MXPA00002123A - System for selectively downloadinginformation at user terminals from the internet using a satellite broadcast system - Google Patents

Abstract

A satellite direct digital broadcast system is provided which broadcasts selected Internet information such as news reports, weather reports and stock market rates, along with radio programs. Broadcast channels comprise Internet information and a service control header to identify the type of Internet information contained therein. User terminals (22) are provided which comprise a radio broadcast receiver (2) to receive programs broadcast via satellite (20). Audio programs are played on a speaker connected to a radio broadcast receiver (21). The user terminals (22) also comprise a multimedia device such as a personal computer (29) connected to the receiver. The multimedia device is programmed to generate a computer display which prompts a user to select a topic of Internet information. The multimedia device stores received packets and selectively retrieves packets to generate displays such as Web pages using those packets which correspond to the topic of information selected by the user.

Description

SYSTEM FOR DOWNLOADING SELECTIVELY INFORMATION IN USER TERMINALS FROM THE INTERNET, USING A SATELLITE BROADCASTING SYSTEM Field of the Invention The present invention relates, generally, to a system for supplying remote user terminals with the dissemination of information from the Internet, without requiring a subsequent haul link from the terminals to the Internet service providers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Due to the widespread use worldwide of personal computer devices, telecommunications devices and the Internet, the global economy is currently undergoing an information revolution that is expected to be as significant as the industrial revolution of the tenth century and nine. However, a significantly large population of people generally do not have a good service and are not satisfied with their telecommunications options and, therefore, are currently limited in their ability to participate in this information revolution. These populations are found primarily in Africa, Central America, South America and Asia, where communications services, until now, have been have been characterized by the poor sound quality of short-wave broadcasts, or limitations in the coverage of terrestrial broadcasting systems of the amplitude-modulated band (AM) and the frequency-modulated (FM) band. A direct, satellite-based broadcasting system has been proposed to transmit audio and data signals, including images, to low-cost consumer receivers in essentially anywhere in the world. The direct broadcasting system, based on satellite, provides a number of advantages over existing satellite systems, such as the capacity of the provision of portable services. Many existing satellite systems fail to provide portable services, because they require large satellite antennas for access to such systems. While a number of other existing satellite systems can provide portable or mobile communications services, these systems do not provide the adequate channel capacity to provide high data rates, required for the transmission of information from the Internet and the network system World Wide Web (WWW) to many different users. However, a direct satellite-based broadcasting system is limited in that the receivers are of one direction and do not allow users to transmit voice or other information. The users of these receivers, therefore, can not communicate bi-directionally through the satellite-based direct broadcasting system and, therefore, do not have access to the Internet. In many conventional Internet access systems, a user connects to a provider of Internet access using a computer and a communication link, such as a telephone network connected to the public. A series of screens are generated on the monitor of the user's computer, which suggests to the user to select the kind of information that the user seeks to obtain from the Internet. For example, the user may choose to use the Netscape Navigator ™ program, available from Netscape Communications Corporation ™ of Mountain View, California, for accessing documents in the portion of the World Wide Web system of the Internet. The software (program) Netscape Navigator allows the user to enter keywords that are related to the selected topics that are transmitted to the search engine of the Network, for example, to obtain information on selected topics. Existing broadcasting receivers not configured with a communication link between users and Internet access providers, with which they interactively select and download information from the Internet.

A substantial amount of information on the Internet, however, is relevant to a large population, such as to make the provision of the same information to different users, at different times, in different communication channels and in response to individual requests from the user, are inefficient use of bandwidth and other resources of the satellite communications system. Thus, there is a need for a low-cost user terminal, which provides the users with the advantages of the satellite-based broadcasting system (eg, large geographic coverage, good sound quality, high output rates). data and low cost), as well as the ability to receive broadcast information selected from the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above disadvantages and limitations, it is an object of the present invention to provide a direct digital satellite broadcasting system, which can broadcast selected Internet information to low cost user terminals. The selected Internet information may be, for example, weather information, news information, stock exchange rates, consumer catalogs, among other types of information.

A further object of the present invention is to broadcast selected types of Internet information as packets in broadcast channels. The Internet packages flow into the broadcast channels of the direct digital satellite broadcasting system. A broadcast channel can carry one or more types of Internet information, such as news, weather reports, stock market reports, etc. Likewise, Internet packages contain the necessary information to select specific pages (for example, categories of Internet information) by means of a quick review. A further object of the present invention is to provide inexpensive user terminals, comprising a broadcast receiver which is adapted for connection to a multimedia device, such as a personal computer. It is yet another object of the invention to provide the user terminal with a user interface to select the type of Internet information broadcast that is to be stored for display purposes in the user's terminal. This user terminal uses the selection that enters the user interface, to examine stored packets and retrieve those packets that correspond to the user's selection of information type from the Internet.

Packages are displayed (or they listen, if it is audio) using a multimedia device. These and other objects of the present invention are achieved, in part, by the provision to remote users with user terminals that incorporate both broadcast receivers, to receive direct broadcasts from the satellite, such as a multimedia device, to store and display information. selected from an Internet service provider, which has been disseminated through the direct satellite broadcasting system. The user terminals are programs for converting the user information selections indicating the Internet information desired by the user into the control signals, for commanding the multimedia device to extract the received packets corresponding to the user's information selections. to exhibit or for reproduction purposes. Therefore, in one aspect, an Internet service provider has a gateway configured to guide multimedia data selected from the Internet / WWW to a broadcast station. This broadcast station formats the data of the Internet packet in a broadcast program, which comprises the packets and transmits the broadcast program to a satellite in the direct digital broadcasting system of the satellite. The service provider provides additional information to identify those packages that correspond to different types of Internet information (for example, news, consumer catalogs, educational programs, etc.) in the dissemination programs. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for providing a user terminal, both global and portable, of low cost, with at least limited access to the information services available via the Internet. This method comprises the steps of generating screen proposals on the multimedia device (for example, a personal computer) connected to a broadcasting receiver. The screen proposals allow the user to select between different types of Internet information, which is disseminated by the direct digital satellite broadcasting system. The receiver demulticans and decodes the data received from the direct satellite broadcasting system, to obtain the broadcast channels. The user's responses to the suggestions on the screen are processed by the computer to configure this computer to extract selected packages in the broadcast channels, which constitute an Internet information that includes broadcast programs. The multimedia device first stores the broadcast channel packets in a large memory device, such as a disk drive, for further access by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an illustration Schematic of the manner in which the information of the Internet can be disseminated to users through the direct satellite broadcasting system, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating the operation of a broadcast station illustrated in Figure 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the manner in which broadcast channels are formatted by a broadcast station in primary rate channels for transmission to the satellite of Figure 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention.; Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which the process of the on-board satellite signal can be carried out in a direct satellite broadcasting system of the type shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of the process components on board the satellite, illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a user terminal, which incorporates both a digital diffuser receiver and a multimedia device, such as a personal computer, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a flow chart summarizing the series of operations carried out by the user terminal of Figure 5, when the selected packets of the received broadcast Internet information are downloaded, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 8 is an exemplary computer screen, generated by the user's terminal, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Through the figures of the drawings, similar reference numbers will be understood to refer to similar parts and components.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Modes The satellite communication system 10 of the present invention is described below, according to the following general outline: I. Review of System Operation II. Broadcast Station III. Satellite IV. User Terminals I. Review of System Operation With reference to Figure 1, a system 10 is provided, which allows a remotely located user to receive high quality sound, data and images, using a low cost receiver, and to select one or more broadcast channels, which comprise that the Internet information is downloaded to a computer connected to the receiver, in accordance with the present invention. The system 10 is preferably realized using a direct digital satellite broadcasting system. This direct digital broadcasting system consists of three geostationary satellites (one of which was Indian in 20 in Figure 1), low cost radio receivers or user terminals, and associated ground networks. For illustrative purposes, a single terminal 22 of the user is shown, which comprises a portable radio receiver 21, connected to a multimedia device, such as a computer 29. The broadcast programs are transmitted to satellite 20 by means of one or more stations 26 of diffusion. As will be described below in more detail, broadcast stations 26 perform coding, multi-channelization and other signal processes in programs comprising audio, data or both to create broadcast channels (BCS), which are transmitted to satellite 20 in links ascending 28. These uplinks 28 are preferably multichannel frequency division carriers, which carry BCS in terms of the primary rate channels (PRC). Each PRC provides primary regime increases (PRI) of 16 kbps baseband. A BC preferably comprises from 1 to 8 PRC. For each PRC, the BC is allocated with 224 bits every 432 milliseconds in a service control header (SCH). The BCS carries packages, some of which constitute programs that are original to the Internet. In accordance with the present invention, the type of Internet information is identified in the SCH. The satellite 20 performs a baseband process on the uplinks 28 to transmit the PRCs of the BC to the terminals of the user 22 in at least one of the three multi-channel time-division downlinks 30.

With continuous reference to Figure 2, the broadcast stations 26 can be provided with multimedia information (e.g. sound bytes, video and network pages) from the Internet directly via a gate 23 of the system and a cube 27. Gate 23 of the system can operate as an Internet service provider, as can carry out operations that are common to two or more Internet service providers, usually indicated at 31 and combined in cube 27. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, news reports, weather reports, stock exchange rates, educational programs, consumer catalogs and other information that is accessible through the Internet, are provided to the broadcasting stations. in system 10. This system 10 determines what type of Internet information will be disseminated and at what time. The system 10 comprises an installation of the regional broadcast control (RBCF), which can be used to assign channels in the uplinks 28 to different broadcast stations 26. For example, the channels in the uplinks 28 can be assigned to one or more broadcast stations 26 to broadcast news continuously 24 hours a day. One of the broadcast stations 26 can be controlled to supply market value data during the time of operation for a particular market. At all other times, the broadcast station can be set up to broadcast comments on the news of the ball and regional news at alternating intervals of half an hour. In addition, a broadcast station can be configured to broadcast climate reports continuously in a broadcast channel, as well as simultaneously broadcast educational programs and consumer catalogs at specified times during the day on another broadcast channel. A list of the broadcast programs and their corresponding broadcast times and channels will be distributed among the users. The users can, therefore, decide when and which TDM downlinks 30 will tune the receiver to receive a particular program, which include programs comprising information from the Internet. In addition, quick review pages for different consumer broadcast packages can be assembled at a central location (eg, a service provider 31a) and delivered to one or more broadcast stations 26. The quick review pages for a package of Consumer dissemination can supply the current notable news and stock exchange rates for the present day, while another consumer dissemination page can supply a quick review page dedicated to sports highlights. The material of the program can be obtained from the Internet, by supplying the base to place Internet addresses in packages for elective download and display them on a multimedia device connected to a receiver. In accordance with the present invention, each user terminal 22 is configured to receive satellite direct broadcasting programs by means of the radio receiver 21. As noted previously, the receiver 21 can be tuned to receive broadcast programs from one of the three selected 30 downlinks. This receiver 21 is configured to demultilize and decode the selected downlink 30 to obtain broadcast channels that are transmitted from the broadcast stations 26 and provided to the downlink 30 by the satellite 20. The computer 29 connected to the receiver 22 processes the demultized data and decoded and stored to extract packets corresponding to a category or selected type of Internet information required by a user. The computer 29 stores and then announces the information, that is, displays the information on a computer monitor or executes audio portions of the selected Internet information on a loudspeaker connected to the computer.

Using the multimedia device, the user may require viewing, listening or storing a particular type of information, which has been demulticated, decoded and stored from the broadcast channels 100 5 (Figure 3). An input device (for example a mouse or keyboard) can be used to respond to the screen prompts generated by the computer 29. The screen prompts are preferably one or more screens having menus that list different types of information (for example, news, weather, educational programs, consumer products, stock market reports, etc.) and their corresponding icons. The user can "click" on an icon using a mouse, for example. The computer 29 processes the mouse input to determine which product of the menu has been selected and to configure the computer 29 to announce the stored Internet information, which corresponds to the selection of the user, as described below in greater detail in relation to Figures 7 and 8. 20 The system 10 it is advantageous because it can download relatively large amounts of information from one or more Internet service providers, for example, to a user terminal 22, efficiently and cost-effectively, using the direct broadcasting system satellite. Different types of information, such as < & = ^ - f% «.5 ** news and weather information, are desired by a large number of people who disseminate the information to all terminals 22 of the user for selective reception with a more effective cost than the supply of data to the space segment, whenever it is required by the user. In addition to preserving the segment of the space, the dissemination of popular Internet information and the provision of user terminals with means for the selection between the dissemination of Internet information that does not require modification of the dissemination system, to include later entrainment links with which communicate the requests and responses of the user to an Internet service provider, in order to obtain the information from the Internet.

II. Broadcast Station The direct broadcasting system uses digital audio coding techniques. Each satellite 20 delivers direct radio audio signals having qualities equivalent to monaural AM, monaural FM, stereophonic FM and stereophonic CD, through the respective coverage area, together with auxiliary data, such as paging, video and audio. text transmission directly to the user terminals 22. The system can also deliver multimedia services such as large database downloads to personal computers (PC) for the business application, maps and printed text information for travelers, and color images to increase audio programs for advertisements and amusements The signal processing for converting the digital data streams from one or more broadcast stations 26 into parallel streams for transmission to a satellite 20 will now be described with reference to Figure 2. For illustrative purposes, four sources 60, 64, 68 and 72 of the program information are displayed. Two sources, 60 and 64, or 68 and 72, are encoded and transmitted together as part of a single broadcasting program or service. The coding of the program comprising the combined sources, 60 and 64, will be described. The signal processing of the program comprising information from sources 68 and 72 is identical. The broadcast sections 26 assemble information from one or more sources, 60 and 64, for a particular program in the broadcast channels that are preferably characterized by increments of 16 kbps. These increases are referred to as primary regime increases (PRI). Thus, the bit rate carried in a broadcast channel 100, as shown in Figure 3, is n x 16 kbps, where n is the number of the PRIs used by a particular broadcast service provider. further, each 16 kpbs PRI can also be divided into two 8 kbps segments 101 and 103 (Figure 3) that are guided or connected together through the system 10. Segments 101 and 103 provide a mechanism for carrying two different service lines. in the same PRI, such as a cough stream with low bit rate speed signals, or two bit rate speed channels ba a for two respective languages, etc. The PRI number 5 is preferably predetermined, that is, it is adjusted according to the program code. However, the number n is not a physical limitation of the system 10. The value of n is generally adjusted based on the interests of the businesses, such as the cost of a single broadcast channel and the good faith of service providers to pay. For illustrative purposes, n for the first broadcast channel 59 for the sources 60 and 64 is equal to 4. The value of n for the broadcast channel 67 for the sources 68 and 72 is set to 6 in the illustrated mode. As noted previously, the value of n can be changed. For example, a larger number of PRIs may be required if one of the sources 60, 64, 68 or 72 is a source for the information on the Internet to be disseminated, particularly if the information comprises a video component. With continued reference to Figure 2, more than one broadcast service provider may have access to a single broadcast station 26. For example, a first service provider generates a broadcast channel 59, while a second service provider can generate the channel 67 broadcast. The signal process described here and A ~, - fc ^ in accordance with the present invention, allows digital data streams from various broadcast service providers to be broadcast to a satellite in parallel streams, which reduces the cost of diffusion for service providers and carries maximize the use of the space segment. By maximizing the efficiency of the use of the space segment, the broadcast stations 26 can be carried out less expensively, using components that consume less energy. For example, the antenna of the broadcast station 26 may be a very small aperture terminal antenna (VSAT). The payload in the satellite requires less memory, less processing capacity and, therefore, fewer power sources, which reduces the payload weight. A channel, 59 or 67, of diffusion is characterized by a frame 100 having a duration of the period of 432 ms, as shown in Figure 3. This period duration is selected to facilitate the use of the MPEG source encoder described. down; however, the frame period in the system 10 can be adjusted to a different predetermined value. If the duration of the period is 432 ms, then each PRI of 16 kbps requires 16,000 x 0.432 = 6912 bits per frame. As shown in Figure 3, a broadcast channel, therefore, consists of an n value of these 16 kbps PRIs that are carried as a group in table 100.

As will be described below, these bits are disturbed to increase the demodulation in the radio receivers 20. The disturbance operation also provides a mechanism for encrypting the service at the option of the service provider. Each frame 100 is assigned with nx 224 bits, which corresponds to a header of the service control (SCH) 102, which results in a total of nx 7136 bits per frame and a bit rate of nx (16,518 + 14/27 (bits The purpose of the SCH 102 is to send data to each of the radio receivers 29 tuned to receive the broadcast channel 59 or 67, in order to control the reception modes for various multimedia services, to display data and images, and send key information for decryption, direct a specific receiver, among other features.The header 102 of the service control can be provided with the necessary information to select the information from the Internet and to decipher the type of payment per event of Internet information Sources 60 and 64 are encoded using, for example, encoders 62 and 66, respectively, of the MPEG 2.5 Layer 3, as shown in Figure 2. The two sources are added subse by way of a combiner 76 and then processed using a processor in the broadcast station 26 to supply the signals coded in periodic frames of 432 ms, ie, nx 7136 bits per frame including the SCH, as was done by the module 78 of the process in Figure 2. In addition, information type identification data may be provided in the SCH of the BC. The blocks indicated in the broadcast station 26 in Figure 2 correspond to the programmed modules made by a processor and the hardware (computer equipment) associated, such as the circuits of a digital memory and the encoder. The bits in the box 100 are subsequently encoded by the FEC protection using digital signal processing software (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and large-scale customer integration (LSI) chips for the two methods of concatenated coding. First, a Reed Solomon 80a encoder is provided to produce 255 bits per 223 bits that enter the encoder. The bits in frame 100 are then reordered according to a known interleaving scheme, as indicated by reference number 80b. Interleaving encoding provides further protection against bursts of errors found in a transmission, since this method extends the damaged bits over several channels. With continued reference to the process module 80, a known winding coding scheme of limited length 7 is applied using the Viterbi encoder 80C. This Viterbi encoder 83c produces two output bits for each input bit, yielding as a net result 1632 or coded bits of FEC per frame for each increment of 6912 bits per frame applied in the broadcast channel 59. Thus, each FEC encoded broadcast channel (eg channel 59 or 67) comprises nx 16320 bits of information, which have been coded, reordered and encoded again, so that the original spread of the 16 kbps PRIs is no longer be identifiable However, the encoded FEC bits are organized in terms of the original frame structure of 432 ms. The general coding scheme for error protection is (255/223) x 2 = 2 + 64/223. With continued reference to Figure 2, the nx 16320 bits of the FEC-encoded broadcast channel frame are subdivided or demultialized subsequently using a channel distributor 82 on n primary rate channels (PRC), each carrying 16320 bits in terms of games of 8160 two-bit symbols. This process is further illustrated in Figure 3. Diffusion channel 59 is shown, which is characterized by a frame of 432 ms having an SCH 102. The remaining portion 104 of the frame consists of n PRI of 16 kbps corresponding to 6912 bits per frame for each of the n PRI. The diffusion channel 106 encoded with FEC is obtained by following the concatenated Reed Solomon 255/223, interleaving and coding the FEC% winding, described above in relation to the module 80. As noted previously, frame 106 of the coded broadcast channel with FEC it comprises n 15320 bits, which correspond to 8160 sets of two-bit symbols, with each symbol being designated by a reference number 108 for the purposes illustrated. According to the present invention, the symbols are assigned through the PRC 110 in the manner shown in Figure 3. Thus, the symbols are extended based on time and frequency which further reduces errors in the radio receiver 21 which are caused by interference in the transmission. The service provider for broadcast channel 59 has purchased four PRC for illustrative purposes, while the service provider for broadcast channel 67 has purchased six PRC for illustrative purposes. Figure 3 illustrates the first broadcast channel 59 and the symbol assignment 114 through n = 4PCR 110a, 110b, 110c and HOd, respectively. In order to carry out the recovery of each set of two-bit symbols 114 in the receiver, a synchronization header or preamble 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d, respectively, is placed in front of each PRC. The synchronization of the PRC header (here generally referred to by the use of the reference number 112) contains 48 symbols. The PRC synchronization header 112 is placed in front of each group of 8160 symbols, thus increasing the number of symbols per frame from 432 ms to 8,208 symbols. Thus, the symbol rate becomes 8208 / 0.432 which is equal to 19,999 kilosymbols per second (ksim / sec) for each PRC 110. The 48-symbol PCR preamble 112 is used essentially for clock synchronization of the radio receiver , to retrieve the symbols from the transmission 27 of the downlink satellite. In processor 116 to edge 116, the PRC preamble is used to absorb time differences between the symbol rates of the incoming uplink signals and that are used on board to change the signals and assemble the link TDM streams falling. This is done by adding a "0" to or subtracting a "0" from each PRC of 48 symbols, or abstaining from both operations, in the regime alignment process used on the edge of satellite 20. Thus, the preambles carried in the downlink of TDM have 47, 48 or 49 symbols, as determined by the regime alignment process. As shown in Figure 3, the symbols 114 are assigned to consecutive PRC in a closed circuit manner, so that the symbol 1 is assigned to a PRC 110a, the symbol 2 is assigned to the PRC 110b, the symbol 3 is assigned to the PRC 110c, the symbol 4 is assigned to the PRC HOd, the symbol 5 is assigned to the PRC 110a, etc. This demulting process of PRC is performed by a processor in the broadcast station 26 and is represented in Figure 2 as the channel distribution module 82 (DEMUX). The PRC channel preambles are assigned to mark the beginning of the PRC frames 110a, 110b, 110c and HOd, for the broadcast channel 59, using the module 84 of the preamble and the summing module 85. The n PRCs are immediately differentially encoded and then the QPSK modulated on the frequency of the IF carrier, using a bank of QPSK modulators 86 as shown in Figure 2. Four of the modulators 86a, 86b, 86c and 86d are used for the respective PRCs, 110a, 110b , 110c and HOd, for broadcast channel 59. Therefore, there are four frequencies of the IF carrier of the PRC that constitute the broadcast channel 59. Each of the four carrier frequencies is converted upward to its assigned frequency location in the X-band, using an up-converter 88 for transmission to satellite 20. The up-converted PRCs are subsequently transmitted through the amplifier 90. to the antenna (for example a VSAT) 92a and 92b. The SCH inserted in each encoded PRC preferably comprises a control word to identify the channel of the program to which the PRC belongs and to carry instructions allowing the receiver to collect the coded primary rate channels to reconstruct the programs of the encoded program. An exemplary control word of eighty (80) bits is: fifteen twenty '.. a, zly * ij, .z? Aiíl .. dK ^ tera' ^ The entry of the control word for the number of related sets allows creating a relationship between the various sets of sets. For example, a broadcaster may wish to provide audio, video and related data services, such as an electronic newspaper, with audio text, and additional information. The set identification number identifies the set number of which the channel is a part. The quantity of the primary regime channels of 16 kbps in the set defines the number of channels of the primary regime in the set. The number of subsets and the number of channels of the primary 16 kbps rate in the subset define a relationship within a set, such as, in a set of stereophonic quality of CD, the use of four primary rate channels for a signal "Left Stereophonic" and four different channels of the primary regime for a "Stereophonic Right" signal. Alternatively, the music can be associated with multiple voice signals for announcements, each voice signal in a different language. The number of primary rate channels of 16 kbps in the subset defines the number of primary rate channels in the subset. The identification number of the subset identifies this subset of which the channel is a part. Blocking bits of the set / subset allow cooperative blocking of broadcast information. For example, some countries may prohibit advertisements for the sale of alcohol. The user terminals 22 produced for that country can be preset with a key or a key can be loaded in another way, so the user terminals respond to the blocking signal and block the specific information. The blocking function can also be used to restrict the dissemination of sensitive information (such as military or government information) or to restrict broadcast services that bring revenue to certain users. As previously noted, each code program source is divided into individual primary regime channels. As an example, the audio source 54 may comprise four primary rate channels, which represent a stereo FM quality signal.

Alternatively, the audio source 54 may comprise six primary rate channels, which may be used as a "near-CD" quality stereophonic signal or a FM-quality stereo signal, linked to the 32-bit data channel ( for example, to transmit a signal to be displayed on a liquid crystal display of a radio receiver (LCD)). As a further alternative, the six primary rate channels can be used as a 96 kbps broadcast data channel. The image source may comprise only one or several 16 kbps channels. As will be described more fully below, the user terminals 22, which depend on the set information included in the TDM frame and on each primary rate channel, preferably automatically select those primary rate channels necessary to generate the program preferably. digital audio selected by the user or another digital services program. According to the present invention, the transmission method employed in a broadcast station 26 incorporates a multiplicity of n Single Channel carriers per Carrier, Multiple Frequency Division Access, SCPC / FDMA in the uplink 28. These carriers SCPC / FDMA are spaced in a grid of center frequencies, which are preferably separated by 38,000 Hertz (Hz) from each other and organized into groups of 48 contiguous center frequencies or bearer channels. The organization of these groups of 48 bearer channels are useful for preparing the demultization and demodulation process conducted on the edge of satellite 20. The various groups of 48 bearer channels are not necessarily adjacent to each other. The carriers associated with a particular broadcast channel (ie channel 59 or 67) are not necessarily contiguous within a group of 48 bearer channels and do not need to be allocated in the same group of 48 bearer channels. The transmission method described in relation to Figures 2 and 3, therefore, allows flexibility in choosing frequency locations and optimizes the ability to fill the available frequency spectrum and avoid interference with other users who share the same radio frequency spectrum. Figure 1 illustrates the general operation of a system 10 for broadcasting information from the Internet, as well as other broadcast programs, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the payload of the satellite process, the uplink signals 28, emitted from the diffusers, by means of individual frequency division multiple access channels (FDMA) from the broadcast stations 26, located anywhere. within the terrestrial visibility of satellite 20 with higher elevation angles from 10. Each diffuser has the capacity of the uplink directly from its own facilities to one of the satellites 20, placing one or more primary rate channels of 16 kbps in the FDMA carriers. Alternatively, broadcasters that do not have the capability of direct access to satellite 20 can have access through a central station. For example, gate 23 of the system can broadcast network voices directly to one of the broadcasting satellites 20 directly or indirectly, through the central station 27. The use of the FDMA for the uplink offers the greatest possible flexibility between multiple stations of independent diffusion.

III. The Satellite The preferred satellites 20 of direct broadcasting system 10 cover the Arabian-Arabian region, the Asian region and the Caribbean and Latin American regions, from the following geostationary orbits: • 21 ° E orbital location, which provides service to the Africa and the Middle East; • 95 ° W orbital location, which provides service to Central and South America; • 105 ° W orbital location, which provides service to the Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim.

The coverage of other areas, such as North America and Europe, can be provided with additional satellites. The direct broadcasting system preferably uses a band of 1467 to 1492 MHz, which has been assigned to the Broadcasting Satellite Service (BSS), Direct Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in WARC 92, that is, in accordance with the resolutions 33 and 528 of the ITU. The broadcasters 26 use power uplinks in the X band, from 7050 to 7075 MHz. Each satellite 20 is preferably equipped with three beams of downlink zones, having beamwidths of about 6 °. Each beam covers approximately 14 million square kilometers, within the contours of power distribution that are 4 dB down from the center of the beam and 28 million square kilometers within the contours that are 8 dB below. The beam center margin can be 14 dB based on a receiver gain ratio at -13 dB / K. Each satellite 20 carries two types of payloads.

One is a "process" payload, which regenerates the uplink signals and assembles 3 TDM downlink bearers, and the other is a "transparent" payload, which repeats the uplink signals on 3 link bearers 30 descending TDM. The TDM signals from the two payloads are each transmitted in 3 beams, with the processed and transparent signals in each beam having opposite circular polarization (LHCP and RHCP). Each TDM downlink signal carries 96 primary rate channels in allocated time slots. To a user terminal 22, all TDM downlink signals appear to be the same, except for the carrier frequency. The total satellite capacity is 2 x 3 x 96 = 576 primary regime channels. The conversion between the uplink FDMA signals 28 and the downlink of the multiple channel per carrier, signals 30 of the time division multichannel (MCPD / TDM) in the direct broadcasting system of Figure 1, is achieved at the edge of the satellite 20 in an on-board processor. In satellite 20, each primary rate channel transmitted by a broadcast station 26 is demultilized and demodulated into individual 16 kbps baseband signals. The individual channels are guided by means of a switch to one or more of the downlink beams 30, each of which is a single TDM signal. This baseband process provides a high level of channel control in terms of the uplink frequency allocation and the channel path between the uplink and downlink. The uplink signals are received on the satellite in the X-band and converted to the L-band by the on-board processor. The downlinks 30 to the terminals 22 of the user use the MCPC / TDM bearers. One bearer is used in each of the three beams in each satellite 20. The manner in which the direct broadcasting system formats the FDMA uplinks and performs the payload process to generate TDM downlinks, allows the reception of a significant amount of data, including high-quality audio sound programs, which use low-cost receivers, among other advantages. For the transparent payload, the TDM signals are assembled in a broadcast station and appear precisely in the same structure as those assembled on the edge of satellite 20 by the payload of the process. The TDM signal is sent to the satellite in the X-band and repeated in the L-band in one of the three downlink beams. The power level is the same for the downlink TDM signals, generated by the process payload. Thus the technique for supplying the digital delivery of all the information services (for example, voice, music, data, images and multimedia information, which can be obtained from the Internet), described here and in accordance with the present invention, is applicable to both the on-board process and the transparent cargoes. The process, such as the route performed on the edge of satellite 20, may occur at a ground station, when the transparent payload is used. Figure 4 illustrates the on-board resignation of the primary rate channels of uplink frequency division multiple access channels in a downlink MCPC / TDM channel in the payload of the satellite process 20 of Figure 1. The overall uplink capability is preferably between two hundred eighty eight (288) and three hundred eighty four (384) uplink channels 116 of the primary regime. Ninety-six primary rate channels 34 are selected and multi-channelized for the transmission in each downlink beam 30, and the multichannel time division in a carrier of approximately 2.5 MHz bandwidth, as indicated at 120. Each channel of Uplink can be guided to all, some or none of the downlink beams. The order and placement of the primary rate channels in a downlink beam can be completely selected by means of a command link from a telemetry, interval and control (TRC) installation 38, shown in Figure 1. The software (program) is preferably provided in a broadcast station 26 or, if there is more than one broadcast station 26 in the system 10, in a regional broadcast control facility (RBCF), to allocate space segment channels in the uplink beam 28 to a satellite 20. The RBCF 39 is preferably connected to the CRT facility 38 by means of a communication link. The software optimizes the use of the uplink spectrum by assigning PRC bearers when there is space available in all 48 channel groups. The carriers associated with a particular broadcast channel do not need to be continuous within a group of 48 port channels and do not need to be allocated in the same group of 48 bearer channels. The carrier frequencies in each downlink beam 30 are different to increase the isolation from one beam to another. Each TDM downlink channel; it is operated on the satellite payload in saturation, giving the highest possible power efficiency in terms of link performance. The use of a single carrier per answering operation achieves maximum efficiency in the operation of the satellite communication payload, in terms of the conversion of solar energy into radio frequency energy. This is much more efficient than techniques that require the simultaneous amplification of a multiplicity of FDM carriers. The system produces high reception margins, suitable for stationary and mobile reception, in interior and exterior spaces.

The system 10 carries out the coding of audio sources, using the MPEG 2.5, Layer 3 which achieves the mentioned qualities in bitrates of 16, 32, 64 and 128 kbps, respectively, and also includes the ability to perform the coding of 8 kbps. Image coding is carried out using the JPEG standard. The error rates in the system are less than 10 ~ 10 and thus are suitable for the digital image and the transmission of high quality data for multimedia services. The MPEG 2.5, Layer 3 encoding, offers better bit rate efficiency than previous MPEG 1, Layer 2 (Musical) or MPEG 2 standards for the same audio quality. For audio broadcasts, the bit rates of the digitally encoded source are: • 8 kbps per monophonic voice of utility; • 16 kbps for monophonic voice not useful; • 32 kbps for monophonic music, with quality close to FM; • 64 kbps for stereophonic music, with quality close to FM; and • 128 kbps for stereophonic music, with quality close to the CD. In the preferred embodiment of the direct satellite broadcasting system, each satellite 20 has the capacity to transmit a total of 3072 kbps per beam (which include the 2 TDM carriers for the process and transparent payloads, respectively), which can be any combination of the previous audio services. This corresponds to a capacity per beam of: 5 • 192 monophonic voice channels; or • 96 monophonic music channels; or • 48 stereo music channels; or • 24 stereo CD music channels; or • any combination of the signal qualities 10 above. Since the system 10 provides direct digital channels for the digital delivery of broadcast services, the system 10 can broadcast any type of data, images, cinematographic films and other data of multimedia by means of satellites 20, such as information obtained from the Internet and multimedia sources, as well as voice and music. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the system 10 can deliver to the user terminals 22, information pulses of Internet, that is, Internet information that is transmitted by means of satellites 20 without requiring the recognition of the user. The general system of direct broadcasting of satellite delivers the digital signals with a regime of bit error (BER) of 10"4 or better, supplying the various previously defined service qualities. For each downlink beam 30 in the L-band transmitted by the satellites 20, the EIRP Coverage Border di TDM carrier is 49.5 dBW. This EIRP, along with the specific forward Error Correction, ensures a minimum of 9 dB of margin for a BER of 10"4, which uses the basic line radio receiving antenna.This margin helps to combat signal loss due to to the obstacles in the path between the satellite 20 and the receiver in the user's terminal 22, providing full quality reception in the intended coverage area.The user terminals 22 in obstructed locations can be connected to the high gain antenna, or an antenna located in an unobstructed position For example, reception in large buildings may require a common roof antenna with internal retransmission for the entire building, or individual receiving antennas near a window. of the coverage of the earth, the channels have an estimated margin of 10 dB in relation to the energy density needed to deliver a bit error rate of 10 ~ 4 In the center of the beam this estimated margin is 14 dB. The operating margin of the direct broadcasting system does not change for the higher bit rates. Within the 4 dB contour, most of the user terminals 22 see satellite 20 at elevation angles greater than 60 °, making interference from virtually zero structures. In some beams, within the 8 dB contour, the elevation angle to satellite 20 is greater than 50 °, which may experience occasional interference due to reflections or blockages from the structures. The line of sight reception, even at low elevation angles (20 to 90 °) is always possible with small gain antennas of 8 dBi in some beams pointing towards the horizon. As previously noted, the direct broadcasting system includes a useful baseband process payload on satellite 20. The baseband process allows the performance of an improved system for uplink and downlink budgets, station management diffusers, and the control of downlink signals. Figure 5 illustrates the process of the satellite signal in the direct satellite broadcasting system. The coded primary uplink carriers are received at an X-band receiver 122. A multi-phase demultiplexer and demodulator 124 receives the 288 individual FDMA signals in 6 groups of 48, generates six analog signals in which the data of the 288 signals are divided into 6 multichannel streams in time and perform the demodulation of the series data of each stream. A routing switch and modulator 126 receives the individual channels of serial data paths in all, some or none of the downlink signals, each carrying 96 channels, and further modulates them into three L-band TDM signals. falling. The traveling wave tube amplifiers 126 drive the energy of the three downlink signals, which are radiated to ground by the L-band transmission antennas 130. The transparent payload also comprises a demultiplexer and down converter 132 and a group amplifier 134, which are configured in a conventional "bent tube" signal path to the frequency conversion uplink TDM / MCPC signals for retransmission to the L-band. The satellites 20 are operated by a control segment a ground (for example, the software available in a single broadcast station 26 or an RBCF 39 serving a number of broadcast stations 26) and managed according to traffic requirements by the broadcast control segment over time of life of the orbit. The bit rates and, consequently, the service qualities, can be mixed in any beam to meet the service demand. The complex state of the bit / quality regime of a service can be easily changed from the ground command and can vary at different times of the day. In the preferred embodiment, the channel allocation may be changed on an hourly basis per hour, according to a program setting established twenty-four hours in advance. However, it will be understood that the channel assignment can be changed on a more or less frequent basis. With reference to Figure 2, within each QPSK modulation block, 86, a separate QPSK modulator modulates each primary rate channel at an intermediate frequency. The upconverter 88 moves the separated primary rate channels to the upper link band of FDMA, and the upconverted converted channels are transmitted through the amplifier 90 and the antenna 91. The broadcast uplink stations preferably use VSAT signals for the transmission of elementary channels (16 kbps), which use small antennas (2 to 3 meters in diameter). The uplink channels of the primary scheme are transmitted to the satellite 20 in individual FDMA carriers. As previously noted, up to 288 carriers of the primary uplink scheme can be transmitted to satellite 20 in a global uplink beam. The ground terminals of small diffusers, Equipped with 2.4-meter-diameter parabolic X-band antennas and 25-watt power amplifiers, they can easily transmit a program channel of 128 kilobits per second (comprising 8 of the primary-rate channels) to satellite 20 from a site in the country, where the program originates. Alternatively, the program channels can be connected to the shared uplink terrestrial terminals by means of the terrestrial hired links of the PSTN network. The system has the right uplink capacity for each country in its global coverage, to have its own satellite broadcasting channel.

IV. User Terminals A block diagram of one of the terminals 22 of the user of Figure 1 is provided in Figure 6. The terminal 22 of the user receives the L-band signal from satellite 20, demodulates and extracts the TDM stream from the TDM stream. useful audio or image signal, and play the desired information of audio or image data. The user terminal can be equipped with a compact, small correction antenna, 80, which has about 4 to 6 dBi of gain, which will not require virtually one direction. The user terminal 22 automatically tunes to selected channels.

As previously noted, the techniques of the multichannel multi-channel bearer in time division (MCPC / TDM) are used for downlink transmission to the user terminal 22. Each channel 5 of the primary regime occupies its own time slot in the time division current. These primary regime channels combine to carry program channels that vary from 16 to 128 kilobits per second. The use of digital techniques allows auxiliary services to the radio that include of low video, paging, mail, fax, use of flat display screens, or serial data interfaces. This information data can be multichannelized within the channels of digital audio signals. In addition, primary regime channels can bring program channels that are screens primarily (for example a local page of the WWW) for its display in the user's terminal, with or without an audio program, and the data downloaded for storage and / or printing. Each terminal 22 of the user can tune to one of the TDM carriers, transmitted in one of the beam coverages. As shown in Figure 6, the terminal 22 of the user includes a digital broadcast receiver 21, an antenna 136, and a computer 29. The receiver 21 can be connected to a serial door of the ^^^ «^^^ - ^^^^ computer 29, for example. An Internet service provider, such as gate 23 of the system of Figure 1, may operate on one, two or all of the beam coverages of the three satellites 20. The system 10 may change the allocated FDM uplinks 28 to an Internet service provider and the manner in which the information is guided on board satellite 20 to one or more downlink beams 30 by means of software control and telemetry. Within the digital broadcast receiver 21, a low noise amplifier 138 drives the satellite signal, and the driven signal is received by an RF front end demodulator 140 and QPSK. The output of the front end demodulator 140 of RF and QPSK can be connected to a first time division demultilizer 142, which retrieves the channels of the primary audio regime (PRC), and a second time division demulturizer 144, which retrieves the primary regime channels that carry data, which include images. After the n PRCs of the received broadcast channel are aligned again, the symbols of each PRC are remulticalised in a broadcast channel coded with FEC using blocks 142 and 144. The output of block 142 is a basic band digital signal, that carries information WjC L audio and the output of block 144 is a basic bandwidth digital signal that carries data. The recombined encoded program channels, thus recovered, are decoded and de-interleaved to recover the bitstream of the original primary basic band rate, which entered the system of the terrestrial station 26 of the broadcaster. In the case of audio data, the recovered bit streams are converted back to an analog audio signal by an audio decoder 146 and the digital-to-analog converter 148. The analog signal is driven by an amplifier 150 and reproduced by a loudspeaker 152. The user terminal can reproduce various audio qualities ranging from monaural AM to stereophonic CD, depending on the bit rate of the audio channel. program. In the case of data, the recovered bitstreams can be converted to a format that can be displayed by the data / image decoder 154. In addition to being displayed, the received data can be stored in a memo or printed device. 20 The instructions necessary for the terminal 22 of the user control the recombination of the coded primary channel channels in the encoded program channels are preferably contained in the control words embedded in each primary rate channel encoded and in the bitstream of the primary regime ? á & ¿M original of basic band (for example, in the SCH or PRC preamble). The receiver 21 is programmed to process the instructions in the control words. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an SCH 102 is provided in each BC, as shown in Figure 3. The data from the data decoder 154, including the broadcast channel and the SCH, are provided by means of from an input / output gate of the broadcast channel (BCIO) to the computer 29. This computer 29 stores the data in a drive 176 (Figure 6). The computer processes the data to examine the packets. The information of the packets is compared with the selections of the user making use of the keyboard 170, the mouse 174 or another input device connected to the computer 29, to determine which of the stored packages will be used for production purposes. The information identification data may be provided as part of the service control headers 102 and identify packets that are original from the same Internet source. The main components of the computer 29 include a microprocessor 156 having adequate amounts of random access memory (RAM) 160 and read only memory (ROM) 162, a real-time clock 164 and an display controller 166. This display controller 166 controls the format of the image data (e.g., network paging data) to a display 168. The microprocessor 156 is also preferably connected to a keyboard 170, a printer / tracer device 172, a mouse (mouse) ) 174 and a disk drive 1176. The interface The input / output (I / O) of the microprocessor is illustrated to represent serial and parallel microprocessor doors 156. As shown in FIG. 6, the data decoded by the receiver 21 may be provided to the computer 29 by means of of a serial door connection. The keyboard 170 and the mouse 172 are used to select broadcast programs, control sound levels, make menu selections, and similar functions. The menus and screens may be generated in the display 168 according to the program code for the microprocessor 156 or a received network page. The printer / plotter 172 allows the user to receive a paper copy, produced from any data received (including images), in addition to viewing the data in the display 168. Finally, the disk unit 176 allows the data or programs to be loaded on the computer 29, and also allow the received data (for example, network pages) to be stored for viewing or printing. Another possible function of the disk unit 176 may be, for example, allowing the computer 29 to fuse images or other data that are received in real time, by the digital broadcast receiver 21 with the existing data previously stored in a magnetic diskette. . This is useful, for example, in allowing an existing image or other data to be updated, transmitting only new or modified information, without requiring that the existing image or data be transmitted. The components of Figure 6 can be incorporated into a single unit, which is designed for portable or mobile use. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 1, the receiver 21 can be a portable device connected to a separate computer 29. The energy can be supplied by batteries, solar cells or a generator driven by a spring motor or manual crank. If the user's terminal 22 is carried by a vehicle, such as a boat, airplane or automobile, the energy can be provided by the power supply of the vehicle. As an alternative to housing all the components of the user terminal 22 in a single box, the terminal 22 of the user may be composed of a system or network of separate components interconnected by suitable cables. Figure 7 is a flow chart summarizing the basic sequence of operations carried out by the terminal 22 of the user of Figure 5, when the audio programs and data are received. It will be understood that, due to the -fer- TDM format of the downlink channels, the user terminal 22 is able to receive and play audio and data programs simultaneously. Thus, the user does not need to stop listening to an audio program in order to receive images or other types of data. As a result, a user who wants to get selected data, for example, can do this while continuing to listen to radio programs in the audio program channel. With specific reference now to the logical sequence shown in Figure 7, the first stage in the program is the power supply and start of the receiver 21 and the computer 29 (block 180). The receiver 21 is tuned to receive one of the three TDM downlinks 30 (block 182). This receiver demulticalises and decodes the channels of the primary regime from the received downlink 30 and re-channels them into a broadcast channel that includes its SCH 102. This broadcast channel may comprise real-time video and audio programs. The user terminal begins to run the audio program on loudspeaker 152 and displays the video program on the display 168 (block 184). The broadcast channel may also contain Internet information which is stored for use in a non-real time on the disk drive 176. The computer 29 generates a screen «% As * • '•« «%" • »\,» t ^ g * j¡f? 220, which is illustrated in Figure 8, on the display 168 (block 186) This screen 220 is a screen Rapid initial review, which provides the user with a list of different information topics derived from the dissemination of the Internet.The screen 220 can provide an icon and the corresponding name for such information topics as news reports, weather, stock exchange rates, consumer catalogs, geographic maps, etc. The user may select one of the topics using the keyboard 170, the mouse 174 or another input device Block 188. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stored information that identifies the type of packet data obtained from SCH 102 is processed by computer 29 to select and display the type of Internet information selected by the user (blocks 190 and 192) As indicated by the affirmative branch a of the decision block 194 and the block 196, the computer extracts the packets corresponding to the selection of the user and generates a screen in the display 168 according to the packets (block 198. For example, the packets may comprise data to create a network page or a simple computer screen with text and no graphics, or video data. In addition, some of the packets may comprise a sound byte, which can be supplied to an auxiliary speaker 178, which is connected directly to the computer. If the selected data is accompanied by a sound byte, the reproduction of the audio program via the loudspeaker 152 can be simultaneous with the playback of the sound byte. Packets whose information identifying data do not correspond to the user's selection on the screen 220 are ignored by the computer 29 (block 196). The information topics currently stored in the disk unit 176 are displayed on the screen 220. In the meantime, this disk unit 176 can store a new set of Internet information that is currently received, for further viewing by the user. Thus, the disk unit stores new information from the Internet, while allowing the user to retrieve and view the information that has already been stored. The computer can also store information for later use in real-time applications, such as to learn from a distance. The system 10 of the present invention is advantageous because it supplies digital delivery channels to broadcast voice, music, different types of data, such as images and movies., and multimedia information to remote terminals of the user. Thus, the user's terminals that do not have access to the Internet can receive the impulse of the information from the Internet, that is, the dissemination of Internet information which does not require the knowledge of the remote user. According to another aspect of the present invention, the user terminal can be provided with a terrestrial link, for example a link to a publicly connected telephone network (PSTN), to communicate with the information provider. For example, the user can receive a broadcast from an educational program that includes voice, text and image data from a distance learning center via satellite 20. The user can send responses to the educational program to the distance learning center or to another site by the PSTN link. This configuration is advantageous when the PSTN link lacks sufficient bandwidth to carry voice, text and program image data. Although the present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Several substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such substitutions and modifications are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A system for supplying user terminals with information from at least one remote communications network, this system comprises: a receiver; a satellite configured to receive a broadcast channel, comprising packets containing the information, this information is related to at least one of a plurality of topics, the broadcast channel comprises data indicating which of the packets corresponds to which of the plurality of topics, the satellite can be operated to transmit the broadcast channel to the receiver; a process device connected to the receiver; an input device to the user, connected to the process device; and a display device, connected to the process device, this process device can be programmed to generate a screen on the display device, to suggest to the user the selection of one of the plurality of topics, this receiver can be operated to supply the packets to the process device, this process device can be operated for the processing of an input signal, generated by the user's input device, when this user makes a selection using the screen and to examine the data and determine which of the packets correspond to the input signal, the display device is controlled by the process device, to display the information corresponding to the input signal.

2. A system, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a multimedia device, connected to the receiver, this information comprises at least one of data, graphics, static images, motion images, text, audio, network pages, and video, the multimedia device can be operated to perform at least one of a plurality of operations, which depend on the input signal, comprising the display of at least one of said data, graphics, static images and moving images, text, network page, video and audio execution.

3. A system, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a computer of the Internet service provider and a gateway of a system connected to the remote communication network, and a broadcast station, connected to when less one from an Internet service provider and a system gateway, this broadcast station may be operable to receive information from at least one of the Internet service provider and a system gateway, to format the information in the broadcast channel with the data indicating to which of the plurality of topics the packets correspond, and to transmit the broadcast channel to the satellite.

4. A system, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a center for connecting the broadcast station to the system gate.

5. A method for disseminating information from Internet service providers to user terminals, comprising a radio receiver and a multimedia device, via satellite, and without a subsequent haul link between the user terminals and the providers of the Internet. services: format a broadcast channel, comprising Internet information packets relating to a plurality of topics and identification data for transmission to the user terminals, these identification data identify which of the plurality of topics correspond to the packages; transmit the broadcast channel to the user's terminals, via satellite; receive the broadcast channel in a number of these user terminals; generate a menu, which uses the multimedia device to list the plurality of topics; determining a user input signal, which corresponds to a selection of one of the plurality of topics from the menu; determining which of the packets corresponds to the user's input signal, by the use of the identification data; and producing the packets corresponding to the input signal of the user, by the use of the multimedia device.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of formatting comprises the step of formatting the Internet information, which includes at least one of news information, weather, stock market values, educational programs and consumer information.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the generation step of: identifying at least one of the information of news, climate, stock market values and educational programs, and consumer information using the multimedia device as menu options; and provide a suggestion to instruct the user to select one of the menu options.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of further formatting comprises the step of formatting the program information, which india the plurality of topics and the corresponding diffusion times for the reception in the terminals of the user.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 8, in which the user's terminals are programmed to update the menu using the program information.

10. A satellite broadcast communication system, "for broadcasting information from the Internet, this system comprises: a plurality of receivers, at least one broadcast station, for transmitting a broadcast channel comprising packets of different types of Internet information and data which identify which of the packets correspond to which different types of Internet information, and a satellite, to receive the broadcast channel and to transmit the broadcast channel to the plurality of receivers, in which at least one of the plurality of receivers receives the broadcast channel, this receiver comprises a multimedia device having: a memory device, for storing the packets obtained from the broadcast channel, an output device, for suggesting to a user to make a selection from a plurality of different types of information on the Internet, an input device, to allow a user to make a selection and a processor, programmed to recover a selected one of the packets stored in the memory device, which corresponds to the selection and supply the selected packet to the output device.