Broadcast delivery of information to a personal computer for local storage and access

• US 6,546,488 B2
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robins, Glenn D., Dillon, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US09/157,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 713/163, 713/161, 713/162, 713/181, 707/1, 707/7, 707/9, 707/10, 709/202, 709/226, 709/229, 709/232, 709/217, 709/204-206, 340/7.48, 340/7.46, 705/14
• US Class Current: 713/181
• 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 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and apparatus for broadcasting newsgroup information to a plurality of users uses a news server, which is in communication with the Internet, a newscast transmitter, a satellite gateway, and a subscriber station. The news server gathers newsgroup information from Internet newsgroups, and the newscast transmitter, in conjunction with the satellite gateway and a satellite, distributes all of the information to a plurality of subscriber stations. The subscriber stations preferably include personal computers equipped to receive broadcast newsgroup information. The subscriber stations each include a personal news server, storage media and a newsreader. The personal news server filters newsgroup information received based on subscription information stored only local to the receiver. The filtered newsgroup information is stored on the storage media for use at a later time when a user desires to read the newsgroup information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sending unit that is configured to send a newsgroup article using NNTP via an IP multicast network,

wherein prior to sending the newsgroup article, said sending unit sends via the IP multicast network a message comprising (a) a multicast address to which the newsgroup article is to be addressed and (b) information related to information identifying a newsgroup to which the newsgroup article has been posted, the related information being used by a receiving apparatus in conjunction with newsgroup subscription information stored by the receiving apparatus to determine whether or not to open the multicast address to receive the newsgroup article,

wherein the information identifying the newsgroup is the name of the newsgroup, and

wherein the related information is determined by said sending unit by passing the name of the newsgroup through a hash function.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving apparatus is coupled to the IP multicast network via a satellite receiver connected to the receiving apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sending unit uses conditional access when sending the newsgroup article.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sending unit further sends via the IP multicast network and according to a schedule a list of newsgroups available for reception.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sending unit varies a rate of transmission based on a time of day.

6. A method comprising:

a first step of IP multicasting via satellite a newsgroup article using NNTP; and

a second step of IP multicasting via satellite, prior to said first step, a message comprising (1) a multicast address to which the newsgroup article is addressed and (2) information related to information identifying a newsgroup to which the article has been posted,

wherein the information identifying the newsgroup is the name of the newsgroup, and

wherein said second step comprises a step of determining the related information by passing the name of the newsgroup through a hash function, and

wherein a receiving apparatus that receives the message uses the related information to determine whether or not to open the multicast address to receive the newsgroup article.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a news server comprising (a) a receiving unit that is configured to receive a newsgroup article using NNTP via an P multicast network and (b) a message receiving unit that is configured to receive via the IP multicast network a message sent prior to sending of the newsgroup article, the message comprising (1) a multicast address to which the newsgroup article is to be addressed and (2) information related to information identifying a newsgroup to which the newsgroup article has been posted,

wherein said receiving unit uses the related information and newsgroup subscription information stored by said news server to determine whether or not to open the multicast address in the message to receive the newsgroup article,

wherein the information identifying the newsgroup is the name of the newsgroup, and

wherein the related information is determined, by a sending apparatus that sends the message via the IP multicast network, by passing the name of the newsgroup through a hash function.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus is coupled to the IP multicast network via a satellite receiver connected to said apparatus.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an NNTP client that is configured to obtain the newsgroup article from the news server.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the newsgroup article is conditional access protected during transmission across the IP multicast network.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the newsgroup subscription information is stored only locally to said news server.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a newsgroup list receiving unit that is configured to receive a list of newsgroups via the IP multicast network.

13. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus is coupled to plurality of NNTP clients via a local area network through which the NNTP clients communicate with said news server.

14. A method comprising:

receiving an IP multicast message, the IP multicast message comprising (a) a multicast address and (b) information related to information identifying a newsgroup of a newsgroup article to be sent to the multicast address via IP multicast; and

determining in accordance with the related information and newsgroup subscription information whether or not to open the multicast address to receive the newsgroup article,

wherein the information identifying the newsgroup is the name of the newsgroup, and

wherein the related information is determined, by a sending apparatus that sends the message via the IP multicast, by passing the name of the newsgroup through a hash function.