Cyberstar

Lockheed Martin Corporation

General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.

Virtual Satellite Corporation

John C Thacker

Scott David Blanchard

Greg Garner

Robert F Friedman

John A Bush

Gregory Eric Edlund

Steven R Peterson

Michael Wright

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a satellite communications system between satellites and terminal units that are sufficiently small to be handheld units and that operate within the earth power flux density limit. This is accomplished by using spreading spectrum waveform protocols that make efficient use of the allocated bandwidth. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system comprises at least one satellite, and at least one ground station each corresponding to one of the at least one satellite. Each ground station includes a spread spectrum transmitter and a spread spectrum receiver. Each of a plurality of mobile terminals includes a spread spectrum transmitter and a spread spectrum receiver. The spread spectrum transmitter of the at least one ground station is configured to communicate via the corresponding satellite with the spread spectrum receivers of the mobile terminals, and the spread spectrum receiver of the at least one ground station is configured to communicate via the satellite with the spread spectrum transmitter of the mobile terminals, using spread spectrum signals generated from baseband information signals narrower in bandwidth than the spread spectrum signals.

Satellite communications system

Presented is a satellite communication system that allows aggregation of available transponder bandwidth. A channel signal is divided into subchannels if no full transponder is available to receive the channel signal in its entirety, and the subchannels are distributed among a available bandwidths in a plurality of transponders. At the receiving station, the subchannels are combined to form the original channel signal. The channel signal, whether divided and reconstructed or transmitted without being divided, are received into a switch matrix that receives a user channel selection and identifies the channel signal that corresponds to the selection. The identified channel signal is then demodulated and forwarded to a user interface unit. Only a single demodulator is necessary for a user interface unit.

Virtual channel satellite communication system with improved bandwidth efficiency

A cache system and caching methods that are used to improve data delivery service provided by a data distribution system. The present invention uses a master cache in which predictive harvesting of content is performed based upon probability distributions of individual caches satisfying requests from users. Content in the master cache is distributed to user sites by way of the data distribution system, and local caches at user sites are automatically loaded with incoming content.

Method and apparatus for internet cache content delivery via a data distribution system

Systems and methods for integrating a telephone internal access return link with an upstream data carrier using a fiber optic network and downstream data transfer using a cable TV system. The systems and methods provide for a cost effective implementation of a data over cable TV system using the cable system for downstream data transfer and a telephone modem for upstream data transfer. The telephone return path is terminated at a neighborhood node or optical network interface of the cable TV system. The optical network interface combines, modulates, and multiplexes the upstream data onto an upstream fiber carrier. At the cable headend, the carrier is demultiplexed, demodulated, and the data is forwarded to a remote access server of an Internet service provider.

Integration of telephone return link using fiber and cable media

A broadband multimedia data distribution system that integrates satellite broadband data derived from a satellite feed that is distributed over a cable TV network with a legacy corporate local area network. The system provides a broadband network overlay with satellite data delivery that integrates with currently available cable television transmission media. The system thus integrates broadband multimedia data distribution, cable TV network distribution, and the legacy network to expand corporate information services. The system thus expands existing network capabilities and avoids replacement or upgrade costs.

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Los Altos, CA, United States of America

John C Thacker