Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for dynamically allocated multiple slots within a multi-channel multi-carrier transmission system. The slots may be allocated sequentially or non-sequentially. The data transmission rate for each slot remains constant, while multiple slots may be allocated to a single user service. Each carrier signal contains header data regarding all other carriers associated with the transmission system to identify the allocation of slots to user services. In an alternative embodiment, an encoding and transmitting system is provided for transmitting one or more video and audio encoded signals in a time division multiplexed manner along separate channels having fixed bandwidths. Multiple audio channels may be transmitted simultaneously with a related single video channel, and vice versa. The time division multiplexed audio/video signals may be transmitted over a single carrier or over multiple carriers.

Abstract: This specification discloses a satellite transmission system for transmission of TCP/IP compatible packets from a head end computer through a satellite uplink, an extraterrestrial satellite, a satellite downlink, and an integrated satellite receiver/router for outputting of the TCP/IP compatible packets through a port on the receiver/router onto a computer LAN or WAN. The system may include an Internet or telecommunications backchannel. The receiver becomes router enabled by means of a removable insertion Ethernet/Router insertion card inserted into a slot in the receiver, although the transmission system may be used to simultaneously transmit a variety of other services through the receiver by use of other service slots in the receiver. The Ethernet/Receiver supports the IGMPv2 Multicasting (querier and non querier modes), standard TCP/IP (including UDP and Telnet), and SNMP protocols.

Abstract: A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.