SPACE SHIFTING OVER RETURN SATELLITE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

• US 20100228876A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Dankberg, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526

Abstract

A method for providing content from a first node to a second node using a satellite communications system includes receiving side information at a gateway in the satellite communications system. The side information may be transmitted from a subscriber terminal to the gateway via a first communication path that includes a satellite link. The method also includes determining at the gateway that the side information is associated with first content available at the first node, and determining at the gateway that second content is available from a source other than the first node. The method also includes generating output content using the second content and the side information. The output content may be substantially the same as the first content. The method also includes providing the output content to the second node via a second communication path that does not include the satellite link.

Claims

1. A method for providing content from a first node to a second node using a satellite communications system, the method comprising:

receiving side information at a gateway in the satellite communications system, the side information being transmitted from a subscriber terminal to the gateway via a first communication path that includes a satellite link;

determining at the gateway that the side information is associated with first content available at the first node;

determining at the gateway that second content is available from a source other than the first node;

generating output content using the second content and the side information, the output content being substantially the same as the first content; and

providing the output content to the second node via a second communication path that does not include the satellite link.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the output content from the source to the second node comprises:

obtaining at the gateway the second content from the source; and

transmitting the output content from the gateway to the second node.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first content is streaming media.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first content is downloadable media.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the output content is provided to the second node via a computer network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second content is stored at the gateway.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the source is coupled to the gateway via a computer network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the gateway comprises at least one of an encoder or a decoder.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the gateway is coupled to the source via a computer network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second content is substantially the same as the output content.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the side information comprises an identifier of the first content.

12. A gateway for providing content from a first node to a second node using a satellite communications system, comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive side information transmitted from a subscriber terminal via a first communication path that includes a satellite link;

a first determining module configured to determine that the side information is associated with first content available at the first node;

a second determining module configured to determine that second content is available from a source other than the first node;

a generating module configured to generate output content using the second content and the side information, where the output content is substantially the same as the first content; and

a providing module configured to provide the output content to the second node via a second communication path that does not include the satellite link.

13. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the providing module comprises:

an obtaining module configured to obtain the second content from the source; and

a transmitting module configured to transmit the output content to the second node.

14. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the output content is provided to the second node via a computer network.

15. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the second content is stored at the gateway.

16. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the source is coupled to the gateway via a computer network.

17. A satellite communications system for transmitting content from a first node to a second node, comprising:

a source encoder configured to receive first content from the first node and generate side information associated with the first content;

a subscriber terminal configured to transmit the side information via a satellite link; and

a gateway configured to receive the side information via the satellite link and configured to;

determine that the side information is associated with the first content;

determine that second content is available from a source other than the first node;

generate output content using the second content and the side information, where the output content is substantially the same as the first content; and

provide the output content to the second node via a communication path that does not include the satellite link.

18. The satellite communications system of claim 17 wherein the second content is stored at the gateway.

19. The satellite communications system of claim 17 wherein the source is coupled to the gateway via a computer network.

20. The satellite communications system of claim 17 wherein the gateway is configured to provide the output content to the second node via a computer network.