Abstract: Systems, methods, and servers for controlling data flow across a computer network having a first performance enhancing proxy device (PEP1) between a client-facing segment of the network and a second PEP device (PEP2) on a server-facing segment of the network. PEP2 has a receiver for receiving flow control information from across a control channel between PEP1 and PEP2, for each TCP connection on the client-facing segment. The information includes round-trip packet latency (Li) on the client-facing segment and transmit buffer congestion information of PEP1. PEP2 has a determiner for determining if a TCP connection has a congested packet flow; and a congestion reliever for relieving such congestion by synchronizing a receive buffer of the PEP2 to be the same size as a transmit buffer congestion window of the PEP1; and delaying acknowledgments (ACKs) at PEP2 by a time Tack based on a preset threshold level Tlim or Li.

Abstract: A communication system includes a Remote Proxy device and an Edge Proxy device. The Remote Proxy receives a request for a website from a user terminal, and transmits the request to the Edge Proxy via satellite. The Edge Proxy receives the request and transmits the request to a Web Server over a high speed connection. The Edge Proxy receives the response from the Web Server, and transmits the response to the Remote Proxy via satellite, which then transmits the response to the User Terminal. The Edge Proxy also reviews the response and requests objects for the website from the Web Server, and transmits the objects to the Remote Proxy, which then transmits it to the User Terminal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and servers for controlling data flow across a computer network having a first performance enhancing proxy device (PEP1) between a client-facing segment of the network and a second PEP device (PEP2) on a server-facing segment of the network. PEP2 has a receiver for receiving flow control information from across a control channel between PEP1 and PEP2, for each TCP connection on the client-facing segment. The information includes round-trip packet latency (Li) on the client-facing segment and transmit buffer congestion information of PEP1. PEP2 has a determiner for determining if a TCP connection has a congested packet flow; and a congestion reliever for relieving such congestion by synchronizing a receive buffer of the PEP2 to be the same size as a transmit buffer congestion window of the PEP1; and delaying acknowledgments (ACKs) at PEP2 by a time Tack based on a preset threshold level Tlim or Li.

Abstract: A method for switching networks aboard a moving vessel includes determining that a first network-connection device located aboard the moving vessel is communicatively coupled to a first network located off the moving vessel; determining that a second network-connection device aboard the moving vessel is able to communicatively couple to a second network, the second network selected from available networks located off the moving vessel; and connecting the second network-connection device to the second network.

Abstract: A system includes a wireless interface to a central computer system that communicates with multiple mobile communication platforms (MCPs), and logic to receive a request for content from a device aboard a first MCP, the content not stored on the first MCP, the device having an associated data plan. The system includes logic to communicate the request for content to the central computer system, and to receive from the central computer system an indication of a time delay before the content will be available to the device on a non-priority basis, and logic to notify the device of the time delay, and to provide the device with an indication of an impact that receiving the content on a priority basis will have on the data plan.

Abstract: A system replicates Internet websites on a large number of user computers having browsers. The system includes a gateway platform having a gateway server and a cache. In the broadcast mode, the gateway server periodically or continuously images broadcast data (e.g., popular websites), compresses the website images, and stores the compressed website images in the gateway cache. The gateway server then broadcasts all of the compressed broadcast data to all (millions) of the user computers over a broadcast device (such as a satellite), for subsequent display by the user in the browser. In the unicast mode, the user requests unicast data (e.g., less-popular websites or websites having highly user-customized information) at the browser. The gateway server images that one web page, compresses the unicast data, and transmits the compressed unicast data over the broadcast device substantially in real time to the one requesting user computer.

Abstract: A high throughput satellite communication system and method of satellite communication that provide loopback capability and increased throughput is disclosed. The satellite communication system and method of satellite communication utilize pre-distortion based on remotely estimated characteristics of a satellite transponder's power amplifier (PA). The pre-distortion is applied to the hub modulator's constellation.

Abstract: A return channel system for ultra-small aperture terminals has a spreader that receives an input signal and outputs a spread spectrum signal having multiple replicated signals with a lower power than the input signal. A de-spreader includes a de-multiplexer that receives the spread spectrum signal via satellite. The de-multiplexer separates the spread spectrum signal into a first channel having a first signal and a second channel having a second signal. The de-spreader also has an offset compensation circuit having a phase estimator configured to estimate a phase offset between a phase of the first signal and a phase of the second signal. And a phase adjustor that receives the second signal and adjusts the phase of the second signal to align with the phase of the first signal to provide a phase-adjusted second signal. A summer combines the first signal with the phase-adjusted second signal to provide a composite signal.

Abstract: A system includes a vehicle and logic that performs predictive pairing of multiple antenna of the vehicle with multiple fixed antenna of a port the vehicle is approaching, the predictive pairing performed using data obtained about the multiple fixed antenna obtained via a satellite, the predictive pairing prioritizing maximum spatial diversity in the pairings of the antenna of the vehicle with the fixed antenna.

Abstract: A system includes a local social media context server aboard a vehicle, the local social media context server including logic to implement a local social media context for a passenger aboard the vehicle, the local social media context being configured with a duration commensurate with a duration of a trip by the passenger on the vehicle; an antenna coupled to the local social media context server; and logic to prioritize content posted to the local social media context by the person for promotion to the person's global social media context.

Abstract: At least two antennas are used for make-before-break communications over non-geostationary satellites. An SHDC device provides physical layer seamless hand-off and obtain diversity signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain. When additional antennas are available for standby or other reasons, it may be beneficial for a number of satellite antennas to collectively utilize additional SHDC devices to achieve higher diversity SNR gains under normal operational considerations. The asymptotic SNR gains are those obtained when receiver antenna noise dominates transponder and sky noises. According to exemplary embodiment of the present invention, N satellite antennas may collectively utilize N?1 SHDC devices. For example, 3 satellite antennas may collectively utilize 2 SHDC devices.

Abstract: A system replicates Internet websites on a large number of user computers having browsers. The system includes a gateway platform having a gateway server and a cache. In the broadcast mode, the gateway server periodically or continuously images broadcast data (e.g., popular websites), compresses the website images, and stores the compressed website images in the gateway cache. The gateway server then broadcasts all of the compressed broadcast data to all (millions) of the user computers over a broadcast device (such as a satellite), for subsequent display by the user in the browser. In the unicast mode, the user requests unicast data (e.g., less-popular websites or websites having highly user-customized information) at the browser. The gateway server images that one web page, compresses the unicast data, and transmits the compressed unicast data over the broadcast device substantially in real time to the one requesting user computer.

Abstract: A process for managing satellite bandwidth available to a moving vessel includes configuring a satellite to associate the vessel with a group of multiple vessels; configuring the satellite to guarantee a committed information rate (CIR) bandwidth to the vessel and to associate a maximum information rate (MIR) with the vessel, and to combine the CIR of the vessel into a CIR bandwidth pool for the group of vessels, and to combine the MIR of the vessel into a MIR bandwidth pool for the group of vessels, and to provide the vessel with a priority burst rate up to the combined CIR bandwidth of the group of vessels, and to provide the vessel with a burst rate up to the combined MIR bandwidth of the group of vessels, conditional on availability of bandwidth beyond the combined CIR bandwidth of the group of vessels; and re-configuring the satellite to release the guarantee of CIR bandwidth for the vessel upon the vessel gaining access to a terrestrial network connection of higher speed than the satellite connection.

Abstract: A process for managing satellite bandwidth available to a moving vessel includes configuring a satellite to associate the vessel with a group of multiple vessels; configuring the satellite to guarantee a committed information rate (CIR) bandwidth to the vessel and to associate a maximum information rate (MIR) with the vessel, and to combine the CIR of the vessel into a CIR bandwidth pool for the group of vessels, and to combine the MIR of the vessel into a MIR bandwidth pool for the group of vessels, and to provide the vessel with a priority burst rate up to the combined CIR bandwidth of the group of vessels, and to provide the vessel with a burst rate up to the combined MIR bandwidth of the group of vessels, conditional on availability of bandwidth beyond the combined CIR bandwidth of the group of vessels; and re-configuring the satellite to release the guarantee of CIR bandwidth for the vessel upon the vessel gaining access to a terrestrial network connection of higher speed than the satellite connection.

Abstract: A system includes a local social media context server aboard a vehicle, the local social media context server including logic to implement a local social media context for a passenger aboard the vehicle, the local social media context being configured with a duration commensurate with a duration of a trip by the passenger on the vehicle; an antenna coupled to the local social media context server; and logic to prioritize content posted to the local social media context by the person for promotion to the person's global social media context.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows owners of electronic signs, such as retailers, real estate owners, other space owners, and content providers, such as advertisers, entertainment producers, event promoters, visual artists, and the general community to participate in an open content network, in which electronic signs are universally uniquely identified and then added to a network in a distributed fashion, after which content is selectively downloaded to the electronic signs. The times at which the content is presented are determined collaboratively by the owners of the electronic signs and the content providers. A mechanism that verifies whether the content is actually presented on the electronic signs is also disclosed.

Abstract: The techniques introduced here include a method for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination. The method comprises determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination. Further, each travel option is divided into a plurality of serial travel segments such that the travel segments serially connect the origin to the destination. For each of the travel options, the method further comprises estimating a time of travel in each of the travel segments. The estimated time of travel in a given travel segment is a function of both the nature of travel service associated with the segment and the one or more second user preferences associated with a travel service used in the segment. The method further comprises calculating, for each of the travel options, the total estimated travel time as a function of estimated travel times associated with each of the travel segments.