Audio-Visual Receiver as MoCA Network Bridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network access systems face challenges in delivering internet connectivity to devices throughout a home, particularly due to limitations in wired Ethernet LANs and the physical distance between devices, leading to inconvenient or unavailable network access.
Innovation Solution
Repurposing audiovisual receivers to act as network bridges by encapsulating Ethernet or Wi-Fi traffic into MoCA frames for transmission over coaxial cables, allowing extended network access to devices through television connections, thereby creating a virtual bridge between local area networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired Ethernet LAN is used to provide network access throughout the home, then network connectivity is reliable, but physical distance limitations restrict access availability to devices
Solution Approach 1:
The A/V receiver is repurposed to perform multiple functions: it continues to process television programming while simultaneously acting as a network bridge to extend Ethernet LAN access to devices throughout the home. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by using existing infrastructure for dual purposes, expanding network availability without adding dedicated networking equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The A/V receiver serves as an intermediary device that bridges two different networks: the existing Ethernet LAN and the MoCA network over coaxial cables. By encapsulating Ethernet frames into MoCA packets and vice versa, the receiver mediates between these networks, allowing devices throughout the home to access the network without direct Ethernet wiring.
2Ease of operation
If additional wiring is installed to extend network access to devices throughout the home, then network access availability improves, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes existing coaxial cable infrastructure already present in the home for television service to provide network access. Instead of requiring new wiring installations, the solution self-services by repurposing the existing cable infrastructure, eliminating the need for additional complex installation work.
Solution Approach 2:
The coaxial cable infrastructure is repurposed from solely carrying television signals to simultaneously carrying both television signals and network data through MoCA technology. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the existing infrastructure serve dual purposes, avoiding the need for additional wiring.
3Ease of operation
If A/V receiver acts as network bridge by encapsulating Ethernet traffic into MoCA frames, then network access is extended throughout the home, but protocol conversion complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The A/V receiver acts as an intermediary that performs protocol conversion between Ethernet and MoCA formats. By encapsulating Ethernet frames within MoCA packets and vice versa, the receiver mediates between the two protocols, enabling network extension while managing the protocol conversion complexity within a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The A/V receiver is designed to handle multiple protocol types simultaneously, functioning as both a television signal processor and a network bridge. This multi-functionality allows the device to manage protocol conversion complexity internally while providing simple network extension capabilities to end users.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio/visual (A/V) transceiver is provided for supplying intent access to a computing device. The A/V receiver comprises a first format module configured to receive and process electronic data in a first format and an Ethernet module configured to transmit electronic data to the computing device in Ethernet format via an Ethernet port. The transceiver further comprises a bridging application executing on a processor, the bridging application configured to convert internet data in the first format into the Ethernet format. A method is also provided for supplying internet access to a computing device over an audio/visual (A/V) receiver. The method comprises receiving an internet signal in a first protocol standard at an A/V receiver, bridging the internet signal in the first protocol standard into a second protocol standard understood by the computing device, and transmitting the internet signal in the second protocol standard to the computing device.