System and Method for Acceleration of a Secure Transmission Over Satellite

Abstract

A broadband communication system with improved latency is disclosed. The system employs acceleration of secure web-based communications over a satellite communication network. In accordance with aspects of the invention, secure protocol acceleration is employed such that required protocol signals transmitted from a computer employing a web browser may be intercepted by a remote terminal. To insure that the browser will continue transmitting data, the remote terminal generates required acknowledgment and security signals to continue the secure communication, which may then transmitted back to the computer. Meanwhile, the received protocol signals may be converted by the remote terminal for transmission through the satellite communications system in a format appropriate for that communication medium. Aspects of the invention further include a hub or similar device for communicating with the satellite communications system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 intercepting, by a device via a satellite link, a plurality of connection requests from a remote terminal;   establishing, by the device, a plurality of connections with one or more servers in response to the plurality of connection requests from the remote terminal;   monitoring, by the device, a number of the plurality of connections that are open;   receiving, by the device via the satellite link, another connection request from the remote terminal;   determining that the monitored number meets or exceeds a limit associated with the remote terminal; and   rejecting the another connection request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connection requests, the plurality of connections, and the another connection request conform to a secure protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the secure protocol is a secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein establishing the plurality of connections with the one or more servers further comprises establishing a secure tunnel between one of the one or more servers and the remote terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connection requests includes a TCP segment having a SYN signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein establishing the plurality of connections with the one or more servers further comprises:
 transmitting, in response to at least one of the plurality of connection requests, to one of the one or more servers, a second connection request including a TCP segment having a SYN signal;   receiving, from the one of the one or more servers, a connection response including a TCP segment having a SYN-ACK signal; and   transmitting, to the one of the one or more servers, a TCP segment having an ACK signal.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing a tunnel between the device and the remote terminal, wherein the plurality of connection requests and the another connection request are received via the tunnel. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a device via a satellite link, a connection request from a remote terminal;   establishing, by the device, a connection with a server in response to the connection request;   intercepting, at the device, a close connection message from a web server;   transmitting, by the device and to the server, a close connection acknowledge message;   receiving, by the device via the satellite link, a communication associated with the connection;   re-establishing, by the device, the connection with the server; and   transmitting, via the connection, the communication to the server.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the connection request, the connection, the close connection message, and the close connection acknowledge message conform to a secure protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the secure protocol is a secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the close connection message includes a TCP segment having a FIN signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the close connection acknowledge message includes a TCP segment having an ACK signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein establishing the connection with the server further comprises:
 transmitting, to the server and in response to the connection request, a second connection request including a TCP segment having a SYN signal;   receiving, from the server, a connection response including a TCP segment having a SYN-ACK signal; and   transmitting, to the server, a TCP segment having an ACK signal.   
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 receiving, via a satellite link, a web page containing references to a plurality of objects;   displaying the web page without the plurality of objects;   delaying a transmission of one or more requests for the plurality of objects until a period of time elapses after displaying the web page;   receiving an input requesting a second web page before the period of time elapses; and   canceling the delayed transmission of the one or more requests.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein displaying the web page comprises displaying a portion of the web page. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of objects comprise picture, video, or audio objects. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 displaying the second web page before transmitting one or more requests for a second plurality of objects referenced in the second web page;   responsive to a second period of time elapsing after displaying the second web page, transmitting, via the satellite link, one or more requests for at least some of the second plurality of objects; and   receiving the second plurality of objects.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein receiving the second plurality of objects comprises receiving, via the satellite link, a compressed cluster containing the second plurality of objects. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein receiving the second plurality of objects comprises receiving at least one of the second plurality of objects from a local cache. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the period of time is less than one second.