Patent ID: 6535927
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An apparatus conveying data between two locations, said apparatus comprising:a computer unit; a serial communication cable; a settop box unit being coupled to said serial communication cable, said settop box unit receiving first data conforming to a first communications protocol and output via said serial communication cable from said computer unit, loading said first data conforming to said first communications protocol on at least one primary asynchronous transfer mode cell, outputting said first data conforming to said first communications protocol and loaded on said at least one primary asynchronous transfer mode cell, receiving second data conforming to said first communications protocol and loaded on at least one secondary asynchronous transfer mode cell, separating said second data from said at least one secondary asynchronous transfer mode cell, outputting said separated second data conforming to said first communications protocol via said serial communication cable to said computer unit, said first data being different from said second data; an Internet gateway unit receiving said first data conforming to said first communications protocol and loaded on said at least one primary asynchronous transfer mode cell and outputted from said settop box unit, separating said first data from said at least one primary asynchronous transfer mode cell, converting said separated first data from said first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, outputting said first data conforming to said second communications protocol and not loaded on asynchronous transfer mode cells, receiving said second data conforming to said second communications protocol, converting said second data from said second communications protocol to said first communications protocol, loading said second data conforming to said first communications protocol on at least one secondary asynchronous transfer mode cell, outputting said second data loaded on said at least one secondary asynchronous transfer mode cell to said settop box unit; and an external network being coupled to said Internet gateway unit, receiving said first data conforming to said second communications protocol from said Internet gateway unit, outputting said second data conforming to said second communications protocol to said Internet gateway unit, said second communications protocol being compatible with said external network.