Patent ID: 8761200
Filing Date: 2014-06-24
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for communicating over a home network comprising a coax backbone, the method comprising: selecting, by a plurality of network modules coupled to the coax backbone, one of the plurality of network modules to operate as a master module, wherein each of the plurality of network modules is configured to operate as the master module by at least assigning a respective identifier to each of the plurality of network modules when selected to operate as the master module; assigning, by the master module, the respective identifier to each of the plurality of network modules; establishing direct communication between the plurality of network modules, wherein each of the plurality of network modules are located within a home, over the coax backbone; establishing direct communication between the plurality of the network modules and a demarcation point unit, said plurality of network modules being coupled to the demarcation point unit via the coax backbone, said demarcation point unit providing an interface between the home network and an external network, said demarcation point unit being separate from the master module, said establishing direct communication between each of the plurality of network modules for establishing communication on a home network side of the demarcation point unit; using the master module to receive requests sent over the coax backbone from the plurality of network modules for bandwidth to transmit bursts; establishing an order of transmission opportunities for the plurality of network modules to follow when transmitting bursts directly to other network modules via the coax backbone; and using the master module to transmit an allocation burst that comprises the assigned identifiers of at least some of the plurality of network modules over the coax backbone, the allocation burst allocating a transmission opportunity to the at least some of the plurality of network modules identified by the assigned identifiers to transmit bursts comprising variable sized packets directly to other network modules via the coax backbone, said transmission opportunity that depends at least in part on an amount of data ready for transmission in a selected transmission cycle, said allocation burst being based on said transmission order.