Patent ID: 7046664
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. A point-to-multipoint network interface for transferring data packets between a plurality of end user devices and a higher level node, wherein each of the data packets includes a destination address, comprising: a plurality of upstream receivers, wherein each of said plurality of upstream receivers receives data packets from a respective one of the plurality of end user devices; a multiplexer, wherein said multiplexer multiplexes said data packets received by said plurality of upstream receivers into a first stream of data packets; an upstream transmitter that transmits said first stream of data packets to the higher level node regardless of the destination address of said data packets in said first stream of data packets; a downstream receiver that receives a second stream of data packets from the higher level node; a demultiplexer; and a plurality of downstream transmitters; wherein said demultiplexer demultiplexes said second stream of data packets into individual data packets and selectively provides each of said individual data packets to one of said plurality of downstream transmitters for transmission to a respective one of the plurality of end user devices; and wherein at least one of said plurality of upstream receivers receives data packets from a particular one of the plurality of end user devices at a different rate than a rate at which one of said plurality of downstream transmitters transmits data packets to the particular one of the plurality of end user devices.