This specification discloses a satellite transmission system for
transmission of TCP/IP compatible packets from a head end computer
through a satellite uplink, an extraterrestrial satellite, a satellite
downlink, and an integrated satellite receiver/router for outputting of
the TCP/IP compatible packets through a port on the receiver/router onto
a computer LAN or WAN. The system may include an Internet or
telecommunications backchannel. The receiver becomes router enabled by
means of a removable insertion Ethernet/Router insertion card inserted
into a slot in the receiver, although the transmission system may be used
to simultaneously transmit a variety of other services through the
receiver by use of other service slots in the receiver. The
Ethernet/Receiver supports the IGMPv2 Multicasting (querier and non
querier modes), standard TCP/IP (including UDP and Telnet), and SNMP
protocols.