Keith C Barker

US Patent:

20010011305, Aug 2, 2001

Filed:

Feb 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/255603

Inventors:

KEITH R. BARKER - BELMONT CA, US

International Classification:

G06F015/173
G06F015/16

US Classification:

709/237000, 709/203000, 709/223000

Abstract:

A file transmission acknowledgement system and method that indicates the success or failure of a file transfer from a content provider to client computers using a data distribution system. A transmitting processor transmits a file processed by a transmitting processor. One or more personal computers and/or server computers simultaneously receive the transmitted file by way of respective receivers. A reception algorithm on the server or personal computers determines if the file was successfully or unsuccessfully received by the respective computer. A receipt generation algorithm on the one or more server or personal computers generates a receipt acknowledgement or a receipt non-acknowledgement. A return path communication circuit is provided between the server or personal computers and the transmitting processor for delivering the acknowledgements to the transmitting processor. An algorithm on the transmitting processor collates the receipt transmissions. The algorithm also reformats the receipt transmissions for storage and viewing by content providers and personnel operating the data distribution system.

US Patent:

20010023429, Sep 20, 2001

Filed:

Feb 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/249890

Inventors:

KEITH R. BARKER - BELMONT CA, US
MARK T. RAFTER - LOS GATOS CA, US

International Classification:

G06F015/16
G06F009/455

US Classification:

709/203000

Abstract:

Improved data broadcasting systems and methods that distribute data to personal computers . The architecture of the data broadcasting system includes a content acquisition management system having a publishing element , a broadcasting element , and a subscribing element . 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 for broadcast. The packaged data and data processing instructions are broadcast . The packaged data and data processing instructions are received at remotely located personal computers. The received data are processed at the remotely located personal computers in accordance with the data processing instructions.

US Patent:

63078333, Oct 23, 2001

Filed:

Feb 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/249895

Inventors:

Keith R. Barker - Belmont CA
Mark T. Rafter - Los Gatos CA

Assignee:

Loral CyberStar, Inc. - Rockville MD

International Classification:

H04L 100

US Classification:

370216

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. The data packets may also be transmitted to the remote locations at a relatively slow transmission rate such that the time required to transmit the data to the one or more remote locations is greater than or equal to the time necessary to transmit the data plus the amount of time equal to an average rain fade event. The data packets are received at the remote locations and appropriately processed to reconstruct the original data.

US Patent:

6233252, May 15, 2001

Filed:

Feb 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/249889

Inventors:

Keith R. Barker - Belmont CA
Mark T. Rafter - Los Gatos CA
Andrew D. Routley - Mountain View CA
Matthew B. Ashe - Manteca CA

Assignee:

CyberStar, L.P. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

H04J 324

US Classification:

370473

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.

US Patent:

61416827, Oct 31, 2000

Filed:

Feb 4, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/243980

Inventors:

Keith R Barker - Belmont CA

Assignee:

CyberStar, L.P. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

H04N 710
H04N 714
H04H 110
H04H 114

US Classification:

709217

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for communicating between information service provider systems (ISPS) and customer premise equipment (CPE) is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) transmitting a request for information from a requesting CPE on the upstream communication path, the request including a type of information; (b) based upon the type of information requested, routing the request to a selected ISPS coupled upstream and a selected ISPS coupled downstream; (c) receiving the requested information from the selected ISPS coupled upstream and the request for information from the selected ISPS coupled downstream on the downstream communication path at an associated one of a plurality of cable distribution devices, wherein the associated cable distribution device serves the requesting CPE; (d) wherein when the associated cable distribution device receives the request, routing the request to and receiving the requested information from the selected ISPS coupled downstream; (e) forming a composite signal which includes the requested information from the selected ISPS coupled upstream and the selected ISPS coupled downstream; and (f) distributing the composite signal on the cable transmission channels of the downstream path from the associated cable distribution device to the requesting CPE.