Patent ID: 11910052
Assignee: PPC BROADBAND, INC.
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 4:
5. An entry device for communicating external network signals between an in-home network and an external network, for communicating in-home network signals within the in-home network, and for preventing the in-home network signals from being communicated from the in-home network to the external network, the entry device comprising:
an entry port configured to communicate the external network signals with the external network;
a first network port configured to be coupled to a server network interface of the in-home network;
a plurality of second network ports each configured to be coupled to a client network interface of the in-home network;
a first splitter electrically connected to the entry port and having a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first network port is electrically connected with the first leg; and
a signal attenuation and communication device, wherein the signal attenuation and communication device is configured to:
permit upstream and downstream external network signals to communicate between the entry port and the first network port, and between the entry port and the second network ports; and
block and permit communication of in-home network signals between the first network port, the second network port, and the entry port at least partially depending on a direction in which the in-home network signals are travelling, so as to block the in-home network signals from reaching the entry port, and permit the in-home network signals to communicate between the first and second network ports.