US6016388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for requesting and retrieving information from a source computer using terrestrial and satellite interfaces
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
•
Filing: 1998-05-06
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Granted: 2000-01-18
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Expires: 2018-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A system in which a personal computer sends messages into a network such as a TCP/IP network using a conventional dial-up link and downloads data from the TCP/IP network using a high-speed one-way satellite link. A preferred embodiment uses a conventional SLIP provider to connect to the TCP/IP network and uses a commercial software TCP/IP package that has a standard driver interface. A spoofing protocol compensates for the long propagation delays inherent to satellite communication.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas M. Dillon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18578; H04B7/18582; H04B7/18584; H04B7/18591; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L12/2856; H04L12/2869; H04L12/2898; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5691; H04L12/5692; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; H04L47/15; H04L47/70; H04L47/74; H04L47/745; H04L47/80; H04L47/803; H04L47/82; H04L47/824; H04L47/825; H04L47/829; H04L61/00; H04L61/09; H04L61/10; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04L69/161; H04L69/163; H04L69/168; H04L2212/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A device for use with an apparatus comprising (a) a port for connecting the apparatus to the internet via a modem and an internet service provider, wherein the apparatus has an IP address which is associated with connection to the internet via the port, (b) an interface for connecting the apparatus to a link having a higher speed than the modem, wherein the apparatus has another IP address which is associated with the interface, and (c) means for generating a request from the apparatus to a destination apparatus on the internet, the request comprising an IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with the interface and the destination IP address is the IP address of the destination apparatus on the internet, said device comprising: a driver for encapsulating the IP packet of the request in an encapsulating IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with connection to the internet via the port and the destination address is the IP address of a gateway apparatus which is coupled with both the internet and the link, and for transmitting the encapsulating IP packet to the gateway apparatus by way of the port and the internet service provider, wherein the gateway apparatus unencapsulates the IP packet of the request from the encapsulating IP packet and transmits the IP packet of the request to the destination apparatus on the internet which replies to the IP address associated with the interface via the gateway apparatus and the link.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
253 words
A device for use with an apparatus comprising (a) a port for connecting the apparatus to the internet via a modem and an internet service provider, wherein the apparatus has an IP address which is associated with connection to the internet via the port, (b) an interface for connecting the apparatus to a link having a higher speed than the modem, wherein the apparatus has another IP address which is associated with the interface, and (c) means for generating a request from the apparatus to a destination apparatus on the internet, the request comprising an IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with the interface and the destination IP address is the IP address of the destination apparatus on the internet, said device comprising: a driver for encapsulating the IP packet of the request in an encapsulating IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with connection to the internet via the port and the destination address is the IP address of a gateway apparatus which is coupled with both the internet and the link, and for transmitting the encapsulating IP packet to the gateway apparatus by way of the port and the internet service provider, wherein the gateway apparatus unencapsulates the IP packet of the request from the encapsulating IP packet and transmits the IP packet of the request to the destination apparatus on the internet which replies to the IP address associated with the interface via the gateway apparatus and the link.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus communicates with the internet service provider via the port and the modem using SLIP or PPP.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said driver receives the request in the form of an Ethernet packet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said driver comprises means for extracting the IP packet of the request from the Ethernet packet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said driver comprises means for identifying itself as an Ethernet device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said driver processes packets from the interface using a TCP/IP maximum transmission unit that is larger than that used by said driver to send packets to the internet service provider via the port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the port is a serial port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the request comprises a request selected from the group consisting of an FTP request, an internet browser request, and an internet news request.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein when the destination apparatus on the internet replies to the IP address associated with the interface via the gateway apparatus and the link, the gateway apparatus responds to an address resolution protocol request for the IP address of the interface and forwards reply packets from the destination apparatus to the interface of the apparatus via the link.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the interface is coupled to a satellite receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the IP address associated with connection to the internet via the port is assigned by the internet service provider.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises scanning means for scanning packets received from the interface to identify packets addressed to the IP address associated with the interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein the scanning means passes the identified packets to said driver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said driver encapsulates the IP packet of the request into the data area of the encapsulating IP packet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the IP addresses of the gateway apparatus and the destination apparatus are different IP addresses.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for use with an apparatus comprising (a) a port for connecting the apparatus to the internet via a modem and an internet service provider, wherein the apparatus has an IP address which is associated with connection to the internet via the port, and (b) an interface for connecting the apparatus to a link having a higher speed than the modem, wherein the apparatus has another IP address which is associated with the interface, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a request from the apparatus to be transmitted to a destination apparatus on the internet, the request comprising an IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with the interface and the destination IP address is the IP address of the destination apparatus on the internet; and encapsulating the IP packet of the request in an encapsulating IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with connection to the internet via the port and the destination address is the IP address of a gateway apparatus which is coupled with both the internet and the link, and transmitting the encapsulating IP packet to the gateway apparatus by way of the port and the internet service provider, wherein the gateway apparatus encapsulates the IP packet of the request from the encapsulating IP packet and transmits the IP packet of the request to the destination apparatus on the internet which replies to the IP address associated with the interface via the gateway apparatus and the link.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for use with an apparatus comprising (a) a port for connecting the apparatus to the internet via a modem and an internet service provider, wherein the apparatus has an IP address which is associated with connection to the internet via the port, and (b) an interface for connecting the apparatus to a link having a higher speed than the modem, wherein the apparatus has another IP address which is associated with the interface, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a request from the apparatus to be transmitted to a destination apparatus on the internet, the request comprising an IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with the interface and the destination IP address is the IP address of the destination apparatus on the internet; and encapsulating the IP packet of the request in an encapsulating IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with connection to the internet via the port and the destination address is the IP address of a gateway apparatus which is coupled with both the internet and the link, and transmitting the encapsulating IP packet to the gateway apparatus by way of the port and the internet service provider, wherein the gateway apparatus encapsulates the IP packet of the request from the encapsulating IP packet and transmits the IP packet of the request to the destination apparatus on the internet which replies to the IP address associated with the interface via the gateway apparatus and the link.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus communicates with the internet service provider via the port and the modem using SLIP or PPP.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of extracting the IP packet of the request from an Ethernet packet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the request comprises a request selected from the group consisting of an FTP request, an internet browser request, and an internet news request.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
264 words
A medium for storing a computer-executable program for use with an apparatus, the apparatus comprising (a) a port for connecting the apparatus to the internet via a modem and an internet service provider, wherein the apparatus has an IP address which is associated with connection to the internet via the port, and (b) an interface for connecting the apparatus to a link having a higher speed than the modem, wherein the apparatus has another IP address which is associated with the interface, the computer-executable program effecting a process comprising the steps of: receiving a request from the apparatus to be transmitted to a destination apparatus on the internet, the request comprising an IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with the interface and the destination IP address is the IP address of the destination apparatus on the internet; and encapsulating the IP packet of the request in an encapsulating IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with connection to the internet via the port and the destination address is the IP address of a gateway apparatus which is coupled with both the internet and the link, and transmitting the encapsulating IP packet to the gateway apparatus by way of the port and the internet service provider, wherein the gateway apparatus unencapsulates the IP packet of the request from the encapsulating IP packet and transmits the IP packet of the request to the destination apparatus on the internet which replies to the IP address associated with the interface via the gateway apparatus and the link.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
264 words
A medium for storing a computer-executable program for use with an apparatus, the apparatus comprising (a) a port for connecting the apparatus to the internet via a modem and an internet service provider, wherein the apparatus has an IP address which is associated with connection to the internet via the port, and (b) an interface for connecting the apparatus to a link having a higher speed than the modem, wherein the apparatus has another IP address which is associated with the interface, the computer-executable program effecting a process comprising the steps of: receiving a request from the apparatus to be transmitted to a destination apparatus on the internet, the request comprising an IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with the interface and the destination IP address is the IP address of the destination apparatus on the internet; and encapsulating the IP packet of the request in an encapsulating IP packet wherein the source IP address is the IP address associated with connection to the internet via the port and the destination address is the IP address of a gateway apparatus which is coupled with both the internet and the link, and transmitting the encapsulating IP packet to the gateway apparatus by way of the port and the internet service provider, wherein the gateway apparatus unencapsulates the IP packet of the request from the encapsulating IP packet and transmits the IP packet of the request to the destination apparatus on the internet which replies to the IP address associated with the interface via the gateway apparatus and the link.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-17 | 2003-07-19 | 2004-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-17 | 2007-07-19 | 2008-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-07-19 | 2012-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |