Abstract: A method of communications over a network is specially adapted for improved transmission performance with reduced bandwidth requirements in communications networks which are low quality or have widely varied physical channel performance, for example, wireless networks. The method includes steps of packetizing a payload into a series of data packets, inserting header packets at the beginning, middle, and towards the end of the series, transmitting the series, together with the header packets, receiving at least some of the data packets of the series and at least one of the header packets, and sending an acknowledgement. The acknowledgement is either that all data packets and at least one header packet were received; that not all data packets were received and at least one header packet was received; or that some data packets were received, but no header packet was received.

Abstract: A communications service provider provides wireless access to a packetized data network, such as the Internet. The service provider includes a server computer. The server computer is connected to the network, which is at least in part a wired network. The wired network is connected to a cellular wireless communications system. Features of the network and the server computer include group messaging, co-processors, dynamic protocol dictionaries, and cache synchronization and optimization. The features speed and improve communications over the network, including over wireless channels and dynamic conditions of those channels.

Abstract: A remote viewing system is for viewing digital images of remote locations. The viewing system includes a plurality of digital image acquisition devices. The devices are located at remote locations. The system also includes a plurality of digital image transmission devices connected to respective ones of the digital image acquisition devices. A digital image receiving device is communicatively connected to each of the digital image transmission devices. A digital image server device is connected to the digital image receiving device. The digital image server device is connected to a network, such as the Internet. A network-enabled computer can access select ones of the digital images over the network. The digital image receiving device and the digital image server device cooperate to make available to the network-enabled computer the select ones of the digital images for download from the network.