Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the performance of a network by performing selective spoofing. Selective spoofing provides the ability to discriminate among different connections and only allocate spoofing resources to those connections for which spoofing will actually improve performance. The selective spoofing functions described are applicable to a wide variety of communication links, including both slow and fast links, high latency links, and links with low and high error rates. The selective spoofing functions may be implemented either alone or in combination with other performance enhancing features, such as, spoofing the conventional TCP three-way handshake, local data acknowledgement, multiplexing multiple connections across a single connection, data compression/encryption, prioritization, and path selection. The selective spoofing features described are particularly useful for links with high latency and/or high bit error rates.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals over a two-way satellite communication system is disclosed. A receiving unit receives data from a user terminal. A transmitting unit is coupled to the receiving unit and transmits the data to an antenna. The data is transmitted over a return channel that is established over the satellite to a hub; the hub has connectivity to a packet switched network.

Abstract: An approach for transmitting packets conforming with the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) over a satellite communications network comprises a plurality of prioritized queues that are configured to store the packets. The packets conform with a predetermined protocol. A classification logic classifies the packets based upon the predetermined protocol. The packet is selectively stored in one of the plurality of queues, wherein the one queue is of a relatively high priority. The packet is scheduled for transmission over the satellite communications network according to the relative priority of the one queue.

Abstract: A method, system, and software product for transmitting TTY/TDD signals in a system employing low bit-rate voice compression are disclosed. The method includes receiving an input signal and generating a teletypewriter (TTY) indicator signal from the input signal. Whether or not the input signal is a TTY signal including a TTY character, is determined based on the TTY indicator signal. A TTY packet including the TTY character of the TTY signal is constructed and transmitted if the input signal is determined to be a TTY signal. A method, system, and software product for receiving and decoding TTY/TDD signal is also disclosed.

Abstract: An approach for controlling bandwidth allocations for a switching system with transmission constraints is disclosed. A scheduler within a switching system generates bandwidth metrics for a destination site. A traffic control processing logic receives the bandwidth metrics. The traffic control processing logic includes a utilization module that determines utilization associated with the destination site based upon the received bandwidth metrics, and an error calculation module that computes the difference between the determined utilization and a target utilization. A gain and filtering module, which is also a part of the traffic control processing logic, computes a correction value based upon the difference between the determined utilization and the target utilization, in which the correction value being associated with the destination site. Further, the traffic control processing logic includes an adder that outputs a control value based upon a reference control value and the correction value.

Abstract: A sigma delta interpolator for use in a fractional N synthesizer having a multi-modulus divider for controlling the output frequency of the synthesizer. The sigma delta interpolator includes an accumulator operative for receiving an input signal representing the desired frequency output of the fractional N synthesizer and for generating a digital output signal having M bits, which include N most significant bits and n least significant bits. The N most significant bits output by the accumulator are coupled to the multi-modulus divider and are operative for controlling the operation of the multi-modulus divider. The sigma delta interpolator further includes a delay circuit coupled to the accumulator, which functions to receive the n least significant bits and implement a delay function defined by equation: 1?(1?Z?1)N, where N corresponds to the order of the sigma delta interpolator.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for performing parameter negotiation in a data compression link. When data is sent along the communication link in a compressed form, the escape character is not modified. When sending data in an uncompressed form, the escape character is followed by a command and the escape character is modified. A parameter mode can be entered when data is being sent uncompressed. During parameter mode, parameter negotiation between the modem peers can be accomplished without interrupting the communication link.

Abstract: An approach for allocating system capacity of a communication switching system for exchange of traffic is disclosed. The system includes multiple terminals that request allocations of system capacity. The capacity is partitioned into a provisioned portion and an unprovisioned portion, in which a portion of the terminals constitutes a pool having a plurality of sub-pools. According to one embodiment, a control computer communicates with the plurality of terminals and allocates the provisioned portion of the capacity to the plurality of sub-pools of the terminals. The provisioned portion of the capacity is arranged into sub-partitions, wherein one of the sub-partitions is not associated with the sub-pools of terminals. Remaining sub-partitions are associated with the sub-pools of terminals.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that employs a frequency domain interpolative CODEC system for low bit rate coding of speech which comprises a linear prediction (LP) front end adapted to process an input signal that provides LP parameters which are quantized and encoded over predetermined intervals and used to compute a LP residual signal. An open loop pitch estimator adapted to process the LP residual signal, a pitch quantizer, and a pitch interpolator and provide a pitch contour within the predetermined intervals is also provided.

Abstract: A requesting terminal includes an interface that allows a user to select whether data downloaded from a network (such as the Internet) is transmitted to the requesting terminal via a high-speed link, such as a satellite link, or a lower speed link, such as a terrestrial link. Preferably, the terrestrial link (which may comprise a conventional dial-up Internet connection) is a two-way link, wherein the requesting terminal transmits data requests to the network via the terrestrial link. The data requests generated by the requesting terminal are modified to designate whether the requested data should be downloaded from the network via the terrestrial link or the satellite link. The terrestrial link may also be automatically selected for certain applications.

Abstract: A method of interleaving blocks of indexed data of varying length is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a set of basic Interleavers comprising a family of one or more permutations of the indexed data and having a variable length; selecting one of the basic Interleavers based upon a desired Interleaver length L; and adapting the selected basic Interleaver to produce an Interleaver having the desired Interleaver length L.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting, receiving and displaying electronic program guide data having a number of segments, wherein each segment is associated with a program and wherein some of the segments have a keyword therein includes a receiver having a memory that stores a keyword list containing the keyword or keywords. The receiver receives the program guide data and compares the segments of the program guide data to the keyword list to determine if any keywords are contained in the segments. The receiver displays the keyword on a display screen so that the keyword may be selected by the user.

Abstract: A method for making a thin film device on integrated circuits including the steps of applying a first photoresist layer to a first surface, and patterning the first photoresist layer to have at least a first opening that exposes the first surface. A film is deposited onto the first photoresist layer, wherein a portion of the deposited film is deposited onto the exposed first surface. A second photoresist layer is applied onto the deposited layer, wherein the second photoresist layer is applied to the portion of the deposited film within the first opening and covers a second portion of the deposited layer, wherein the first photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer assist in the defining of the deposited layer. The deposited layer, first photoresist layer, and second photoresist layer are selectively removed, therein exposing the first surface and the second portion of the deposited layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing automatic gain control for use in a satellite terminal of a satellite communication system capable of transmitting a plurality of different modes of data. The apparatus includes a demodulator circuit having an analog to digital converter; a first variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of a measured power level of a predetermined data signal; and a second variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of the mode of data being received by the satellite terminal, where each of the data modes have a corresponding predetermined attenuation value associated therewith which is utilized as the attenuation value of the second variable attenuator when the satellite terminal receives the data mode.

Abstract: An approach for managing system capacity of a satellite communications system is disclosed. A satellite communications system provides communication services to a region. A terminal (101, 103) is located within the region and is configured to transmit and receive signals over a satellite (105) having a payload that processes the signals. The terminal (101, 103) has a predetermined profile that includes service class information and rate information. A hub (107) is configured to receive system capacity resource configuration data that reflect capacity requirements of a service provider and to determine partitioning of system capacity over the region based upon the system capacity resource configuration data. The hub (107) transmits configuration information to the payload of the satellite (105) according to the determined partitions. The terminal (101, 103) is configured to transmit a bandwidth request message to the payload.

Abstract: A threaded space-time (TST) architecture in a multiple antenna wireless communication system uses the coded transmission in each layer of a transmission resource array as a space-time code. Each layer of a layer set is active during all available symbol transmission intervals, and each of the transmit antennas are used equally often, such that layers each transmit a symbol using a different antenna during each symbol transmission interval. A receiver is provided for multi-user reception using an iterative, soft-input/soft-output (SISO) multi-user detection algorithm based on minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion, among other methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Turbo encoding uses a set of rate-compatible Turbo Codes optimized at high code rates and derived from a universal constituent code. The Turbo Codes have rate-compatible puncturing patterns. The method comprises: encoding a signal at a first and second encoder using a best rate ½ constituent code universal with higher code rates, the first encoder and the second encoder each producing a respective plurality of parity bits for each information bit; puncturing the respective plurality of parity bits at each encoder with a higher rate best puncturing patterns; and puncturing the respective plurality of parity bits at each encoder with a lower rate best puncturing pattern. In a variation, the best rate ½ constituent code represents a concatenation of polynomials 1+D2+D3 (octal 13) and 1+D+D3 (octal 15), D a data bit. A Turbo Encoder is provided which has hardware to implement the method.

Abstract: A light weight fuel tank for a hydrogen powered airplane used as a platform for communication repeaters for communication services. An outer spherical shell member of a sandwich configuration surrounds an inner thin walled spherical shell member in which the liquid hydrogen is contained. A radial gap between the shell members is evacuated to a high vacuum. The facing surfaces of the shell members are coated with a low emissivity material. Electrical heaters are provided to control the evaporation rate of the hydrogen to match the fuel usage and to prevent icing during ascent and descent of the airplane.

Abstract: A system in which a personal computer sends messages into a TCP/IP network using a conventional dial-up link and downloads data from the TCP/IP network using a high-speed one-way satellite link. A preferred embodiment uses a conventional SLIP provider to connect to the TCP/IP network and uses a commercial software TCP/IP package that has a standard driver interface. A spoofing protocol compensates for the long propagation delays inherent to satellite communication.

Abstract: An approach for managing queues of a terminal operating in satellite communications system is disclosed. A hub controls bandwidth allocations in conjunction with a satellite. A plurality of terminals is configured to issue bandwidth allocation requests to the satellite. Each of the terminals has queues that are configured to store the packets, and a queue control logic that is configured to dynamically change depths of the queues according to a prescribed scheme. The prescribed scheme specifies new depths of the plurality of queues based upon past bandwidth allocations associated with the respective queues.