Abstract: Systems and methods for interference cancellation for high spectral efficiency satellite communications enabling efficient utilization of available bandwidth through overlapping adjacent channels. Data information is received along with noise information, and a filter bank is adapted to receive and filter the waveform and output channel information including a combination of data signals and adjacent channel interference signals. The filter bank is further adapted to provide estimated data signals and to calculate estimated interference signals. One or more interference generating processors are adapted to receive the calculated estimated interference signals to enable the interference generating processor to generate interference signals corresponding to the calculated estimated interference signals. The interference generating processor subtracts the interference signals from the estimated data signals in order to output relatively more accurate estimated data signals.

Abstract: A multiple access scheme is described. A first bit stream is scrambled from a first terminal according to a first scrambling signature. A second bit stream is scrambled from a second terminal according to a second scrambling signature, wherein the first bit stream and the second bit stream are encoded using a low rate code. The first scrambling signature and the second scrambling signature are assigned, respectively, to the first terminal and the second terminal to provide a multiple access scheme.

Abstract: An approach is provided for adapting multicast services originating from a terrestrial network over a satellite network. A request for establishing a multicast session corresponding to a network address of the terrestrial network is received at a hub station. The request specifies participating satellite terminals in the multicast session. The hub station assigns an address unique within the satellite network to map to the network address for the multicast session. The participating satellite terminals are configured with the assigned satellite address. A distribution mechanism is selected to transport dataflow of the multicast session to the participating satellite terminals. The distribution mechanism utilizes one or more spot beams covering the participating satellite terminals, wherein the selected distribution mechanism is switched to another one of the distribution mechanisms based on capacity of the satellite network and reachability of the participating satellite terminals.

Abstract: An approach for transmitting packets over a shared communication channel is disclosed. A satellite terminal (ST) (103, 105, 107, 109) contains a processor that transmits a packet over a transmission slot of the channel using a contention protocol, such as persistent Aloha. The processor reserves an available transmission slot, which is maintained until expiration of a predetermined timeout period.

Abstract: A two-way satellite communication system for providing a scalable architecture is disclosed. A plurality of transceivers transmit signals over a plurality of return channels, wherein the plurality of return channels are partitioned into a plurality of return channel groups. A hub communicates with the plurality of transceivers via the plurality of return channel groups. The hub is connected to a packet switched network. Each of the plurality of transceivers performs a random weighted selection of a return channel group among the plurality of return channel groups.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for allocating satellite resources in a satellite communication system. A network interface is provided for making requests for satellite resources. A request processor determines whether the requests can be fulfilled based on a plurality of system constraints. The constraints can include, for example, the number of antennas on board the satellite, the number of active demodulators available on board the satellite, the configuration of a switch matrix which connects antennas to demodulators, and interference between signals transmitted to and from neighboring geographic cells. The network interface is preferably implemented in a web browser connected to a network which includes the Internet.

Abstract: An approach is provided for encoding information bits to output a coded signal using turbo code encoding with a low code rate.

Abstract: An approach for supporting security in a communications network is disclosed. A network device includes a security peer that establishes a secure tunnel over a data network (e.g., satellite network) for transport of encrypted traffic. The device also includes a performance peer for establishing a connection supported by the secure tunnel. The performance peer includes a plurality of modules for providing respective performance enhancing functions to minimize performance impact of latency of the network.

Abstract: An approach for adaptively providing network performance enhancing functions in a secure environment, such as a virtual private network, is disclosed. Traffic, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, is received for transport over an access network (e.g., satellite network). Next, characteristics (e.g., latency) of the access network are determined. A connection (which supports the performance enhancing functions) is selectively established based on the determined characteristics for transport the received packets over the access network. An encrypted tunnel is provided over the established connection to transmit the received packets.

Abstract: An approach is provided for supporting retrieval of a web page over a data network from a web site is disclosed. A downstream proxy communicating with a host executing a browser receives a request message from a browser to retrieve the web page. An upstream proxy parses the web page to determine an object embedded in the web page, wherein a promise list is generated specifying the embedded object that is to be pre-fetched according to a criterion. The promise list is transmitted to the downstream proxy, wherein the upstream proxy pre-fetches the embedded object from the web site. The upstream proxy determines whether to forward one of the pre-fetched embedded object to the downstream proxy based on a comparison of cookies associated with one of the pre-fetched objects supplied, respectively, by the browser and the web site. This approach as particular applicability in relatively high latency networks, such as a satellite communications system.

Abstract: An approach for routing over a radio network is provided. A terminal receives a packet over the radio network, which supports meshed connectivity, wherein the packet is destined for a destination host. The terminal determines whether the destination host is reachable by a communication interface based upon a route table, and selectively redirects the packet over the radio network according to the route table. A route server is provided to collect routes from the terminal as well as other terminals within the radio network. The route server then disseminates the collect routes to the terminals for updating of their respective route tables. The present invention has particular applicability to a fully meshed satellite network.

Abstract: An approach for adaptively providing network performance enhancing functions in a secure environment, such as a virtual private network, is disclosed. Traffic, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, is received for transport over an access network (e.g., satellite network). Next, characteristics (e.g., latency) of the access network are determined. A connection (which supports the performance enhancing functions) is selectively established based on the determined characteristics for transport the received packets over the access network. An encrypted tunnel is provided over the established connection to transmit the received packets.

Abstract: A satellite communications system having a fallback mode of operation, during which uplink signals are transmitted at a reduced data rate, is provided with a novel fallback mode ingress/egress mechanism utilizing a combination of a feedback-based fade detection scheme and fade detection based on parameters independent of the uplink signal transmission. The fallback mode ingress/egress mechanism is responsive to a satellite beacon signal independent of the uplink signals and to feedback signals produced by the satellite in response to the uplink signals, for requesting a satellite terminal to switch into the fallback mode when either the feedback signals indicate an increase in a fade level or in response to a first value of a selected parameter of the satellite beacon signal. The fallback mode ingress/egress mechanism requests the satellite terminal to switch out of the fallback mode in response to a second value of the satellite beacon signal parameter.

Abstract: An approach for minimizing queuing delay of packets is disclosed. M number of queues are configured to store packets. A memory stores a search order table that has table entries corresponding to the M queues. Specifically, the table entries store values that correspond to relative positions of the M queues and that are selected based upon a transmission constraint of the communication system. A scheduler is coupled to the memory and is configured to schedule transmission of the packets stored in the M queues based upon the search order table. According to one embodiment of the present invention, this queuing mechanism is applied in a satellite communication system with transmission constraints to the downlink cells.

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 is provided for managing bandwidth in a data network. Capacity is allocated on a communication channel, which can be utilized for transporting data traffic or support network administrative functions (e.g., ranging), for a terminal to transmit data over the communication channel. In anticipation of the terminal having to transmit additional data, additional capacity is allocated on the communication channel for the terminal prior to receiving a request for bandwidth by the terminal. The anticipatory allocation is determined according to loading of the data network. This approach as particular applicability to shared capacity systems, such as a satellite communication system.

Abstract: A method for enabling synchronization of a communications terminal in a wireless communication system, and a corresponding acquisition system of the communications terminal, wherein the method consists of the steps of: receiving a burst at a receiver of the communications terminal, the burst containing a composite waveform including two or more component waveforms, wherein each of the two or more waveforms has a known frequency variation throughout the burst; detecting the presence of the composite waveform; and estimating a frequency offset and a timing offset of the composite waveform as received into the receiver, whereby synchronization is achieved.

Abstract: An approach for providing stateless compression is disclosed. A message (such as an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) GET request message or a Domain Name Service (DNS) message) is received from a host. A stateful compressor is initialized with a prescribed sequence to yield a primed state. The message is input into a stateful compressor, which outputs a compressed message based upon the primed state. The stateless compression scheme has particular applicability to networks with high latency—e.g., a satellite network.

Abstract: A network apparatus for performing functions to enhance performance of a communication network is provided. The network apparatus includes a spoofing module that is configured to selectively spoof a multiple connections associated with a multiple hosts based upon corresponding spoofing criteria and to provide local acknowledgement of received messages over the connections. Additionally, the network apparatus includes a connection module that multiplexes the connections over a common backbone connection, and a prioritization module that prioritizes access to the backbone connection based upon prioritization criteria. Further, the network apparatus includes a path selection module that determines a path to transmit the received messages based upon path selection criteria. The spoofing module allocates a connection control block corresponding to a spoofed connection. Each of the connection control blocks stores information related to the connections.

Abstract: A network apparatus for providing performance enhancements of a communication network is disclosed. The network apparatus includes a plurality of communication interfaces that are configured to receive and to forward messages according to a prescribed protocol. The network apparatus also includes a plurality of modules configured to process the messages to effect performance enhancing functions. Further, the network apparatus includes a plurality of buffers that are configured to store the received messages and messages that are generated by one of the plurality of modules. A portion of the plurality of buffers is shared by the plurality of modules based upon execution of a particular one of the performance enhancing functions. Each of the plurality of buffers has a data structure that includes an expandable header to accommodate different message types. The present invention has particular applicability to a bandwidth constrained system, such as satellite network.