Method and apparatus for computing over a wide area network

• US 6,173,332 B1
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AI-CORE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: G&H Nevada-Tek
• Inventors: Hickman, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/808,882
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/200.48, 395/200.57, 395/200.59, 395/200.02, 395/500, 707/10, 708/208, 709/217, 709/219, 709/238, 709/232, 709/235, 709/249, 370/270
• US Class Current: 709/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A cluster computer system including multiple network accessible computers that are each coupled to a network. The network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permits the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers also connected to the network, such that input devices of the client computers can be used to generate inputs to the host computers, and such that image information generated by the host computers can be viewed by the client computers. The system also includes a cluster administration computer coupled to the multiple network accessible computers to monitor the operation of the network accessible computers. A method for providing access to host computers by client computers over a computer network includes receiving a request for a host computer coupled to a computer network from a client computer coupled to the computer network, wherein the relationship of the host computer to the client computer is to be such that after the client computer becomes associated with a host computer, an input device of the client computer can be used to generate inputs to the host computer, and such that image information generated by the host computer can be viewed by the client computer. Next, a suitable host computer for the client computer is determined, and the client computer is informed of the network address of the suitable host computer.

Claims

1. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations comprising:

at least one fixed ground station capable of transmitting and receiving TCP/IP compatible data packets, said at least one ground station being coupled to a TCP/IP protocol network to exchange TCP/IP data packets with said network;

a plurality of mobile repeater stations capable of receiving TCP/IP compatible data packets from at least one of said fixed ground station and another mobile repeater station and retransmitting said TCP/IP compatible data packets if they have not been previously received.

2. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 1 wherein:

at least one of said plurality of repeater stations includes a host computer, wherein the functionality of said host computer may be controlled by a client computer.

3. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of repeater stations include a plurality of earth orbiting satellites that communicate with TCP/IP compatible data packets, said earth orbiting satellites communicating both with said fixed ground station and with at least one other satellite.

4. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said plurality of repeater stations includes at least one of the group including a low earth orbiting satellite, an airplane, a boat, and a land vehicle.

5. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said plurality of earth orbiting satellites include a natural satellite.

6. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said plurality of earth orbiting satellites include at least one non-geosynchronous satellite.

7. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said plurality of earth orbiting satellites includes at least one geosynchronous satellite.

8. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said fixed ground station is operable to switch communication of TCP/IP compatible data packets to an earth orbiting satellite in the best position to communicate with said fixed ground station.

9. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 8 wherein:

said fixed ground station has information about the orbit of each earth orbiting satellite, thereby enabling said fixed ground station to determine which earth orbiting satellite is in the best position to communicate with said fixed ground station at a point in time.

10. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 9 wherein:

each said earth orbiting satellite transmits orbit information about said earth orbiting satellites own orbit, said ground station operable to process said orbit information from each satellite and determine which earth orbiting satellite is in the best position to communicate with said fixed ground station at a point in time.

11. A method of providing a wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations comprising the steps of:

providing at least one fixed ground station capable of transmitting and receiving TCP/IP compatible data packets, said at least one ground station being coupled to a TCP/IP protocol network to exchange TCP/IP data packets with said network; and

providing a plurality of mobile repeater stations capable of receiving TCP/IP compatible data packets from said fixed ground station or another mobile repeater station and retransmitting said TCP/IP compatible data packets if they have not been previously received.

12. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 11 wherein:

providing said plurality of repeater stations includes providing a plurality of earth orbiting satellites that communicate with TCP/IP compatible data packets, said earth orbiting satellites communicating both with said fixed ground station and with at least one other satellite.

13. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 12 wherein:

at least one of said plurality of repeater stations includes a host computer, wherein the functionality of said host computer may be controlled by a client computer.

14. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 13 wherein:

said plurality of repeater stations includes at least one of the group including a low earth orbiting satellite, an airplane, a boat, and a land vehicle.

15. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 13 wherein:

said plurality of earth orbiting satellites include at least one natural satellite.

16. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 13 wherein:

said plurality of earth orbiting satellites include at least one non-geosynchronous satellite.

17. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 13 wherein:

said plurality of earth orbiting satellites includes at least one geosynchronous satellite.

18. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 13 wherein:

said fixed ground station is operable to switch communication of TCP/IP compatible data packets to said earth orbiting satellite in the best position to communicate with said fixed ground station.

19. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 18 wherein:

said fixed ground station has information about the orbit of each earth orbiting satellite, thereby enabling said fixed ground station to determine which earth orbiting satellite is in the best position to communicate with said fixed ground station at a point in time.

20. A wide area TCP/IP protocol network with mobile repeater stations as recited in claim 18 wherein:

each said earth orbiting satellite transmits orbit information about said earth orbiting satellites own orbit, said ground station operable to process said orbit information from each satellite and determine which earth orbiting satellite is in the best position to communicate with said fixed ground station at a point in time.

21. A computer readable media having program instructions implementing the method of claim 11.

22. A computer readable media having program instructions implementing the method of claim 13.