Method and apparatus for connecting a home network to the internet
US6584096B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2101/663
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for connecting a home network to the Internet using the ports or sockets of the home gateway to multiplex the data flow. The devices on the home network may be client or server applications. The home gateway has a single Internet address. Unicast and multicast data flows to the home network are supported. The apparatus includes the home network and a home gateway. The home network includes at least one home network device. The home gateway includes at least one home gateway port. Each home network device is connected to at least one home gateway port. The home gateway is connected to the Internet. The home network includes means for autodiscovering, for each of the at least one home network device, the home Internet address. The method includes the steps of connecting at least one home network device to a home gateway using at least one home gateway port, connecting the home gateway to the Internet using a single Internet address and autodiscovering, for each of the at least one home network device, the home Internet address.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.