Mci Communications Corporation

Worldcom, Inc.

James L Howser

Edward Dean Willis

Martin Michael Garrity

John Coyle Heneghan

Heinrick Sinnreich

A method and apparatus for managing delivery of data, also referred to as &ldquo;content&rdquo;, by a data processing system in a communications system in which a number of content providers and content consumers are located within the communications system. The data processing system receives a request to accept delivery of content at the data processing system, wherein the request originates from a requesting content provider. A determination is made as to when the content may be received from the requesting content provider and when the content may be transmitted to content consumers based on contents already scheduled to be delivered from the number of content providers. Delivery of the content from the requesting content provider is accepted based on a determination of when the content may be received and when the content may be transmitted.

Method and apparatus for managing delivery of multimedia content in a communications system

Calls are routed in a hybrid telecommunications system including a switched communications network and a packet transmission network. A gateway server provides file transfer services in response to a user initiating a call. Calls and data are routed over a hybrid network including a satellite facility. The satellite facility receives data streams at a stream gateway, receives data files and stores and forwards the data files to file gateways as directed by a scheduling service according to the subscriber and the data. All data is multiplexed with authentication and session information and transmitted through orbiting satellite links or the Internet to a receiving facility. Transmission status is returned to the transmitting facility and the data is retransmitted accordingly. The receiving facility decodes the satellite transmission data and transmits the data to client device(s) as directed by a scheduling service according to the subscriber and the data.

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Rowlett, TX, United States of America

James L Howser