The present specification discloses a multimedia distribution system and
method. The system and method has a producer workstation, a delivery
server, a high-bandwidth one-way satellite transmission system, a
terrestrial two-way communication system (including use of the Internet),
a plurality of satellite affiliate workstations, and a plurality of
terrestrial client workstations. The delivery server receives digital
information (envelopes and associates media files) from the producer
workstations for delivery of the information to the affiliate and client
workstations addressed in the envelope. The affiliate and client
workstations provide the delivery server with confirmation of delivery of
each received envelope and its associated files. In the absence of
receipt of confirmation of delivery, the delivery server re-sends the
unconfirmed envelope and associated files to the non-confirming affiliate
or client workstation by a two-way terrestrial connection or by a manual
system, such as a dub-and-ship service. The delivery server has the
ability to push content to affiliates, push-pull content to affiliate and
clients, to conventionally pull content from the delivery server, and
push the content to affiliates and clients by manual delivery services.
The disclosed system and method utilize a unique envelope and addressing
protocol and a unique broadcast file transfer protocol for distribution
to affiliate workstations by one-way satellite broadcast. The disclosed
system and method also make significant use of the TCP/IP, IGMP, and
Ethernet protocols and information distribution techniques.