Transmission and reception of TCP/IP data over a wireless communication channel

• US 6,674,731 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachyon, Inc. (Tachyon Networks Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Tachyon, Inc. (Tachyon Networks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moerder, Karl E., Carneal, Bruce L., Bradshaw, Steven H., Theiss-Aird, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Juntima, Nittaya
• Application Number:
  US09/421,958
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 370/316, 370/389, 370/419, 370/466, 370/392, 370/522, 725/32, 725/63, 725/67, 725/68, 725/70
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/065 the counter or frequency divider being used in a phase locked loop
• 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 27/22 Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/166 IP fragmentation; TCP segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0029 interpolation of received data signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/04 Speed or phase control by synchronisation signals H04L7/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 : Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/065 : using assembly or disassembly of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 : Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

Transmission of TCP/IP data over a satellite link from a hub station to a plurality of remote units. The data, transmitted over the satellite link, uses the digital video broadcast (DVB) protocol. A field in the DVB header is used to indicate the location of the start of a new TCP/IP data packet within the DVB data. Use of a field in the DVB header to indicate the location of the start of a new TCP/IP data packet supports variable location of TCP/IP data within a DVB frame, and therefore more efficient use of the DVB bandwidth.

Claims

1. A remote unit in a communication system comprising:

a DVB receiver having an input port configured to be coupled to an RF receiver and an output port configured to produce a standard DVB data frame; and

a DVB to MAC converter having an input port coupled to the output port of the DVB receiver and configured to accept a standard DVB data frame and an output port configured to produce a de-fragmented MAC data frame, wherein the DVB data frame has MAC fragment headers occurring at a variable location within the DVB frame.

2. The remote unit of claim 1 wherein the MAC data frame is an Ethernet frame.

3. The remote unit of claim 1 wherein the DVB receiver conforms to industry DVB standard.

4. The remote unit of claim 1 wherein the RF receiver is configured to receive communications through a satellite link.

5. The remote unit of claim 1 wherein the position location of the fragment headers is contained in the PID field of the DVB frame.

6. A method of receiving data in a remote unit of a communication system, comprising:

storing MAC data in a DVB data frame such that MAC fragment headers occur at variable locations within the DVB data frame;

receiving the DVB data;

converting the DVB data to MAC data; and

transferring the MAC data to a LAN.

7. The remote unit of claim 6 wherein the MAC data comprises a MAC data frame, and wherein the MAC data frame is an Ethernet frame.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the DVB data conforms to the industry DVB standard.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the DVB data is received through a satellite link.

10. In a remote unit of a communication system, a method of receiving data comprising:

storing the position location of MAC fragment headers in a PID field of a DVB data frame;

receiving the DVB data;

converting the DVB data to MAC data; and

transferring the MAC data to a LAN.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the MAC data comprises a MAC data frame, and wherein the MAC data frame is an Ethernet frame.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the DVB data conforms to industry DVB standard.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the DVB data is received through satellite link.

14. A remote unit in a communication system, comprising:

means for receiving DVB data, wherein the DVB data comprises at least one DVB data frame, and wherein the DVB data frame has MAC fragment headers that occur at a variable location within the DVB data frame;

means for converting the DVB data to MAC data; and

means for transferring the MAC data to a LAN.

15. The remote unit of claim 14 wherein the MAC data comprises a MAC data frame, and wherein the MAC data frame is an Ethernet frame.

16. The remote unit of claim 14 wherein the means for receiving DVB data conforms to the industry DVB standard.

17. The remote unit of claim 14 wherein the means for receiving DVB data is configured to receive the data through a satellite link.

18. A remote unit in a communication system, comprising:

means for receiving DVB data, wherein the DVB comprises at least one DVB data frame, and wherein a position location of MAC fragment headers is contained in the PID field of the DVB data frame;

means for converting the DVB data to MAC data; and

means for transferring the MAC data to a LAN.

19. The remote unit of claim 18 wherein the MAC data comprises a MAC data frame, and wherein the MAC data frame is an Ethernet frame.

20. The remote unit of claim 18 wherein the means for receiving the DVB data conforms to the industry DVB standard.

21. The remote unit of claim 18 wherein the means for receiving the DVB data is configured to receive the DVB data through a satellite link.