Abstract: A temperature gradient is established in a crystallization crucible by means of a heat source and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a heat exchanger and an adjustable additional heat source. The cooling system is preferably formed by an induction coil cooled by a coolant liquid circulating in the induction coil and by an electrically conductive induction susceptor positioned between the crucible and induction coil. The fabrication process comprises heating the crucible via the top and controlling heat extraction from the crucible downwards by means of the heat exchanger and by means of regulation of the adjustable additional heat source.

Abstract: A temperature gradient is established in a crystallization crucible by means of a heat source and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a heat exchanger and an adjustable additional heat source. The cooling system is preferably formed by an induction coil cooled by a coolant liquid circulating in the induction coil and by an electrically conductive induction susceptor positioned between the crucible and induction coil. The fabrication process comprises heating the crucible via the top and controlling heat extraction from the crucible downwards by means of the heat exchanger and by means of regulation of the adjustable additional heat source.

Abstract: The device for producing a sheet of crystalline material by directional solidification of a material in liquid phase composed of a crucible provided with a bottom, side walls and at least one horizontal outlet slot arranged on a bottom part of a side wall. On its external surface in immediate proximity to the slot, the crucible presents electromagnetic means for creating magnetic repulsion forces on the material in liquid phase, at least at the level of the slot. An alternating current with a frequency comprised between 10 kHz and 300 kHz flows through the electromagnetic means. To foster stirring of the material in liquid phase, a low frequency can be used in addition to the above frequencies.

Abstract: A temperature gradient is established in a crystallization crucible by means of a heat source and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a heat exchanger and an adjustable additional heat source. The cooling system is preferably formed by an induction coil cooled by a coolant liquid circulating in the induction coil and by an electrically conductive induction susceptor positioned between the crucible and induction coil. The fabrication process comprises heating the crucible via the top and controlling heat extraction from the crucible downwards by means of the heat exchanger and by means of regulation of the adjustable additional heat source.

Abstract: The device comprises a crucible (1) having a bottom (2) and side walls (3). The crucible (1) comprises at least one lateral slit (4) arranged horizontally at a bottom part of the side walls (3). The lateral slit (4) presents a width of more than 50 mm and preferably comprised between 100 mm and 500 mm. The height (H) of the slit (4) is comprised between 50 and 1000 micrometers. The crystalline material is output from the crucible via the lateral slit (4) so as to form a crystalline ribbon (R). The method comprises a step of bringing a crystallization seed into contact with the material output via the lateral slit (4) and a horizontal displacement step of the ribbon (R).

Abstract: The bottom of the crucible has much greater thermal transfer properties, parallel to an axis substantially perpendicular to the bottom, than those of the side walls. The bottom and side walls are formed by materials having the same main chemical constituents. The bottom can be transparent to infrared radiation and the side walls opaque to infrared radiation. The bottom can be made of amorphous silica and the side walls of opaque quartz ceramic. The crucible can also be made of graphite. The device can comprise a graphite felt, arranged between the bottom of the crucible and cooling means, and compression means of the graphite felt. It is thus possible to define a temperature gradient comprised between 8° C./cm and 30° C./cm in the liquid phase.

Abstract: A streaming media publishing system and method for use in delivering streaming media to personal computers. The streaming media publishing system and method preferably delivers streaming media content by way of a broadband satellite-based communications network. A content processing center receives media content in analog. digital and textual formats from a content provider or corporation. The media content is processed at the content processing center to produce a streaming media presentation. The streaming media presentation comprises a video and audio stream that includes searchable metadata that is integrated with HTML web pages. The content processing center communicates by way of a satellite or terrestrial link 18 with a cache server that stores the streaming media presentation. The streaming media presentation displayed on the client personal computers using web browser software and by selecting an thumbnail representative of the presentation.

Abstract: The bottom of the crucible has much greater thermal transfer properties, parallel to an axis substantially perpendicular to the bottom, than those of the side walls. The bottom and side walls are formed by materials having the same main chemical constituents. The bottom can be transparent to infrared radiation and the side walls opaque to infrared radiation. The bottom can be made of amorphous silica and the side walls of opaque quartz ceramic. The crucible can also be made of graphite. The device can comprise a graphite felt, arranged between the bottom of the crucible and cooling means, and compression means of the graphite felt. It is thus possible to define a temperature gradient comprised between 8° C./cm and 30° C./cm in the liquid phase.

Abstract: Low-cost, high performance access is provided to an Internet service provider (ISP) not convenient to a high volume Internet exchange point using a flexible hybrid terrestrial-satellite Internet communications system and method. The system and method provide high volume connectivity between an Internet service provider (ISP) and a remote customer site that generates a request for content to be supplied by the ISP. In an exemplary system, a first gateway processes a request for content generated at the remote customer site and routes the request. A second gateway processes the request routed by the first gateway to route the request to the content provider. One or more satellites are used to transmit requested content supplied by the ISP to the remote customer site.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A broadcast and interactive data distribution system that distributes broadcast and interactive data transmitted by way of a geostationary satellite, and optionally by way of a cable system, to personal computers. The system comprises a modular digital data communication cyberstation that is a modular computer and server that is external to the personal computers to which data is to be distributed. The cyberstation receives, optionally stores, and distributes the broadcast and interactive data to the personal computers. The cyberstation has wireless and optional wired interfaces for communicating with the personal computers. An optional cable modem may be used to directly communicate with the cable system. A satellite receiver is employed to communicate with the geostationary satellite, and a low-earth-orbit satellite transceiver is employed to communicate with low-earth-orbit satellites used to support information requests, data billing and status/diagnostic reporting to a service provider.

Abstract: Rain fade mitigation methods and data broadcast systems that provide improved performance in a rain fade environment. The systems distribute data derived from a transmitting processor by way of a data distribution system to one or more receivers located at remote locations. The transmitting processor may include forward error correction processing software that is used to add forward error correction bits to data packets to be transmitted. When error correction bits are added to the data prior to transmission, the receivers include forward error correction software that processes the received data packets to reconstruct the original data. Data packets with or without error correcting bits may be transmitted two times to the remote locations, which times are separated by a time delay having a duration that is related to a rain fade event, which time delay is sufficient to allow data reconstruction in the presence of the rain fade event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring very large data files to a remote location. The systems and methods fragment the very large data file into smaller ordered blocks using file conversion software loaded onto a computer processor. The ordered fragmented files or blocks transmitted to the remote location using a data distribution system. For example, the data distribution system may include a transmitter, a satellite transmission link, and a receiver at each remote location. At each remote location, received ordered fragmented files or blocks are reassembled in accordance with the original ordering scheme using file conversion software loaded on a computer. This produces the original very large data file. Once the very large data file is reassembled, it may be processed or archived.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating between information service provider systems (ISPS) and customer premise equipment (CPE) is provided.

Abstract: Low-cost, high performance access is provided to a group of Internet service providers (ISPs) not convenient to a high volume Internet exchange point through a flexible hybrid terrestrial-satellite Internet communication system. Asymmetric hybrid circuits, that combine satellite and terrestrial backbone technologies, are used to handle asymmetry resulting from low volume requests and high volume responses. A user request is coupled via routers and servers to a point of presence (POP) on a group ISP backbone network. The ISP's backbone couples ISP's POPs to a terrestrial gateway location, which is coupled to a high volume ISP peered with other high volume ISPs. Requests are directed to the high volume ISP through a POP on the backbone of the high volume ISP. Responses from the high volume ISP are routed to a hybrid network provider. Responses packets are translated into permanent virtual circuits (PVC) by a router.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An efficient multi-beam antenna system for use with a high capacity communications satellite or spacecraft that maximizes frequency re-use of the allocated frequency spectrum. The antenna system has first and second offset reflectors disposed adjacent first and second sides of the spacecraft. A first plurality of the feed horns feed the first reflector, and a second plurality of the feed horns feed the second reflector. The feed horns and offset reflectors cooperate to produce a predetermined number of beams. Even numbered beams use a set of frequencies and polarizations that are orthogonal to a set of frequencies and polarizations used by odd numbered beams. The antenna beams are contiguous in one dimension.