Method and apparatus for hub-based network access via a multimedia system

• US 7,301,900 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VIXS Systems Incorporated (Pixelworks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laksono, Indra
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Jay P.
• Application Number:
  US09/864,115
• Time in Patent Office: 2,378 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/230, 370/254
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the type of network access further comprises at least one of:

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine e-mail network access; and

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine web browser network access.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining access to the network connection further comprises at least one of:

time division multiplexing access to the network connection based on clients of the plurality of clients that currently have an active network access application;

carrier sensed multiple access processing the access the network connection among the clients of the plurality of clients that currently have an active network access application;

passing a token among the clients of the plurality of clients that currently have an active network access application to obtain access to the network connection;

queuing the network data in a first-in-first-out buffer to obtain access to the network connection; and

requesting access to the network connection.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

logging 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;

receiving network packets via the network connection;

interpreting 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, providing the network packet to the at least one of the plurality of clients.

5. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:

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.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing the each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet further comprises:

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.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprises:

for each of the packets that is a network packet, identifying at least one of the plurality of clients;

determining whether a network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients;

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 network 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; and

transporting the network data via the network connection based on the determined network access.

8. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:

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.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining the type of network access further comprises at least one of:

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine e-mail network access; and

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine web browser network access.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the processing of the data of the at least one of the network packets further comprises:

preparing display data based on the data of the at least one of the network packets and the network access application;

storing the display data in a frame buffer to produce stored display data; and

when a frame of display data is available, retrieving portions of the stored display data for packetizing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the multiplexing of the client data further comprises:

multiplexing packets of the stored display data to produce the multiplexed client data.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprises:

receiving client-to-client packets from at least one of a plurality of clients;

processing the client-to-client packets to produce processed client packets;

multiplexing the processed client packets with the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client packets; and

transmitting the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients.

13. A local area network hub comprises:

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.

14. The local area network hub of claim 13, wherein the memory further comprises:

sixth memory section for storing a client-to-client communication application, wherein the processor performs the client-to-client communication application to support client-to-client communications.

15. The local area network hub of claim 13 further comprises:

a plurality of video graphics processors, wherein each of the video graphics processor generates the display data from the network data for a corresponding one of the plurality of clients.

16. The local area network hub of claim 13, wherein the memory controller further comprises:

memory chip set that provides selective access to the memory by the processor and the video graphics processor.

17. An apparatus for hub-based network access, the apparatus comprises:

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.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to determine the type of network access by at least one of:

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine e-mail network access; and

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine web browser network access.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to determine access to the network connection by at least one of:

time division multiplexing access, to the network connection based on clients of the plurality of clients that currently have an active network access application;

carrier sensed multiple access processing the access the network connection among the clients of the plurality of clients that currently have an active network access application;

passing a token among the clients of the plurality of clients that currently have an active network access application to obtain access to the network connection;

queuing the network data in a first-in-first-out buffer to obtain access to the network connection; and

requesting access to the network connection.

20. An apparatus for hub-based network access, the apparatus comprises:

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.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to process the each of the packets that is a client-to-client packet 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.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

for each of the packets that is a network packet, identify at least one of the plurality of clients;

determine whether a network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients;

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 network 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; and

transport the network data via the network connection based on the determined network access.

23. An apparatus for hub-based network access, the apparatus comprises:

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.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to determine the type of network access by at least one of:

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine e-mail network access; and

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the packets to determine web browser network access.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to process of the data of the at least one of the network packets by:

preparing display data based on the data of the at least one of the network packets and the network access application;

storing the display data in a frame buffer to produce stored display data; and

when a frame of display data is available, retrieving portions of the stored display data for packetizing.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to multiplex the client data by:

multiplexing packets of the stored display data to produce the multiplexed client data.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive client-to-client packets from at least one of a plurality of clients;

process the client-to-client packets to produce processed client packets;

multiplex the processed client packets with the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client packets; and

transmit the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients.

28. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:

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.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprises:

for each of the packets that is a network packet, identifying at least one of the plurality of clients;

determining whether a network access application is active for the at least one of the plurality of clients;

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 network 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; and

transporting the network data via the network connection based on the determined network access.