Method and apparatus for hub-based network access via a multimedia system
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:
- receiving packets from at least one of a plurality of clients;
determining whether a network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients by interpreting a header section of at least one of the packets to identify the at least one of the plurality of clients, interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine a type of network access, and determining whether the network application is active based on the identity of the at least one of the plurality of clients and on the type of network access;
when the network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients, processing data of at least one of the packets in accordance with the network access application to produce network data;
determining access to a network connection for transmission of the network data based on a client-access-to-the-network-connection scheme to produce a determined network access;
transporting the network data via the network connection based on the determined network access; and
when the network access application is not active for the at least one of the plurality of clients, in response, opening a network access application for the at least one of the plurality of clients.
14 Assignments
Litigations
4 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a multimedia server to function as a hub based network server includes processing that begins by receiving packets from at least one of a plurality of clients. The processing continues by determining whether a network access application is active for this particular client. When the network access application is active for the client, the processing continues by processing the data of the packets in accordance with the network access application. The processing then continues by determining access to a network connection for transmission of the network data. The processing then continues by transporting the network data via the network connection.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:
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receiving packets from at least one of a plurality of clients; determining whether a network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients by interpreting a header section of at least one of the packets to identify the at least one of the plurality of clients, interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine a type of network access, and determining whether the network application is active based on the identity of the at least one of the plurality of clients and on the type of network access; when the network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients, processing data of at least one of the packets in accordance with the network access application to produce network data; determining access to a network connection for transmission of the network data based on a client-access-to-the-network-connection scheme to produce a determined network access; transporting the network data via the network connection based on the determined network access; and when the network access application is not active for the at least one of the plurality of clients, in response, opening a network access application for the at least one of the plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:
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receiving packets from at least one of a plurality of clients; interpreting each of the packets to determine whether the each of the packets is a client-to-client packet or a network packet by interpreting a header section of the each of the packets to identify a destination address, determining that the destination address addresses one of the plurality of clients to determine that the each packet is a client-to-client packet, and determining that the destination address addresses an entity other than one of the plurality of clients; for each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet, processing the each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet to produce processed client packets; multiplexing the processed client packets for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client packets; and transmitting the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:
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receiving network packets via a network connection; determining identity of at least one of a plurality of clients as a target of at least one of the network packets to produce an identified client by interpreting a header section of the at least one of the network packets to identify the at least one of the plurality of clients, interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine a type of network access, and determining whether the network application is active based on the identity of the at least one of the plurality of clients and on the type of network access; determining whether a network access application is active for the identified client; when the network access application is active for the identified client, processing data of the at least one of the network packets to produce client data; multiplexing the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client data; and transmitting the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A local area network hub comprises:
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processor; memory operably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes first memory section for storing a plurality of network access applications, second memory section for storing a modem accessing application, third memory section for storing a client servicing application, fourth memory section for storing display data, and a fifth memory section for storing client data; video graphics processor operably coupled to the memory, wherein the video graphics processor generates the display data from network data; memory controller operably coupled to the processor, the video graphics processor, and the memory, wherein the memory controller controls access to the memory; modem interface operably coupled to the processor, wherein the modem interface provides a connection to a modem; and client transceiving module operably coupled to the memory and memory controller, wherein the client transceiver receives the client data from at least one of a plurality of clients and provides at least some of the display data to at least one client of the plurality of clients, wherein the processor, based on the client data, performs the client application to obtain the network data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for hub-based network access, the apparatus comprises:
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processing module; and memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to; receive packets from at least one of a plurality of clients; determine whether a network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients by interpreting a header section of at least one of the packets to identify the at least one of the plurality of clients, interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine a type of network access and determining whether the network application is active based on the identity of the at least one of the plurality of clients and on the type of network access; when the network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients, process data of at least one of the packets in accordance with the network access application to produce network data; determine access to a network connection for transmission of the network data based on a client-access-to-the-network-connection scheme to produce a determined network access; transport the network data via the network connection based on the determined network access; and log a destination address and a source address for the network data, wherein the source address identifies the at least one of the plurality of clients; receive network packets via the network connection; interpret a header section of the network packets to identify a response to the network data; and when a network packet of the network packets is at least a portion of the response, provide the network packet to the at least one of the plurality of clients; and when the network access application is not active for the at least one of the plurality of clients, in response, open a network access application for the at least one of the plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for hub-based network access, the apparatus comprises:
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processing module; and memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to; receive packets from at least one of a plurality of clients; interpret each of the packets to determine whether the each of the packets is a client-to-client packet or a network packet by interpreting a header section of the each of the packets to identify a destination address, determining that the destination address addresses one of the plurality of clients to determine that the each packet is a client-to-client packet, and determining that the destination address addresses an entity other than one of the plurality of clients; for each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet, process the each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet to produce processed client packets; multiplex the processed client packets for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client packets; and transmit the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for hub-based network access, the apparatus comprises:
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processing module; and memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to; receive network packets via a network connection; determine identity of at least one of a plurality of clients as a target of at least one of the network packets to produce an identified client by interpreting a header section of the at least one of the network packets to identify the at least one of the plurality of clients, interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine a type of network access, and determining whether the network application is active based on the identity of the at least one of the plurality of clients and on the type of network access; determine whether a network access application is active for the identified client; when the network access application is active for the identified client, process data of the at least one of the network packets to produce client data; multiplex the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client data; and transmit the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:
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receiving packets from at least one of a plurality of clients; interpreting each of the packets to determine whether the each of the packets is a client to client packet or a network packet by interpreting a header section of the each of the packets to identify a destination address, determining that the destination address addresses one of the plurality of clients to determine that the each packet is a client-to-client packet, and determining that the destination address addresses an entity other than one of the plurality of clients; for each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet, processing the each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet to produce processed client packets by determining access to a shared communication path of the plurality of clients, wherein a type of access includes at least one of;
time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, carrier sensed multiple access, token ring, and first-in-first-out buffering;multiplexing the processed client packets for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client packets; and transmitting the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification