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: Improved data broadcasting systems 10 and methods 60 that distribute data to personal computers 16. The architecture of the data broadcasting system includes a content acquisition management system 20 having a publishing element 25, a broadcasting element 26, and a subscribing element 27. The publishing element packages data and data processing instructions for broadcast. The broadcasting element broadcasts the packaged data and data processing instructions. The subscribing element receives the packaged data from the broadcasting element and processes the data in accordance with the data processing instructions contained in the received data. An exemplary data distribution method comprises the following steps. Data and data processing instructions are packaged 61 for broadcast. The packaged data and data processing instructions are broadcast 62. The packaged data and data processing instructions are received 63 at remotely located personal computers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring very large data files to a remote location. The systems and methods fragment the very large data file into smaller ordered blocks using file conversion software loaded onto a computer processor. The ordered fragmented files or blocks transmitted to the remote location using a data distribution system. For example, the data distribution system may include a transmitter, a satellite transmission link, and a receiver at each remote location. At each remote location, received ordered fragmented files or blocks are reassembled in accordance with the original ordering scheme using file conversion software loaded on a computer. This produces the original very large data file. Once the very large data file is reassembled, it may be processed or archived.

Abstract: A CDMA communication system is provided in which bit rates are dynamically allocated by a single CDMA receiving station to a plurality of CDMA transmitting stations, all of which are intercoupled to each other over a CDMA channel and a feedback channel. Each CDMA transmitting station includes a control circuit which sends control signals on the CDMA channel in spaced apart time intervals which request respective bit rates on the CDMA channel; and, the CDMA receiving station includes a bit rate allocating circuit which receives and responds to the control signals by sending feedback messages over the feedback channel that address individual CDMA transmitting stations and grant respective bit rates to the addressed station. In one preferred embodiment, each transmitting station includes a data buffer which stores a time varying number of data bytes that are to be sent, and each transmitting station requests respective bit rates on the CDMA channel by including that number in the control signals.

Abstract: A multipoint-to-point CDMA communication system comprises a plurality of CDMA transmitting stations and a single CDMA receiving station, all of which are intercoupled to each other over one CDMA channel and one feedback channel. On the one CDMA channel, the plurality of CDMA transmitting stations simultaneously send respective CDMA signals to the receiving station. In the receiving station, respective time differences are measured between a reference clock signal and the spreading codes in the CDMA signals from each of the CDMA transmitting stations; and these time differences are indicated in respective error signals which the CDMA receiving station sends on the feedback channel to each of the CDMA transmitting stations. Each CDMA station responds to its error signals by time shifting its spreading code such that it arrives in the receiving station in synchronization with the reference clock signal.

Abstract: A multipoint-to-point CDMA communication system comprises a plurality of CDMA transmitting stations and a single CDMA receiving station, all of which are intercoupled to each other over one CDMA channel and one feedback channel. On the one CDMA channel, the plurality of CDMA transmitting stations simultaneously send respective CDMA signals to the receiving station. In the receiving station, respective time differences are measured between a reference clock signal and the spreading codes in the CDMA signals from each of the CDMA transmitting stations; and these time differences are indicated in respective error signals which the CDMA receiving station sends on the feedback channel to each of the CDMA transmitting stations. Each CDMA station responds to its error signals by time shifting its spreading code such that it arrives in the receiving station in synchronization with the reference clock signal.