Abstract: An approach for providing flow control in a radio communication system is disclosed. A request from a non-satellite system specific side of a transport interface is made to a system specific side of the transport interface for a flow control allocation that specifies an amount of data to be stored in a queue of the system specific side of the transport interface. The system specific side supports a signaling function that is based on a transmission characteristic of the radio communication system. The flow control allocation is generated based upon availability of the queue, wherein the destination address is a link layer address of the satellite communication system. This arrangement has particular applicability to a satellite network (e.g., Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network) that provides data communication services.

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 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 providing flow control in a radio communication system is disclosed. A request from a non-satellite system specific side of a transport interface is made to a system specific side of the transport interface for a flow control allocation that specifies an amount of data to be stored in a queue of the system specific side of the transport interface. The system specific side supports a signaling function that is based on a transmission characteristic of the radio communication system. The flow control allocation is generated based upon availability of the queue, wherein the destination address is a link layer address of the satellite communication system. This arrangement has particular applicability to a satellite network (e.g., Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network) that provides data communication services.

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: 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 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 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.