Self-contained demonstration node in a satellite based content delivery system

• US 7,174,373 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelsat Corporation (Reorganized ISA SA)
• Original Assignee: PanAmSat Corporation (Reorganized ISA SA)
• Inventors: Lausier, Philip C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meucci; Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US09/960,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709/231, 709217-219, 709/223, 709227-228, 709/238, 709/235, 725/37, 725/91, 725/39, 725/67, 725/109, 725/138, 725114-117, 725144-147, 725/47, 725/63, 725/73, 725/97, 725/103, 725/143, 725/149, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/427, 455/430, 455 302- 306, 370241-255, 726/11
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1858 Arrangements for data transmission on the physical system, i.e. for data bit transmission between network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1019 Random or heuristic server selection

Abstract

An edge node of an Internet broadcast system that may be used to provide demonstrations. The edge node includes satellite receiving hardware that displays in real time a video or audio stream. The edge node can be packaged in a single portable enclosure to enable demonstrations to be given at trade shows, kiosks, and the like.

Claims

1. An edge node comprising:

a receiving router to receive content from a Network Operations Center (NOC) over a satellite content distribution network;

a controller, connected with the receiving router to form a private Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), to respond to requests from an Internet Redirection Engine (IRE), the IRE for directing content requested by an end user to the edge node, to process incoming data packages, and to execute commands from the NOC;

one or more media servers, connected to the private VLAN, capable of simultaneously serving both live and non-live content;

a computer with an attached display screen;

a load balancer;

an outbound router, connected with the load balancer to form a public VLAN and further connected to the media servers, to transmit the content from the media servers to the computer and to communicate with the NOC via a terrestrial back channel; and

a firewall connecting the private and public VLANs.

2. The edge node of claim 1, where the public VLAN interfaces with the computer via a wireless network.

3. The edge node of claim 1, where the public VLAN interfaces with the computer via a wired network.

4. The edge node of claim 1, where the one or more media servers, the private VLAN, the computer, and the public VLAN are contained in a portable enclosure.

5. The edge node of claim 1, wherein the IRE is located at the NOC.

6. A method for displaying content received from a Network Operations Center (NOC) comprising:

using a private Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) to receive content, directed to the edge node by an Internet Redirection Engine at the NOC in response to an end user'"'"'s request, over a satellite broadcast link;

distributing the content from the private VLAN to one or more media servers capable of simultaneously serving both live and non-live content;

using a public VLAN to transmit the received content from the media servers to a computer with an attached display screen and to communicate with the NOC via a terrestrial back channel; and

displaying the transmitted content using the computer with an attached display screen;

where the private VLAN, the one or more media servers, the public VLAN, and the computer with an attached display screen are contained in a portable enclosure.