Last mile data delivery systems and methods

• US 8,881,202 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC (NantWorks, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC (NantWorks, LLC)
• Inventors: Wittenschlaeger, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US13/720,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20130160059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 725 63- 68, 455/3.02, 455/427
• US Class Current: 725/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18517 Transmission equipment in earth stations

Abstract

A data delivery system leverages existing satellite infrastructure to deliver massive data sets (e.g., genomic data) to last-mile, remote or rural, locations. The system repurposes existing high-capacity satellite links normally used to broadcast entertainment content by creating customized channels specifically adapted to delivering large data sets to be stored upon computer systems.

Claims

1. A data receiver comprising:

a satellite communication interface configured to receive data from a data source via a satellite network comprising at least one satellite;

a network interface configured to communicatively couple with external networked devices comprising the data source via an alternate network; and

a communication controller coupled with the satellite communication interface and the network interface, and configured to;

negotiate, with the data source over the alternate network, a synchronization function for transmitting a data set over the satellite network,

obtain a satellite-based channel definition via the network interface based on characteristics of the data set at the data source,

configure the satellite communication interface to establish a satellite channel with the at least one satellite according to the satellite-based channel definition and the negotiated synchronization function,

receive at least a portion of the data set from the data source through the satellite channel via the satellite network, and

store the portion of the data set on a non-transitory computer readable medium.

2. The data receiver of claim 1, wherein the satellite communication interface comprises the network interface.

3. The data receiver of claim 1, wherein the network interface comprises a terrestrial network interface link.

4. The data receiver of claim 3, wherein the terrestrial network interface link communicatively couples with a National Lambda Rail interface.

5. The data receiver of claim 1, further including a set top box comprising the satellite communication interface, the network interface, and the communication controller.

6. The data receiver of claim 1, further including a digital video recorder comprising the satellite communication interface, the network interface, and the communication controller.

7. The data receiver of claim 6, the digital video recorder further comprises the non-transitory computer readable medium.

8. The data receiver of claim 1, wherein the satellite communication channel operates based on at least one of the following:

TDMA, CDMA, SDMA, FDMA, PDMA, and PAMA.

9. The data receiver of claim 1, wherein the communication controller is configured to synchronize the satellite channel with the data source using the negotiated synchronization function that depends on at least one communication parameter associated with the satellite-based channel definition.

10. The method of claim 9, the synchronization function comprises a time function.

11. The method of claim 9, the synchronization function comprises a frequency function.

12. The method of claim 9, the synchronization function comprises a transmission link function.

13. The method of claim 9, the synchronization function comprises a security function.

14. The method of claim 9, the synchronization function comprises a location function.