Network router apparatus and method

• US 8,050,283 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Digital Broadcast SA (Advanced Digital Broadcast Holdings SA)
• Original Assignee: Patrick Ladd
• Inventors: Ladd, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yuen, Kan
• Application Number:
  US12/559,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20100074267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/466, 370/471, 725/109, 725/111, 725/119
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2517 using port numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

An improved network router apparatus and associated network architecture is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the router apparatus is adapted to interface between an external network (such as an HFC/DOCSIS digital network) and a local network created using existing HFC cabling within a premises. The router device provides address translation between the single IP address assigned to the router by the external network and the addresses of the individual nodes or access points on the local network through creation of logical ports assigned to various portions of the available bandwidth of the cable system. The router further distinguishes network protocols from the media content streamed over the HFC network, allowing for the foregoing functionality and replacing any existing cable modem. Methods of initiating the router and assigning addresses are also disclosed, as well as business models for leasing the router equipment and access points.

Claims

1. A premises network device adapted to interface between an HFC cable network and a premises network comprising coaxial cabling within a user premises and having a plurality of computerized devices coupled thereto via said coaxial cabling, said premises network device comprising:

an apparatus adapted to utilize realm specific internet protocol (RSIP) to translate an IP address associated with said premises network device on said HFC network to a single IP address associated with said premises network;

a first interface having a first protocol stack and adapted to;

receive signals from said HFC network; and

evaluate received signals and extract a first portion of said signals encoded according to an internet protocol; and

a second interface having a second protocol stack and adapted to;

transfer said first portion of said signals to a first set of said plurality of computerized devices via said coaxial cabling within said user premises using said single IP address associated with said premises network, said first set adapted to communicate via said internet protocol; and

transfer a second portion of said signals to a second set of said plurality of computerized devices, said second signals not encoded according to said internet protocol;

wherein said transfer of said first and said second portions of said signals to said first and second sets of said plurality of computerized devices comprises utilizing unused bandwidth of said coaxial cabling within said user premises.

2. The premises network device of claim 1, wherein said translation comprises allocating addresses to a plurality of logical ports associated with said premises network.

3. The premises network device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of logical ports are created by utilizing available bandwidth on an incoming communications channel.

4. The premises network device of claim 1, further comprising at least one filter, said filter adapted to block transmission of said first and second portions of said signals from said premises network device to an entity coupled to an external cable network.

5. The premises network device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said device is Open Cable (OCAP) compliant.

6. The premises network device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises apparatus configured to assign respective Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to one or more access points within said premises network.

7. The premises network device of claim 6, wherein said assignment of IP addresses is conducted using a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP).

8. The premises network device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises apparatus configured to use a network address translation (NAT) or a realm specific internet protocol (RSIP) to divide an IP address associated with said HFC cable network among one or more access points on said premises network.

9. The premises network device of claim 8, wherein said network device is further configured to pass through DOCSIS signals to one or more devices not identified as being one of said one or more access points.

10. The premises network device of claim 1, wherein said premises network device further enables individual ones of said plurality of computerized devices to communicate with one another using signal bandwidth available on said existing cable network.

11. The premises network device of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said signals transferred directly to said second set of said plurality of computerized devices comprise MPEG-encoded signals.