Abstract: In a method of data transmission in a data communication network, data packets may be tormatted according to different transmission protocols (“secondary data packets”) that are received for transmission through the data communication network and may be packed into one or more “primary data packets” formatted according to the transmission protocol of the data communication network. In addition to a sequence number, the primary data packets may include a first packet offset to identify the location of a first new secondary data packet that is packed into the primary data packet. A first packet offset field length may be determined during connection negotiation. The data transmission method of the invention may include packing one or more secondary data packets, or a portion thereof, in a primary data packet to fill the primary data packet, thus minimizing unused data bits in the primary data packet.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data over a network is disclosed along with destination and source terminals in a data communication network. The method comprises receiving a connection request at a destination terminal; determining, at the destination terminal, a field length for the recording of an element in a data packet to be transmitted to the destination terminal; and sending a connection reply indicating the field length. The destination terminal comprises a processor for determining a field length upon receipt of a connection request from a source terminal, where the field length is used by the source terminal for recording a element in a data packet to be transmitted to the destination terminal. The source terminal comprises a processor for recording an element in a field of a data packet having a field length determined by a destination terminal.

Abstract: A method of data transmission in a data communication network includes negotiating a connection between a source terminal and a destination terminal in the data communication network. During the connection negotiation process, optimal field lengths are determined for recording a source identifier and a sequence number in data packets transmitted in the connection. The source identifier identifies a connection from the source cnd to the destination end of the data transmission, while the sequence number identifies the relative position of a data packet in a series of data packets transmitted in the connection. The length of the source identifier and sequence number fields may either be calculated or selected from a set of predetermined field length values.

Abstract: A scalable satellite data communication system that provides incremental global broadband services using Earth-fixed cells may begin with a limited satellite deployment that initially serves a limited number of Earth-fixed cells. The system has the flexibility to incrementally increase the number of Earth-fixed cells that are served, with minimal constraints on the relative locations of the cells on the Earth, by adding satellites of potentially greater complexity to the system. Backward compatibility with existing user terminals is achieved by maintaining the same satellite communication interface as with the already-deployed satellite constellation. Continuous and/or non-continuous service may be provided to selected Earth-fixed cells. Scheduled non-continuous service is particularly advantageous for bulk data transport services. Satellites may use simple mechanically-steered antennas.