Satellite receiver/router, system, and method of use

• US 20040136333A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Megawave Audio LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Peabody, C. Brian, Fish, Laurence A., Robert, Roswell III, Lerner, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,372,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18584 Arrangements for data networking, i.e. for data packet routing, for congestion control data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4612 LAN interconnection over narrowband networks, e.g. N-ISDN, PSTN, X.25

Abstract

This specification discloses a satellite transmission system for transmission of TCP/IP compatible packets from a head end computer through a satellite uplink, an extraterrestrial satellite, a satellite downlink, and an integrated satellite receiver/router for outputting of the TCP/IP compatible packets through a port on the receiver/router onto a computer LAN or WAN. The system may include an Internet or telecommunications backchannel. The receiver becomes router enabled by means of a removable insertion Ethernet/Router insertion card inserted into a slot in the receiver, although the transmission system may be used to simultaneously transmit a variety of other services through the receiver by use of other service slots in the receiver. The Ethernet/Receiver supports the IGMPv2 Multicasting (querier and non querier modes), standard TCP/IP (including UDP and Telnet), and SNMP protocols.

Claims

1. A receiver in a satellite based IP communication system, said receiver including:

a first processor receiving a signal from a satellite, said signal including IP packets, said first processor extracting at least a portion of said IP packets from said signal; and

a second processor receiving said signal from said satellite, said second processor extracting additional digital data from said signal,

wherein at least one of said first processor and said second processor is located on a card that is removable from said receiver.

2. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

3. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

4. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

5. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.

6. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said receiver includes a first output port for outputting Ethernet frames.

7. The receiver of claim 6 wherein said receiver includes a second output port for outputting additional digital data.

8. A method for processing a signal in a satellite based IP communication system, said method including:

receiving a signal from a satellite at a receiver, said signal including IP packets;

routing a first portion of said signal to a first processor;

extracting at least a portion of said IP packets from said first portion of said signal using said first processor;

routing a second portion of said signal to a second processor; and

extracting additional digital data from said second portion of said signal using said second processor,

wherein at least one of said first processor and said second processor is located on a card that is removable from said receiver.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.

13. The method of claim 8 including outputting Ethernet frames through a first output port.

14. The method of claim 13 including outputting said additional digital data through a second output port.

15. A receiver in a satellite based IP communication system, said receiver including:

a first processor receiving a signal from a satellite, said signal including IP packets, said first processor extracting at least a portion of said IP packets from said signal; and

a second processor receiving said signal from said satellite, said second processor extracting additional digital data from said signal,

wherein said first processor is located on a card that is removable from said receiver.

16. The receiver of claim 15 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

17. The receiver of claim 15 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

18. The receiver of claim 15 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

19. The receiver of claim 15 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.

20. The receiver of claim 15 wherein said receiver includes a first output port for outputting Ethernet frames.

21. The receiver of claim 20 wherein said receiver includes a second output port for outputting additional digital data.

22. A method for processing a signal in a satellite based IP communication system, said method including:

receiving a signal from a satellite at a receiver, said signal including IP packets;

routing at least a portion of said signal to at least a first processor;

extracting at least a portion of said IP packets from said at least a portion of said signal using said first processor;

routing at least a portion of said signal to at least a second processor; and

extracting additional digital data from said at least a portion of said signal using said second processor,

wherein said first processor is located on a card that is removable from said receiver.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.

27. The method of claim 22 including outputting Ethernet frames through a first output port.

28. The method of claim 27 including outputting said additional digital data through a second output port.

29. A receiver in a satellite based IP communication system, said receiver including:

a first processor receiving a signal from a satellite, said signal including IP packets, said first processor extracting at least a portion of said IP packets from said signal; and

a second processor receiving said signal from said satellite, said second processor extracting additional digital data from said signal,

wherein said second processor is located on a card that is removable from said receiver.

30. The receiver of claim 29 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

31. The receiver of claim 29 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

32. The receiver of claim 29 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

33. The receiver of claim 29 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.

34. The receiver of claim 29 wherein said receiver includes a first output port for outputting Ethernet frames.

35. The receiver of claim 34 wherein said receiver includes a second output port for outputting additional digital data.

36. A method for processing a signal in a satellite based IP communication system, said method including:

receiving a signal from a satellite at a receiver, said signal including IP packets;

routing at least a portion of said signal to at least a first processor;

extracting at least a portion of said IP packets from said at least a portion of said signal using said first processor;

routing at least a portion of said signal to at least a second processor; and

extracting additional digital data from said at least a portion of said signal using said second processor,

wherein said second processor is located on a card that is removable from said receiver.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.

41. The method of claim 36 including outputting Ethernet frames through a first output port.

42. The method of claim 36 including outputting said additional digital data through a second output port.

43. A receiver in a satellite based IP communication system, said receiver including:

a removable card mounted within said receiver for receiving a signal, wherein said removable card extracts IP packets from said signal; and

,

a first output port for outputting said IP packets from said receiver in an Ethernet frame.

44. The receiver of claim 43 including a second output port for outputting additional digital data from said receiver.

45. The receiver of claim 44 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

46. The receiver of claim 44 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

47. The receiver of claim 44 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

48. The receiver of claim 44 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.

49. A method for processing a signal in a satellite based IP communication system, said method including:

receiving a signal from a satellite at a receiver, said signal including IP packets;

routing at least a portion of said signal to a removable card mounted within said receiver;

extracting IP packets from said at least a portion of said signal without having to reconstruct said IP packets; and

outputting said IP packets in an Ethernet frame from said receiver through a first output port located on said removable card.

50. The method of claim 49 including outputting additional digital data through a second output port located on said removable card.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein said additional digital data includes IP packets.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein said additional digital data includes audio data.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein said additional digital data includes video data.

54. The method of claim 50 wherein said additional digital data includes at least one of IP packets, audio data, and video data.