System for providing global portable internet access using low earth orbit satellite and satellite direct radio broadcast system
First Claim
1. A system for providing portable computer network access comprising:
- a satellite direct radio broadcast system having a first satellite and a broadcast station for transmitting broadcast programs to said first satellite;
a user terminal comprising a direct radio broadcast receiver for receiving said broadcast programs transmitted from said first satellite;
a gateway for providing computer network service; and
a communication link between said user terminal and said gateway, said user terminal being operable to generate backhaul signals comprising computer network access requests and responses of a user and to transmit said backhaul signals to said gateway via said communication link, said broadcast station being operable to transmit data provided by said gateway in response to said backhaul signals via said first satellite.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing global and portable Internet access to low cost user terminals comprises an Internet service provider gateway and a broadcast station for providing multimedia information from the gateway to the user terminals via a direct radio broadcast geostationary satellite. User terminals each comprise a direct radio broadcast receiver and a transceiver for communicating with a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite. User terminals transmit Internet access requests, menu selections and other backhaul signals to the gateway via the transceiver. The broadcast station transmits information requested by the user from the gateway to a specific user terminal by providing identification codes in the broadcast programs. The user terminals are programmable to receive all broadcast programs but to demodulate and demultiplex only those broadcast channels addressed to the user terminal. Internet access is available simultaneously with reception of satellite direct broadcasts of audio programs.
197 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for providing portable computer network access comprising:
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a satellite direct radio broadcast system having a first satellite and a broadcast station for transmitting broadcast programs to said first satellite; a user terminal comprising a direct radio broadcast receiver for receiving said broadcast programs transmitted from said first satellite; a gateway for providing computer network service; and a communication link between said user terminal and said gateway, said user terminal being operable to generate backhaul signals comprising computer network access requests and responses of a user and to transmit said backhaul signals to said gateway via said communication link, said broadcast station being operable to transmit data provided by said gateway in response to said backhaul signals via said first satellite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A satellite direct broadcast system for providing portable computer network access comprising:
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at least one satellite for transmitting signals comprising broadcast programs to a plurality of user terminals, said plurality of user terminals each comprising a receiver for receiving said signals transmitted by said satellite; at least one broadcast station for transmitting broadcast programs to said satellite; at least one gateway for providing computer network service, said at least one gateway being configured to provide computer network data to said satellite for transmission to said plurality of user terminals; and a communication link between said at least one gateway and each of said plurality of user terminals, each of said plurality of user terminals being configured to transmit output signals to said gateway via said communication link to perform at least one of a plurality of functions selected from the group consisting of initiating an computer network session, requesting a web page, browsing, requesting downloading of selected said computer network data, transmitting a user input in response to a screen prompt generated by said user terminal and terminating an computer network session. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A user terminal for receiving satellite direct radio broadcasts comprising:
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a receiver for receiving direct radio broadcasts from a first satellite; a communication device for communicating with a digital communication network; a display device; an input device; and a processor connected to said receiver, said communication device, said display device and said input device, said processor being programmable to initiate access to a digital communication network by generating and transmitting an outgoing signal thereto via said communication device, said digital communications network being configured to download data therefrom to said user terminal via said first satellite, said processor being programmable to generate and transmit another said outgoing signal via said communications device to communicate with said digital communication network in response to user inputs via said input device and to receive incoming signals generated by said digital communication network in response to said user inputs via said receiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing portable user terminals with global computer network access comprising the steps of:
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generating a request to access the computer network from one of said user terminals; transmitting said request from said user terminal via a communication link to a gateway for providing access to the computer network; generating a broadcast program using data provided by said gateway; transmitting said broadcast program to all of said user terminals using a satellite in a direct radio broadcast system; receiving said broadcast program at each of said user terminals comprising a satellite direct radio broadcast receiver; generating a backhaul signal using at least one of said user terminals; and transmitting said backhaul signal from said user terminal to said gateway via said communication link. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification