Abstract: A streaming media publishing system and method for use in delivering streaming media to personal computers. The streaming media publishing system and method preferably delivers streaming media content by way of a broadband satellite-based communications network. A content processing center receives media content in analog. digital and textual formats from a content provider or corporation. The media content is processed at the content processing center to produce a streaming media presentation. The streaming media presentation comprises a video and audio stream that includes searchable metadata that is integrated with HTML web pages. The content processing center communicates by way of a satellite or terrestrial link 18 with a cache server that stores the streaming media presentation. The streaming media presentation displayed on the client personal computers using web browser software and by selecting an thumbnail representative of the presentation.

Abstract: Low-cost, high performance access is provided to an Internet service provider (ISP) not convenient to a high volume Internet exchange point using a flexible hybrid terrestrial-satellite Internet communications system and method. The system and method provide high volume connectivity between an Internet service provider (ISP) and a remote customer site that generates a request for content to be supplied by the ISP. In an exemplary system, a first gateway processes a request for content generated at the remote customer site and routes the request. A second gateway processes the request routed by the first gateway to route the request to the content provider. One or more satellites are used to transmit requested content supplied by the ISP to the remote customer site.

Abstract: Rain fade mitigation methods and data broadcast systems that provide improved performance in a rain fade environment. The systems distribute data derived from a transmitting processor by way of a data distribution system to one or more receivers located at remote locations. The transmitting processor may include forward error correction processing software that is used to add forward error correction bits to data packets to be transmitted. When error correction bits are added to the data prior to transmission, the receivers include forward error correction software that processes the received data packets to reconstruct the original data. Data packets with or without error correcting bits may be transmitted two times to the remote locations, which times are separated by a time delay having a duration that is related to a rain fade event, which time delay is sufficient to allow data reconstruction in the presence of the rain fade event.

Abstract: Low-cost, high performance access is provided to a group of Internet service providers (ISPs) not convenient to a high volume Internet exchange point through a flexible hybrid terrestrial-satellite Internet communication system. Asymmetric hybrid circuits, that combine satellite and terrestrial backbone technologies, are used to handle asymmetry resulting from low volume requests and high volume responses. A user request is coupled via routers and servers to a point of presence (POP) on a group ISP backbone network. The ISP's backbone couples ISP's POPs to a terrestrial gateway location, which is coupled to a high volume ISP peered with other high volume ISPs. Requests are directed to the high volume ISP through a POP on the backbone of the high volume ISP. Responses from the high volume ISP are routed to a hybrid network provider. Responses packets are translated into permanent virtual circuits (PVC) by a router.