METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIRTUAL POWERLINE LOCAL AREA NETWORKS
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Abstract
A system for powerline networking. The system has an external data source, which is derived from a world wide networks of computers. A router is coupled to the external data source and coupled to a first datasource connection. A powerline network switch apparatus is coupled to the first datasource connection. The apparatus has a second datasource connection, which is coupled to the first data source connection. The apparatus also has a powerline device coupled to the second datasource connection. Preferably, the powerline device is adapted to receive and transmit information in a first format from the second data source connection and adapted to receive and transmit information in a second format. The apparatus also has a virtual local area network device including a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports. Each of the second input/output ports is numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. A plurality of modem devices are coupled to the virtual local area network device. The plurality of modem devices are numbered from 1 through N, where each of the plurality of modem devices being coupled respectively to one of the plurality of second input/output ports and where each of the plurality of modem devices also being coupled to one of a plurality of power lines numbered from 1 through N, each of the power lines being capable of communicating information to and from the second data source connection.
37 Citations
71 Claims
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1-30. -30. (canceled)
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31. A system for powerline networking, the system comprising:
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an external data source, the data source being derived from a world wide networks of computers; a router coupled to the external data source and coupled to a first datasource connection; a powerline network apparatus, the apparatus comprising; a second datasource connection, the second datasource connection coupled to the first datasource connection; a powerline device coupled to the second datasource connection, the powerline device being adapted to receive and transmit information in a first format from the second datasource connection and adapted to receive and transmit information in a second format; a virtual local area network device including a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports, the virtual local area network device being coupled to the powerline device through the first input/output port, each of the second input/output ports being configured to serve one or more end users and numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1, the virtual local area network device being configured to limit data forwarding between an end user and a downstream network connection; a plurality of modem devices coupled to the virtual local area network device, the plurality of modem devices numbered from 1 through N, each of the plurality of modem devices being coupled respectively to one of the plurality of second input/output ports, each of the plurality of modem devices also being coupled to one of a plurality of powerlines numbered from 1 through N, each of the plurality of powerlines being capable of communicating information to and from the second datasource connection. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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42. Apparatus for powerline virtual local area networking, the apparatus comprising:
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a datasource connection, the datasource connection coupled to a data source; a powerline device coupled to the datasource connection, the powerline device being adapted to receive and transmit information in a first format from the datasource connection and adapted to receive and transmit information in a second format; a virtual local area network device including a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports, the virtual local area network device being coupled to the powerline device through the first input/output port, each of the second input/output ports being configured to serve one or more end users and numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1, the virtual local area network device being configured to limit data forwarding between an end user and a downstream network connection; a plurality of modem devices coupled to the virtual local area network device, the plurality of modem devices numbered from 1 through N, each of the plurality of modem devices being coupled respectively to one of the plurality of second input/output ports, each of the plurality of modem devices also being coupled to one of a plurality of powerlines numbered from 1 through N, each of the plurality of powerlines being capable of communicating information to and from the data source. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for forming virtual local area networks via powerlines, the method comprising:
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coupling a powerline router to a data source through a datasource connection, the powerline router being enabled with a first network encryption key (NEK); forming a first virtual local area network (VLAN) via powerlines, the first VLAN being associated with a first VLAN device and a first plurality of end user devices, the first plurality of end user devices coupled to the first VLAN device respectively through a first plurality of input/output ports, the first VLAN device coupled to the powerline router via a powerline device and being enabled with the first NEK for communicating with the data source; receiving/transmitting data encrypted at least by the first NEK between one of the first plurality of end user devices and the data source; forming a second VLAN coupled to the first VLAN, the second VLAN being associated with a second VLAN device and a second plurality of end user devices, the second plurality of end user devices coupled to the second VLAN device respectively through a second plurality of input/output ports, the second VLAN device being enabled with a second NEK for communicating with the first VLAN device; receiving/transmitting data encrypted at least by the second NEK between one of the second plurality of end user devices and the data source; wherein each of the second plurality of end user devices associated with the second VLAN is inaccessible to any one of the first plurality of end user devices associated with the first VLAN. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification