transmission signal for reception on the earth. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of webcasting media content over a satellite communication link having a transmission propagation delay and including a communication satellite, said method comprising:
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encoding said media content into a first digital webcast signal having a first digital webcast format that is sensitive to the transmission propagation delay, said first digital webcast format requiring the receipt of at least one transmission acknowledgment signal;
uplinking the encoded media content across the satellite communication link by an uplink method comprising;
receiving the first digital webcast signal;
providing the at least one transmission acknowledgment signal required by the first webcast format;
converting the first digital webcast signal to a second digital webcast signal being insensitive to the transmission propagation delay of the satellite communication link;
converting the second digital webcast signal into a satellite transmission signal;
transmitting the satellite transmission signal to the communication satellite; and
downlinking the satellite transmission signal for reception on the earth. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification