Viasat, Inc.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING NETWORK TRAFFIC OVER MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Abstract:

A traffic split transmission ("TST") system capable of transmitting a data flow via multiple communication networks is disclosed. The TST system, in one aspect, includes a receiver, a link selector, a split unit, a tag module, and a delay module. The receiver obtains a data flow containing one or more packets with a destination at a user terminal ("UT"). The link selector fetches link characteristics associated with the current status of available links. The split unit splits the data flow into a first and a second packets. The tag module generates tags for the first and the second packets. The delay module is configured to delay transmission of a selected packet(s) so that the first packet and the second packet can arrive at UT at approximately the same time.