Internet over satellite apparatus

Abstract

According to the present invention a telecommunications apparatus for providing transport of packetized information over large distances. The apparatus provides a bi-directional flow of information from a first satellite gateway using a connection over a satellite network to a second satellite gateway. The apparatus uses a gateway that translates the information using the TCP protocol into information using a satellite protocol, which is suitable for transmission of such information over the satellite network.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A communication apparatus comprising: 
 a TCP interface;    a satellite gateway interface;    a system memory;    a bus interconnecting said TCP interface, said satellite gateway interface and said system memory with a processor, said processor operatively disposed to:    intercept a first communication connection between a client and a server;    form a second communication connection between a first satellite    gateway and a second satellite gateway that is over a satellite link;    transmit information describing said first connection to said second satellite gateway; and    form a third communication connection between said second satellite gateway and a destination server using said information describing said first connection wherein said forming said second connection and forming said third connection occur transparently to said client and said server;    wherein the first, second and third communication connections define a 1:1:1 connection relationship, for use with only communications between the client and the server.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said information comprises a client address and a destination server address.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said processor is further operatively disposed to transmit a response from said second satellite gateway to said first satellite gateway when said third communication connection with said destination server occurs.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said processor is further operatively disposed to transmit a response from said first satellite gateway to said client when said third communication connection with said destination server occurs.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said processor is further operatively disposed to transmit a failure response from said first satellite gateway to said client when said third communication connection is lost.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for establishing a communication between a first computer and one of a plurality of second computers, said apparatus comprising 
 a network interface;    a satellite gateway interface;    a system memory;    a bus interconnecting said network interface, said satellite gateway interface and said system memory with a processor, said processor operatively disposed to:    provide a first protocol and a second protocol, wherein at least one of said plurality of computers is able to communicate with said first computer using said first protocol and at least one of said plurality of second computers is able to communicate with said first computer using said second protocol;    determine whether a connection can be established between said first computer and at least one of said plurality of said second computers using said first protocol;    if said connection cannot be established, then establish a connection between said first computer and said at least one of said plurality of second computers using said protocol.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein each of said plurality of second computers is able to communicate with said first computer using said second protocol.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first protocol is XTP.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said second protocol is TCP/IP.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first protocol has a first throughput and said second protocol has a second throughput, said first throughput being at least 7.5 times greater than said second throughput at a bit error rate of 1×10 −7 .  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first protocol has a first throughput and said second protocol has a second throughput, said first throughput being at least 10 times greater than said second throughput at a bit error rate of 1×10 −6 .  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first protocol has a throughput of at least 95% of available bandwidth at a bit error rate of 1×10 −8 .  
   
   
       21 . In a communications system for providing transport of packetized information in a TCP protocol between a client and a sever, a method of converting said system to a system for providing transport of packetized information in a satellite protocol, said method comprising: 
 installing a first gateway, said first gateway operatively disposed to intercept connection from said client to said server; said first gateway further operatively disposed to convert said packetized information from TCP protocol to satellite protocol;    installing a second gateway, said second gateway disposed to establish with said server, said second gateway further operatively disposed to convert said packetized information from satellite protocol to TCP protocol, said first gateway and said second gateway operatively disposed to establish a connection over a common telecommunications link.    
   
   
       22 . A communication apparatus comprising: 
 a processor interconnected with a system memory and at least one network interface; wherein the processor is operatively disposed to:    intercept a connection request sent by a client to a server,    the connection request in a first transport layer protocol;    establish a connection to a second apparatus over a long latency link,    receive a packetized flow of information over the connection from the second apparatus, said information being contained in a second transport layer protocol;    buffer at least a portion of the flow of information in the system memory; and    send a repacketed flow of information to the client, the repacketed flow of information including the buffered portion of the flow of information.    
   
   
       23 . The communication apparatus as in  claim 22  wherein the long latency link is a satellite link.  
   
   
       24 . The communication apparatus as in  claim 22  wherein the repacketed flow of information sent to the client is in the first transport layer protocol.  
   
   
       25 . A communication apparatus comprising: 
 at least one network interface;    a processor;    a system memory; and    a bus interconnecting the at least one network interface, the system memory and the processor;    wherein the processor is operatively disposed to: 
 intercept a first communication connection between a client and a server;  
 form a second communication connection between the apparatus and a second apparatus that is over a long latency link,  
 transmit information describing the first communication connection to the second apparatus, the second apparatus adapted for forming a third communication connection between the second apparatus and the server using the information describing the first communication connection;  
 and transmit a fast connection acknowledgement to the client after the third communication connection with the server is formed.  
   
   
   
       26 . The communication apparatus as in  claim 25  wherein the first, second and third communication connections define a 1:1:1 connection relationship.  
   
   
       27 . The communication apparatus as in  claim 25  wherein the long latency link is a satellite link.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as in  claim 12  wherein the response comprises a connection acknowledgment response.