Patent ID: 6205473
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
A communications system for communicating between an information provider and users at client computers on a local area network, the system comprising:a plurality of client computers, each of said client computers including first network hardware and first network software for communications with the local area network, each of said client computers also including application software for communications with the information provider;a server computer including second network hardware and second network software for communications with the local area network, said server computer having satellite interface software installed thereon, said server computer operating to receive download data from the information provider and operating to route the download data to said plurality of client computers for use by the application software on each of said client computers, said server computer being programmed to route the download data to client computers on the local area network irrespective of the client computers' operating systems such that said server computer does not require the same operating system for each client computer of the plurality of client computers;the local area network connected to said plurality of client computers and connected to said server computer wherein said server compute provides routing for the download data to said plurality of client computers;a satellite receiver in electronic communications with said server computer, said satellite interface software operating to provide control for communications received from said satellite receiver;a satellite;a satellite transmitter for sending communications to said satellite receiver via said satellite; andan information provider, said satellite receiver operating to receive the download data from said information provider after which said download data is sent to said plurality of client computers by said server computer via said local area network in order to provide the advantages of satellite communications for high volume download data packets to said plurality of client computers through said local area network.