Multicast delivery systems and methods

A method of establishing a multicast FTP connection, said method comprising:

• receiving a unicast TCP connection from a sender application with a gateway hub;
• forming a multicast connection from said gateway hub to a plurality of remote gateways;
• receiving a list of receivers from said remote gateways;
• forming a data connection with said sender application;
• and
• sending a data package received from said data connection to said plurality of remote gateways via said multicast connection.

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a TCP interface;
• a remote gateway interface;
• a system memory;
• and
• a bus interconnecting said TCP interface, said remote gateway interface and said system memory with a processor, said processor operatively disposed to:
• receive a unicast connection from a sending station;
• map said unicast connection to a multicast connection on a multicast group IP address;
• and
• initiate said multicast connection to a plurality of receiving stations.

An apparatus for establishing a communication between a sending station and a plurality of receiving stations, said apparatus comprising:

• a network interface for receiving a unicast communication from said sending station;
• a processor for mapping said unicast connection to a multicast connection;
• and
• a satellite gateway interface for initiating said multicast connection to a plurality of receiving stations.

A method of establishing a multicast connection with a plurality of end stations, said method comprising:

• listening for a multicast connection request;
• accepting said multicast connection request with a remote gateway;
• sending a unicast connection request to one of said plurality of end stations;
• reading from said multicast connection and writing to said unicast connection if said one of said plurality of end stations accepts said unicast connection request;
• ending said unicast connection;
• and
• writing a status report to said multicast connection.