Patent ID: 6934255

Claim:
A communication apparatus for transmitting packetized information, said information comprising a plurality of packets, each of said packets comprising data and a header, over a satellite link in a telecommunications system, said system comprising a client, selected from a plurality of potential clients, a server, selected from a plurality of potential servers, a first gateway connected to said client by a first telecommunications link, a second gateway connected to said server by a second telecommunications link, a third telecommunications link connecting said first gateway to said second gateway, said apparatus comprising: a network interface for linking said first gateway with said client; a satellite gateway interface; a system memory; and a bus interconnecting said network interface, said satellite gateway interface, and said system memory with a processor, said processor operatively disposed to: intercept a connection attempt intended for the with said server, said connection attempt initiated by said client; establish a connection between said first gateway and said second gateway over said third telecommunications link, the connection unique to the connection attempt; convert a flow of information received from the client from a first transport layer protocol to a second transport layer protocol prior to transmission over the third telecommunications link; and convert a return flow of information from the second transport layer protocol to the first transport layer protocol prior to transmission to the client; wherein converting the flow of information and converting the return flow of information occurs transparently to said client and said server; and wherein the connection established between the first and second gateways is terminated when the flow of information and the return flow of information is complete.