287 results about "Home area network" patented technology

A novel cable gateway system and architecture incorporating a hybrid digital video transceiver. The digital cable system architecture combines reception of legacy video such as MPEG-TS based DVB-C streams with that of original IP video over DOCSIS channels. The system comprises a hybrid DVB/IP cable gateway STB capable of receiving both legacy DVB-C video and original IP video streams. The cable gateway device performs the front-end functionality (including QAM receiver, tuner and broadband connection) while the back-end functionality of video decoding and display is performed by one or more standard IP-STBs connected to the cable gateway device over a network (e.g., home LAN). Legacy MPEG-TS based DVB-C video is captured and encapsulated into packets for distribution over the network to the IP-STBs. The cable gateway distributes the original IP video received over the CATV source and the encapsulated legacy video as video over IP packets over the network.

A method for providing user interfaces in a first network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium and an interface device connecting the first network to a second network having interconnected second devices providing services. The user interfaces are for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network and communication with devices that are currently connected to the second network. The method includes: (a) obtaining information from first devices currently connected to the first network, the information including device information; (b) obtaining information from second devices via the interface device, about the services of second devices connected to the second network; (c) generating a user interface description in one or more of the first devices based on the obtained information. The user interface description in each first device includes: (1) a reference associated with the device information of each of the first devices, and (2) a reference associated with the service information of each of the second devices. A user interface is displayed based on each user interface description on a device connected to the first network capable of displaying a user interface, for user control of the first devices and communication with the second devices. Displaying each user interface is based on using each reference in the corresponding user interface description to access the associated information in each device; generating the user interface including device and service corresponding to each device using the accessed information in each device; and displaying the user interface.

A cellular wireless packet data communication system containing transmit-only endpoint devices which transmit to receive-only base stations. The system is configured to allow for large area coverage (e.g., a metropolitan area) with far fewer number base stations than are required with conventional two-way cellular systems. The base station coverage areas are configured to overlap, allowing for reception of packets at multiple base stations. A data concentrator resolves redundantly received messages. The network is configurable as a WAN, a LAN, or a combination of the two. Novel modulation techniques (e.g., a 16QAM submodulation together with a 7FSK modulation) are used such that low cost components can be used in the transmitters and receivers while achieving outstanding probability of success performance. The endpoint devices are battery operated and accordingly, are designed for low power consumption and multi-year battery life. The system is used in a variety of applications including remote monitoring and mobile communications.

A loop carrier system includes a home local area network having plural telephone modules and a hub coupled to in-home telephone wiring. The telephone modules and the hub communicate voice signals over the in-home wiring in a dedicated frequency band above baseband POTS. The hub converts between voice signals and voice packets and is connected to a network access device for transferring the voice packets from the home local area network to a telecommunications network which routes the voice packets to a gateway. The gateway converts between the voice packets and a circuit format compatible with a local digital voice switch. The gateway includes an ATM switch and a call processing adjunct coupled to the ATM switch. The call processing adjunct controls the conversion between voice packets and the circuit format at the ATM switch. The call processing adjunct communicates with the home local area network using a first signaling protocol such as Media Gateway Control Protocol, Session Initiation Protocol or H.323, and with the local digital switch using a second signaling protocol such as GR-303 for controlling call processing in the communication system.

A cluster computer system including multiple network accessible computers that are each coupled to a network. The network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permits the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers also connected to the network, such that input devices of the client computers can be used to generate inputs to the host computers, and such that image information generated by the host computers can be viewed by the client computers. The system also includes a cluster administration computer coupled to the multiple network accessible computers to monitor the operation of the network accessible computers. A method for providing access to host computers by client computers over a computer network includes receiving a request for a host computer coupled to a computer network from a client computer coupled to the computer network, wherein the relationship of the host computer to the client computer is to be such that after the client computer becomes associated with a host computer, an input device of the client computer can be used to generate inputs to the host computer, and such that image information generated by the host computer can be viewed by the client computer. Next, a suitable host computer for the client computer is determined, and the client computer is informed of the network address of the suitable host computer.

The present invention in embodiments provides a centralized resource manager and resources that are responsive to the centralized resource manager in a Home Area Network that may additionally include resources that are not responsive to the centralized resource manager. In embodiments, the centralized resource manager may control and regulate demands made by the non-responsive resources for access and use of the responsive resources. In other embodiments, the responsive resources may communicate with the centralized resource manager in cases where they are accessed or queried for access by the non-responsive resources. In yet other embodiments, the centralized resource manager may implement differing control protocols for controlling both types of resources.

A cabling media includes a plurality of twisted wire pairs housed inside a jacket. Each of the twisted wire pairs has a respective twist length, defined as a distance wherein the wires of the twisted wire pair twist about each other one complete revolution. At least one of the respective twist lengths purposefully varies along a length of the cabling media. In one embodiment, the cabling media includes four twisted wire pairs, with each twisted wire pair having its twist length purposefully varying along the length of the cabling media. Further, the twisted wire pairs may have a core strand length, defined as a distance wherein the twisted wire pairs twist about each other one complete revolution. In a further embodiment, the core strand length is purposefully varied along the length of the cabling media. The cabling media can be designed to meet the requirements of CAT 5, CAT 5e or CAT 6 cabling, and demonstrates low alien and internal crosstalk characteristics even at data bit rates of 10 Gbit/sec.

Universal network interfaces for a home network connect disparate components to the network, such as relatively complex components (TVs, computers) and relatively simple components (audio boom boxes).

A method of automatically forming a wireless local area network (WLAN) within a group of rail cars in a train, where each rail car in the group has an access point/router. The method comprises the steps of discovering nodes associated with each rail car for inclusion in the WLAN by discovering authorized access point/routers; grouping the discovered nodes into an inter-car bridge group; connecting all nodes in the inter-car bridge group to form the WLAN; and connecting the WLAN to a wide area network (WAN) to share connectivity to the WAN with each of the nodes in the inter-car bridge group.

A gateway apparatus is provided which connects to appliances via a home network. The gateway apparatus includes means for acquiring appliance panel information indicating panel parts of the appliance and an operational range of the panel parts, and means for memorizing gateway apparatus information indicating whether a control command input to the appliance thorough a network built outside the home. The gateway apparatus further includes means for determining whether or not it is possible to accept the input by making reference to the gateway apparatus information when the control command input is received through the outside network and for producing a control command to the appliance based on the appliance panel information when the acceptance is possible. This makes it possible to perform remote control in a similar feeling obtained in operating a front panel of an actual home appliance. Through the outside network, the home appliance can be controlled with easier operations. A higher-reliable remote control system can be provided.

A household network system includes a master network gate connected with networks internally and externally, device for receiving communication signals from different external networks and delivering them internal network. A master network equipment with master net protocol to exchange information and data. Subnet work gate connectting the subnet controlling devices with the master gate and realizing interconnection among the multiple sub devices to exchange data with them. Each subnetwork device has device discription file for storing each own state parameter for controlling the subnetwork device.

The invention discloses a general remote controller used for controlling household appliances which is connected with a home gateway, comprising a central processing unit, a keyboard connected with the central processing unit, a display unit, a wireless communication unit and a storage unit; the storage unit is used for storing description file of the household appliances; the wireless communication unit is used for communicating with the household appliances connected with the home gateway by the home gateway; the keyboard and the display unit are used for providing a man-machine interaction interface. The invention provides a general remote controller which can control the household appliances in home local area network and can ensure the uniqueness of a main control node.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for reducing frame overhead in communications on local area networks are disclosed herein. The frame overhead is reduced in communications on local area networks by removing unnecessary addressing information from frames prior to transmission on the network. Logical addressing information, such as an Internet protocol address, is utilized to determine the corresponding physical addressing information, such as an Ethernet media access control address, via an address resolution protocol. The physical addressing information is then incorporated into the frames, and the logical addressing information is removed (or not incorporated into the frame) to provide additional space to carry data, thereby increasing the data throughput of the network connection and potentially reducing the number of frames needed to transmit a given communication from a source to a destination within the network.

A method and apparatus for implementing a protocol-neutral middleware interface in a home area network. The method comprises receiving one or more data packets from a client device using a first communication protocol, and decoding the data packets into a set of platform independent data objects. The data packets are decoded into the platform independent data objects by utilizing a metadata mapping located within one or more field classes. The apparatus comprises a frame engine, and one or more field classes. The frame engine receives a data packet in a first communication protocol. The frame engine decodes the data packet into a set of platform independent data objects. The frame engine uses a metadata map contained within the one or more field classes to decode the data packet into the set of platform independent data objects.

A system and method for interconnecting a plurality of network components to form a local area network (LAN) include a wiring manager having at least one port module connected to a controller via a data signal bus on a passive backplane. Each port module includes a plurality of ports which can be programmed to electrically couple selected sets of the plurality of network components without physically rerouting network cabling. A LAN management system provides a graphical user interface to communicate with the wiring manager and provide network status information and control the wiring manager to configure the network.

A home network system disclosed herein includes a high-speed network for networking a plurality of home appliances and a low-speed network. A portable information device is provided so as to be connectable to the high-speed network and the low-speed network 11 in a wireless manner. A portable information device access point is provided for helping the portable information device reciprocally communicate with the home appliances connected to the high-speed and low-speed networks. The portable information device does negotiation with the access point to be served by the access point. Thus, both the home appliances and the portable information device share their resources to effectively exploit them, with the home appliances organically associated with the portable information device such as a cellular phone or a PDA.