Patent Publication Number: US-9432411-B2

Title: Residential gateway

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application is a Continuation Patent Application of, and claims priority from, U.S. Pat. No. 8,743,790, filed on Aug. 24, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,279,805, filed on Aug. 24, 2009, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Improvements in technology have led to an increase in service providers offering so-called “triple play” services. Triple play services provide voice, video and data service to a subscriber from a single provider. Offering triple play services that meet customer expectations in an efficient manner can be challenging. For example, providing new services to a customer or terminating existing services for a customer may require dispatching one or more service technicians to customer premises. Technicians may also need to be dispatched to customer premises when a customer complains about a service outage. Occasionally, the first dispatched technician diagnoses the problem and determines that a second technician must be dispatched in order to solve the problem, lengthening service outage response time and further aggravating the customer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of a system including a residential gateway; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a system including a network interface device into which the residential gateway of  FIG. 1  may be inserted; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a system including a network interface device into which the residential gateway of  FIG. 1  may be inserted; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of using a network interface device; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of using a residential gateway and a network interface device; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a general computer system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Residential gateways and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a residential gateway includes a connector interface to receive a composite signal including voice data, video data, and network data via one or more communication lines. The residential gateway also includes a network interface and a power coupling device to receive power via at least one of the one or more communication lines. The residential gateway further includes a voice module to route the voice data to a voice-enabled device coupled to the network interface, a video module to route the video data to a video-enabled device coupled to the network interface, and a network module to route the network data to a computing device coupled to the network interface. The residential gateway includes a testing module to communicate test results to an external device via a data communication interface. At least one of the voice module, the video module, the network module, and the testing module is powered using the power received by the power coupling device. 
     In another particular embodiment, a method includes inserting a residential gateway into an outdoor network interface device (MD) coupled to one or more communication lines. The method also includes coupling the NID to a communication network that transmits a composite signal including voice data, video data, and network data via the one or more communication lines. The residential gateway has an input to receive the composite signal from the NID and includes at least one module that is powered by power received via at least one of the one or more communication lines. 
     In another particular embodiment, an apparatus includes an outdoor housing, a network interface device (NID) within the outdoor housing, and a residential gateway connected to the NID. The residential gateway includes a connector interface to receive a very high speed digital subscriber line 2 (VDSL2) signal including voice data, video data, and network data from the NID via one or more communication lines. The residential gateway also includes a power coupling device to receive power via at least one of the one or more communication lines. The residential gateway further includes a voice module to route the voice data to a voice-enabled device, a video module to route the video data to a video-enabled device, and a network module to route the network data to a computing device. The residential gateway includes a testing module to detect errors in at least one of the voice module, the video module, and the network module. The testing module can also control one or more status indicators to indicate an operational status of the residential gateway and communicates test results to an external device. At least one of the voice module, the video module, the network module, and the testing module is powered by the power coupling device. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a particular embodiment of a system including a residential gateway  100 . The residential gateway  100  receives a composite signal  110  via one or more communication lines. In a particular embodiment, the composite signal  110  is received from a provider of triple play services. The residential gateway  100  is also coupled to a network  120 . In a particular embodiment the network  120  is a local area network (LAN) located at a customer premises, such as a residence or business. 
     The composite signal  110  carried by the one or more communication lines may include voice data, video data, and network data. For example, the composite signal  110  may be a very high speed digital subscriber line 2 (VDSL2) signal, an asymmetric DSL2 plus (ADSL2+) signal, a fiber optic communication signal, or an optical carrier (OC) signal. In a particular embodiment, a connector interface  101  that receives the composite signal  110  is a coaxial interface. 
     The residential gateway  100  includes a network interface  102  coupled to the network  120  and configured to communicate with one or more devices that are also coupled to the network  120 . For example, the network interface  102  may enable communication with voice-enabled devices, video-enabled devices, and computing devices. Voice-enabled devices include, but are not limited to, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices such as a VoIP device  132 . Computing devices include, but are not limited to, laptop computers and desktop computers (e.g., a computing device  134 ). Video-enabled devices include, but are not limited to, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) devices such as a set-top box (STB)  136  connected to a television  138 . 
     The residential gateway  100  includes a voice module  103 , a video module  104 , and a network module  105 . The voice module  103  may route voice data included in the composite signal  110  to voice-enabled devices, such as the VoIP device  132 . For example, the voice module  103  may extract voice data from the composite signal  110 , convert the extracted voice data into a VoIP signal, and route the VoIP signal to the VoIP device  132 . The video module  104  may route video data included in the composite signal  110  to video-enabled devices, such as the set-top box  136 . For example, the video module  104  may extract video data from the composite signal  110 , convert the extracted video data into a Home Phone line Networking Alliance (HPNA) protocol signal, and transmit the HPNA signal to the set-top box  136 . The network module  105  may route network data included in the composite signal  110  to computing devices, such as the computing device  134 . For example, the network module  105  may extract network data from the composite signal  110 , convert the extracted network data into one or more of an Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) format, an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) format, and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) format, and route the IPv4/IPv6/TCP signal to the computing device  134 . In a particular embodiment, one or more of the extraction and conversion operations performed by the modules  103 - 105  include a demodulation operation. 
     The residential gateway  100  also includes a testing module  107 . The testing module  107  may conduct tests on one or more of the composite signal  110 , the modules  103 - 105 , the interfaces  101 ,  102 , the network  120 , the devices  132 ,  134 ,  136 , and itself. For example, the testing module  107  may be configured to monitor and detect errors in the composite signal  110  (e.g., a drop in signal strength of the composite signal  110 ). It will thus be appreciated that the testing module  107  may monitor and detect problems both upstream (e.g., off customer premises) as well as downstream (e.g., at the customer premises) of the residential gateway  100 . 
     The residential gateway  100  includes a data communication interface  108 . In a particular embodiment, the data communication interface  108  is operable by the testing module  107  to communicate monitoring and test results to a device connected to the data communication interface  108 . For example, the data communication interface  108  may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, an Ethernet interface, a serial interface, or any combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the testing module  107  is configured to conduct tests on the data communication interface  108 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the testing module  107  is configured to transmit test results to a provider (e.g., a triple play services vendor) of the composite signal  110  via the data communication interface  108 . For example, the testing module  107  may periodically transmit monitoring and testing data to a technical support center of the triple play services vendor. 
     The residential gateway  100  further includes a power coupling device  106 . The power coupling device  106  receives power via one or more of the communication lines carrying the composite signal  110 . One or more of the modules  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  107  may be powered by the power coupling module  106 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the residential gateway  100  may include one or more status indicators  109  to indicate an operational status of the residential gateway  100 . For example, the status indicators  109  may include three light emitting diodes (LEDs)—a red LED to indicate an “inoperational” status, a yellow LED to indicate a “possible error status,” and a green LED to indicate a “normal” status. In a particular embodiment, the testing module  107  is configured to control the status indicators  109  based on test results produced by the testing module  107 . In a particular embodiment, the status indicators  109  include audible status indicators (e.g., alarms) as well as visual status indicators. 
     In operation, the connector interface  101  of the residential gateway  100  may receive the composite signal  110 , where the composite signal  110  includes voice data, video data, and network data. The modules  103 - 105  may receive power from the power coupling device  106  and may route the voice data, video data, and network data to the devices  132 ,  134 , and  136  via the network  120 . During operation, the testing module  107  may monitor and conduct tests one or more of the components of the system of  FIG. 1 , control the status indicators  109  based on the test results, and transmit the test results to a provider of the composite signal  110  and to devices connected to the data communication interface  108 . 
     It will be appreciated that a technician or other service personnel may download monitoring and testing data for the system of  FIG. 1  by connecting a device to the data communication interface  108 . Further, by monitoring and detecting errors both upstream and downstream of the residential gateway  100 , and by transmitting test data to providers, the residential gateway  100  may reduce the time taken to fix problems that customers may experience in their voice, video, or network services. For example, a provider deploying the residential gateway  100  may know whether to send a technician specializing in solving off-premises problems (e.g., when the problem detected is upstream of the residential gateway  100 ) or a technician specializing in solving on-premises problems (e.g., when the problem detected is downstream of the residential gateway  100 ). It will also be appreciated that the power coupling device  106  may enable the residential gateway  100  to be operable without requiring a customer to provide (and pay for) electricity to the residential gateway  100 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a first particular embodiment of a system including a network interface device. The system is designated generally  200 . The system  200  includes a network interface device  202  coupled to a field unit  204  of a communication network  206 . For example, the communication network  206  may be associated with a provider of triple play services. In a particular embodiment, the network interface device  202  may be attached to an exterior of a customer premise, such as a residence or business, to terminate communication lines from the communication network  206  and to terminate communication lines from the customer premise. 
     The network interface device  202  may receive data from the communication network  206  and distribute the data to devices at a customer residence. For example, the devices to which the data is distributed may include one or more telephones  210 , one or more computers  212 , one or more display devices  214 - 218 , one or more set-top box devices  226 - 230 , or any combination thereof. The data may include one or more of voice data, video data, and network data. The network interface device  202  may send the data to the devices via one or more intermediate devices. For example, video data may be provided to the one or more display devices  214 - 218  via one or more splitters  220  and  222 , one or more amplifiers  224 , the one or more set-top box devices  226 - 230 , or any combination thereof. 
     The network interface device  202  may include a housing  230  adapted to provide climate protection to components housed therein. In a particular embodiment, the housing  230  may also be adapted to restrict access to one or more portions of the network interface device  202 . For example, the network interface device  202  may include a customer accessible portion and a service provider accessible portion. The network interface device  202  may also include a lightning protection unit  232 . The lightning protection unit  232  may include lightening protection coils adapted to protect electronic equipment within the network interface device  202  (at the customer&#39;s residence) from harmful effects of a lightning strike at the communication network  206 , the field unit  204 , the network interface device  202 , or any connection point or communication line there between. 
     In a particular embodiment, the network interface device  202  includes a first network interface  233  including one or more connectors to terminate one or more communication lines  203  from the communication network  206 . The communication lines  203  may include one or more twisted pair lines (e.g., telephone lines), one or more non-twisted lines (e.g., a T-1 line, an E-1 line or a coaxial cable line), or any combination thereof. The network interface device  202  also includes a second network interface  234  including one or more connectors  236 - 240  to terminate communication lines of the customer premise. The connectors  236 - 240  may include one or more connectors for a twisted pair line, a non-twisted pair line, and a coaxial cable line. For example, the connectors may include a standard telephone jack (e.g., an RJ11 jack), an Ethernet jack (e.g., an RJ45 jack), a coaxial line connection (e.g., an F connector), or any other local network connector to connect a wiring system at the customer premise to the network interface device  202 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the network interface device  202  includes one or more modular interface connectors  242 ,  244 . The modular interface connectors  242 ,  244  may be adapted to receive one or more removable plug-in modules that provide particular functionality to the network interface device  202 . In an illustrative embodiment, the one or more removable plug-in modules include the residential gateway  100  of  FIG. 1 . In an illustrative embodiment, when no removable plug-in modules are provided, the network interface device may provide access only to voice service (e.g., telephone service) at the customer residence. Video service (e.g., television), network service (e.g., computer data communications), or both may be conveniently added to the network interface device  202  via the one or more removable plug-in modules. In other embodiments, other services or combinations of services available via the communication network  206  can be provided by the network interface device  202  alone or by the network interface device  202  in combination with one or more removable plug-in modules. For example, the network interface device  202  alone (i.e., without any removable plug-in modules) may not provide access to any of the services of the communication network  206 . In another example, one removable plug-in module may provide access to voice, video, and network services. 
     In the particular example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a first modular interface connector  242  is adapted to receive a first removable plug-in module  250 . The first removable plug-in module  250  may include a video unit  254  to access video services available via the communication network  206 . For example, the video unit  254  may include the video module  104  of  FIG. 1 . When the first removable plug-in module  250  is coupled to the first modular interface connector  242 , the video unit  254  may be enabled to receive video data from the field unit  204  via the one or more communication lines  203  and to process the video data for communication via at least one coaxial line or at least one twisted pair line to the one or more display devices  214 - 218 . In a particular embodiment, the video unit  254  may include an output driver  256  adapted to communicate the processed video data via wiring at the customer premise (e.g., one or more coaxial lines or one or more twisted pair lines) to at least one of the set-top box devices  226 - 230  for display at one or more of the display devices  214 - 218 . 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the video data may include Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) data. The video data may be communicated from a video line unit  280  of the field unit  204 . The video line unit  280  may modulate the video data and communicate the modulated video data via the one or more communication lines  203  to the network interface device  202 . At the network interface device  202 , the video unit  254  may demodulate the video data to communicate the data via the second network interface  234  to one or more devices at the customer premise. In a particular embodiment, the video line unit  280  modulates the video data in accordance with a very high speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) protocol and the video unit  254  demodulates the modulated video data to generate a Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HPNA) protocol signal for communication via the second network interface  234  to devices at the customer premise. 
     In a particular embodiment, the output driver  256  may include a signal amplifier  258 . The signal amplifier  258  may be adapted to amplify the processed video signal for communication to the one or more user devices coupled to the second network interface  234 . In an illustrative embodiment, the network interface device  202  and the display devices  214 - 218  at the customer premise are coupled to a pre-existing coaxial cable network (i.e., a coaxial cable network that was installed at the customer premise before the network interface device  202  was installed at the customer premise). In this embodiment, the coaxial cable network may include one or more communication paths that are not direct paths between the network interface device  202  and the display devices  214 - 218  or the set top box devices  226 - 230 . For example, the coaxial cable network may include the splitters  220  or  222 , the amplifier  224 , or other devices (not shown). The signal amplifier  258  may be adapted to amplify the signal sufficiently to communicate the amplified signal to the set-top box devices  226 - 230  or the display devices  214 - 218  for display. 
     In a particular embodiment, the first removable plug-in module  250  may also include a test unit  260 . In an illustrative embodiment, the test unit  260  may implement one or more of the functionalities described herein with reference to the testing module  107  of  FIG. 1 . The test unit  260  may be adapted to loop signals received from the field unit  204  back to the field unit  204  in response to a signal received from the communication network  206 . For example, the test unit  260  may loopback the signals in response to a loopback test signal received from a maintenance unit  284  of the field unit  204  or from the communication network  206 . Loopback testing may enable the maintenance unit  284  to identify communication problems between the field unit  204  and the first plug-in module  250 , or between the communication network  206  and the first plug-in module  250 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the first removable plug-in module  250  may also include a connection manager  252 . In an illustrative embodiment, the connection manager  252  may implement one or more of the functionalities described herein with reference to the testing module  107  of  FIG. 1 . The connection manager  252  may be operable to manage a connection to the communication network  206  via the one or more communication lines  203 . For example, the connection manager  252  may be operable to communicate with the video line unit  280 , a digital subscriber line modem (DSLAM)  282  or another component of the field unit  204  to condition the one or more communication lines  203  for data communication. 
     In a particular embodiment, the connection manager  252  or the test unit  260  may be operable to execute function testing of other components of the first removable plug-in module  250 , another removable plug-in module (e.g., a second removable plug-in module  270 ), another component of the network interface device  202 , a device at the customer premise (such as one of the set-top box devices  226 - 230 ), or any combination thereof. In an illustrative embodiment, the connection manager  252  or the test unit  260  may communicate results of the testing to the maintenance unit  284  for analysis and follow-up (e.g., to dispatch an appropriate technician to repair a detected problem). In another illustrative embodiment, the connection manager  252  or the test unit  260  may store performance data associated with the tested components at a memory  264 . The connection manager  252  or the test unit  260  may analyze the performance data and communicate results of the performance data analysis to the maintenance unit  284 . For example, analyzing the performance data may include comparing the performance data to one or more operational criteria associated with a particular component to identify one or more operational concerns before the operational concern becomes perceptible by a user at the customer premise. The connection manager  252  or the test unit  260  may also be adapted to provide a status display indicating whether one or more communication problems or other operational concerns have been identified. For example, the network interface device  202  may include a visual status display  231 , such as red, yellow and green lights that indicate whether the network interface device  202  or one or more components of the network interface device  202  are functioning properly and able to communicate with the communication network  206 , as described herein with reference to the status indicators  109  of  FIG. 1 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the first removable plug-in module  250  includes a controller  262 . The controller  262  may be adapted to detect connection of the first removable plug-in module  250  to the first modular interface connector  242 . In response to detecting connection of the first removable plug-in module  250  to the first modular interface connector  242 , the controller  262  may automatically initialize video data processing at the video unit  254 . Thus, when the first removable plug-in module  250  is connected to the first modular interface connector  242 , the first removable plug-in module  250  may be automatically initiated and may automatically initiate communication with the communication network  206  to allow functionality of the first removable plug-in module  250  to be accessible to the user. 
     In a particular embodiment, the network interface device  202  and the one or more removable plug-in modules  250  and  270  may be line powered. For example, the first removable plug-in module  250  may include a power coupling device  266 , similar to the power coupling device  106  of  FIG. 1 . The power coupling device  266  may be adapted to receive power via the one or more communication lines  203  from the communication network  206 . The power coupling device  266  may provide operating power to the network interface device  202  and to one or more of the components of the network interface device  202  (e.g., the first removable plug-in module  250 , the second removable plug-in module  270 , the visual display  231 , other removable plug-in modules or other components, or any combination thereof). By providing line power via one or more of the removable plug-in modules  250  and  270 , no additional power interface may be required for the network interface device  202 . For example, no other connection to a power source outside the network interface device  202  may be required. Additionally, by providing line power via one or more of the removable plug-in modules  250  and  270 , the network interface device  202  may remain unpowered until the one or more removable plug-in modules  250  and  270  are connected to modular interface connectors  242  and  244 . In a particular illustrative embodiment, each removable plug-in module  250  and  270  may include a power coupling device to provide line power for itself and/or one or more other components of the network interface device  202 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the network interface device  202  includes the second modular interface connector  244 . The second modular interface connector  244  may be adapted to receive a second removable plug-in module  270 . The second removable plug-in module  270  may enable other functionality at the network interface device  202 . For example, where the first removable plug-in module  250  enables access to video services, the second removable plug-in module  270  may enable access to voice services or computer data communications. In another example, other functionality may be enabled via the second removable plug-in module  270 , for example administrative functions, such as line conditioning, testing, performance monitoring, power coupling, or other functions of the connection manager  252 , the test unit  260 , the controller  262 , the memory  264 , the power coupling device  266 , or any combination thereof may be provided via the second removable plug-in module  270 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the second removable plug-in module includes a data router  272 . In an illustrative embodiment, the data router  272  is configured to implement one or more of the functionalities as described herein with respect to the voice module  103 , the video module  104 , and the network module  105  of  FIG. 1 . The data router  272  may be adapted to receive communication data via the one or more communication lines  203  from the communication network  206  and to route the communication data to one or more devices connected to the second network interface  234 . For example, the data router  272  may receive voice data (e.g., plain old telephone service (POTS) data or VoIP data) from the communication network  206  and communicate the voice data to the telephone  210 . In another example, the data router  272  may receive network data (e.g., IP data) from the communication network  206  and route the computer communication data to the computer  212 . In still another example, the data router  272  may receive video data (e.g., IPTV data) from the communication network  206  and route the video data to the one or more display devices  214 - 218  or the one or more set-top box devices  226 - 230 . In a particular illustrative embodiment, the data router  272  may be included on the first removable plug-in module  250 , accordingly the first removable plug-in module  250  may provide video processing capability as well as data routing capability to the network interface device  202 . In another particular embodiment, the data router  272 , the video unit  254 , the connection manager  252 , the test unit  260 , the controller  262 , the memory  264  and the power coupling device  266  may be on any combination of the removable plug-in modules  250  and  270  allowing any combination of functionality to be provided to the network interface device  202  based on a particular configuration desired. 
     In a particular embodiment, the controller  262  is adapted to send a provisioning request to the communication network  206  in response to detecting connection of a removable plug-in module to one of the modular interface connectors  242  and  244 . In response to the provisioning request, the communication network  206  may store a provisioning record  292  at a database  290  associated with the communication network  206 . The provisioning record  292  may associate an identification for the removable plug-in module  250  or  270  with a subscriber account associated with the customer premise. The provisioning record  292  may enable provision of communication services (e.g., voice, video and/or network services) via the removable plug-in module  250  or  270  to the customer premise. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a second particular embodiment of a system including a network interface device. The system is generally designated  300 . The network interface device  302  may be coupled via one or more communication lines  306  to a remote communication network  305 . The communication lines  306  may include one or more twisted pair communication lines (e.g., telephone lines), one or more non-twisted pair communication lines (e.g., a T-1 line, an E-1 line or a coaxial communication line), or any combination thereof. 
     The network interface device  302  includes a housing  304  to provide physical protection to one or more components of the network interface device  302 . The network interface device  302  may also include a lightning protection unit  310  and a remote network interface  308 . The remote network interface  308  and lightning protection unit  310  may be coupled to the communication lines  306  to provide protection against lightning strikes and to terminate the communication lines  306 . The network interface device  302  may also include one or more local network interfaces  312  to terminate one or more connections to wiring at a customer premise. For example, the local network interface  312  may include a number of interface connectors adapted to communicate data to various user devices at a customer premises. The interface connectors may include one or more modular sockets, plugs or jacks to terminate one or more twisted pair lines. For example, the interface connectors may include RJ45 jacks  314 , RJ11 jacks  316 , RJ14 jacks (not shown), RJ25 jacks (not shown) or any other six position or eight position plug jacks or other modular connector. The local network interface  312  may also include one or more connectors for other types of communication lines, such as coaxial cables. For example, the local network interface  312  may include one or more F connectors  318  to terminate one or more coaxial cable lines. In an illustrative embodiment, the local network interface  312  may terminate connections to wiring at the customer premise to provide voice data to one or more telephones via a modular telephone connector, to provide computer data (e.g., broadband data communications) to one or more computers via one or more Ethernet or data network connectors (such as the RJ45 connector), and to provide video data to one or more display device via one or more coaxial connectors or twisted wire pair connectors. 
     In a particular embodiment, the network interface device  302  may include one or more interface connectors  320 . The interface connectors  320  may be adapted to receive one or more removable plug-in modules  322 . The removable plug-in modules  322  may include any combination of modules which provide line power, video processing, data routing, diagnostics, line conditioning, memory, connection management or other functionality to the network interface device  302 . For example, the removable plug-in modules  322  may include the residential gateway  100  of  FIG. 1 . In an illustrative embodiment, the removable plug-in modules  322  may include a power coupling device  330  adapted to receive power via the one or more sets of communication lines  306  and to provide operating power to other components within the network interface device  302 , such as, for example, a gateway  334 , a line conditioning unit  340 , a video unit  332 , a diagnostic unit  338 , a connection manager  342 , a controller  336 , or any combination thereof. 
     In a particular embodiment, the removable plug-in modules  322  may include a video unit  332  (also called a video remote unit or “VRU”). The video unit  332  may be adapted to receive video data from the remote communication network  305  via the one or more communication lines  306 . The video unit  332  may process the video data for communication via the at least one coaxial connectors  318  or one or more other connectors at the local network interface  312 . For example, the video unit  332  may receive modulated video data via the communication line  306  and may demodulate the video data for distribution via the local network interface  312 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the removable plug-in modules  322  may include a gateway module  334 , such as the residential gateway  100  of  FIG. 1 . The gateway module  334  may route data received via the remote communication network  305  to one or more devices coupled to the local network interface  312 . For example, the gateway module  334  may provide network address translation (NAT) for devices coupled to the local network interface  312 . The gateway module  334  may route the data based at least partially on a type of the data. For example, voice data may be routed to a telephone or VoIP device coupled to the local network interface  312 . In another example, network data (e.g., IPv4 data, IPv6 data, TCP data, or data in another computer-to-computer communication protocol) may be routed to a computing device coupled to the local network interface  312 . In still another example, video data may be routed to the video unit  332  for processing or from the video unit  332  to one or more display devices or set-top box devices for display. 
     In a particular embodiment, the removable plug-in modules  322  include the controller  336 . The controller  336  may be adapted to detect when one or more removable plug-in modules  322  are coupled to the interface connectors  320  and to automatically enable service to the one or more removable plug-in modules  322 . For example, when the controller  336  detects that the video unit  332  has been plugged into the interface connectors  320 , the controller  336  may send a provisioning request via the communication lines  306  to store a record at the remote communication network  305 . The provisioning record may be used by the remote communication network  305  to enable the video unit  332 , to enable provisioning of video data to the video unit  332 . 
     The removable plug-in modules  322  may also include a diagnostic unit  338 . In an illustrative embodiment, the diagnostic unit  338  is configured to implement one or functionalities as described herein with reference to the testing module  107  of  FIG. 1 . The diagnostic unit  338  is adapted to monitor performance of one or more of the removable plug-in modules  322  or other component of the network interface device  302 . In an illustrative embodiment, the diagnostic unit  338  is adapted to initiate loop back testing of the communication line  306  and network interface device  302  in response to a request received via communication line  306 . In another illustrative embodiment, the diagnostic unit  338  is adapted to provide a visual display or other information to indicate an operational status of the network interface device  302 , one or more components of the network interface device  302 , communications with the remote communication network  305 , or any combination thereof. For example, the diagnostic unit  338  may be adapted to activate a green, yellow or red light to indicate whether the network interface device  302  and components therein are functioning properly. 
     In a particular embodiment, the removable plug-in modules  322  may include a line conditioning unit  340 . The line conditioning unit  340  is adapted to condition the communication lines  306  for data communications. In a particular embodiment, the line conditioning unit  340  operates in conjunction with a remote line conditioning unit at the remote communication network to condition the communication lines  306 . The removable plug-in modules  322  may also include a connection manager  342 . The connection manager  342  is adapted to manage a data communication connection between the network interface device  302  and the remote communication network  305 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the removable plug-in modules  322  may include one or more memory devices  344 . The memory devices  344  may be adapted to store performance data related to one or more of the components of the network interface device  302 . In a particular embodiment, each of the one or more removable plug-in modules  322  stores its performance data at the memory  344 . In another particular embodiment, the controller  336  polls the one or more removable plug-in modules  322  to gather the performance data and stores the gathered performance data at the memory  344 . In still another particular embodiment, the diagnostic unit  338  determines performance data related to one or more components of the network interface device  302  and stores the performance data at the memory  344 . In yet another particular embodiment, the diagnostic unit  338  determines performance data related to one or more components of the network interface device  302  and analyzes the performance data. The diagnostic unit  338  stores the analyzed performance data at the memory  344  for communication via the communication line  306  to the remote communication network  305 . 
     The one or more removable plug-in modules  322  may be arranged in any configuration, form factor, or combination. For example, any one or more of the video unit  332 , the gateway  334 , the power coupling device  330 , the diagnostic unit  338 , the line conditioning unit  340 , the connection manager  342 , the controller  336 , and the memory  344  may be on a single module, such as an interface card. In another example, the gateway  334  and the video unit  332  may be on separate modules. In yet another example, the removable plug-in modules  322  may include a number of interface cards. Each of the interface cards may include its own power coupling device, memory, controller, diagnostic unit, line conditioning unit, connection manager or any combination thereof. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a first particular embodiment of a method of using a network interface device, the method designated generally  400 . The method  400  includes, at  402 , coupling a network interface device to a coaxial wiring system at a customer premise. In a particular embodiment, the coaxial wiring system includes a pre-existing wiring system at the customer premises, such as a wiring system previously installed for cable television access. The coaxial wiring system may include one or more communication paths that are not direct connections from the network interface device to a display device or set-top box device. For example, the coaxial wiring system may include one or more splitters, one or more amplifiers, or any combination thereof. The method  400  also includes, at  404 , coupling the network interface device to a telephone wiring system at the customer premise. The method  400  includes, at  406 , connecting the network interface device to at least one set of communication lines to couple the network interface device to a remote communication network. For example, the set of communication lines may include one or more twisted pair lines e.g., a telephone line), one or more non-twisted pair lines (e.g., a T-1 line, an E-1 line, or a coaxial line), or any combination thereof. 
     The method  400  also includes, at  408 , connecting a plug-in module to a modular interface connector at the network interface device. In a particular embodiment, the plug-in module is line powered, that is, the plug-in module receives power via the one or more sets of communication lines coupled to the network interface device. The one or more plug-in modules may provide particular functionality to the network interface device. For example, the plug-in modules may enable voice, video or data communications via the remote communication network at the customer premise. 
     In a particular embodiment, the method  400  includes, at  410 , detecting reception of the plug-in module at the modular interface connector. After detecting reception of the plug-in module at the modular interface connector, the plug-in module may automatically enable access to voice, video and/or data services at the customer premises, at  412 . For example, video data processing at the network interface device may be automatically initialized, at  412 , in response to detecting reception of the plug-in module at the modular interface connector. 
     In a particular embodiment, the method  400  includes, at  416 , storing a provisioning record at a database associated with the remote communication network. The provisioning record may associate the particular plug-in module received at the interface connector with a subscriber account associated with the customer premise. The remote communication network may authorize the voice, video or data services to the customer premises at the network interface device based on the provisioning record. 
     The method  400  includes, at  418 , receiving communication data from the remote communication network. For example, the communication data may include voice, video or data communications. The method includes, at  420 , routing the communication data to one or more devices coupled to the network interface device via the coaxial wiring system or the telephone wiring system. For example, voice communication data may be provided via a plain old telephone service (POTS) protocol to one or more telephones via the telephone wiring system. In another example, video data may be provided to one or more display devices or set-top box devices via the coaxial wiring system, via the telephone wiring system, or via another twisted wire pair wiring system (e.g., an Ethernet system). In another example, data communications may be routed to one or more computing devices via the coaxial wiring system, via the telephone wiring system, or via another twisted wire pair wiring system. 
     The method  400  also includes, at  422 , storing performance data associated with one or more components of the network interface device. For example, the performance data may be stored at a memory local to the network interface device or at a database associated with the remote communication network. The method  400  may also include, at  423 , analyzing the performance data. For example, analyzing the performance data may include, at  424 , comparing the performance data to one or more operational criteria  426  to identify one or more operational concerns before the operational concerns are perceptible by a user at the customer premise. The method  400  may also include, at  428 , communicating results of the performance data analysis to a network unit of the remote communication network. For example, the performance data analysis may be communicated to the network unit to schedule a preventative maintenance activity such as sending a technician to address the one or more operational concerns before the operational concerns are perceptible by the user. Examples of operational concerns may include failure or improper operation of one or more of the components of the network interface device, loss of communication with the remote communication network or reduced quality of a signal received from the remote communication network, loss of line power, lost data packets or receipt of corrupt data packets, and so forth. 
     The method  400  may also include, at  430 , disabling access to voice, video, or data services in response to removing one or more of the plug-in modules from the interface connectors. For example, video services provided by the remote communication network may be automatically enabled in response to connection of a video plug-in module associated with the subscriber account to the interface connector. The video services provided by the remote communication network may be disabled in response to removal of the video plug-in module from the interface connector. In another example, data communication services provided by the remote communication network may be automatically enabled in response to connection of a data plug-in module (e.g., a residential gateway module) associated with the subscriber account to the interface connector. The data communication services provided by the remote communication network may be disabled in response to removal of the data plug-in module from the interface connector. In yet another example, voice services provided by the remote communication network may be automatically enabled in response to connection of a voice plug-in module associated with the subscriber account to the interface connector. The voice services provided by the remote communication network may be disabled in response to removal of the voice plug-in module from the interface connector. Thus, a shortened time of a technician may be used to install, enable or disable voice, video or data communication services. In a particular embodiment, a customer may enable or disable voice, video or data services by self installation of an appropriate removable plug-in module at the customer&#39;s premise, thereby reducing cost and time associated with providing a technician for installation of hardware to enable or disable services available via the remote communication network. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of using a residential gateway and a network interface device. The method is designated generally  500 . In an illustrative embodiment, the method  500  is performed using the residential gateway  100  of  FIG. 1  and the network interface device  202  of  FIG. 2  or network interface device  302  of  FIG. 3 . 
     The method  500  includes inserting a residential gateway into an outdoor network interface device coupled to one or more communication lines, at  502 . For example, the residential gateway  100  of  FIG. 1  may be inserted into the NID  202  of  FIG. 2 . 
     The method  500  also includes coupling the NID to a communication network that transmits a composite signal including voice data, video data, and network data via the one or more communication lines, at  504 . The residential gateway has an input to receive the composite signal from the NID and includes at least one module that is powered by power received via at least one of the one or more communication lines. For example, the NID  202  of  FIG. 2  may be coupled to the communication  206 . 
     The method  500  further includes enabling or disabling access to one or more of the voice services, video services, and data services provided by the communication network by sending a connection or disconnection message to the residential gateway, at  506 . For example, a provider may enable or disable access to voice services, video services, and data services by sending a connection or disconnection message to the residential gateway  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the residential gateway, the network interface devices, and removable plug-in modules described herein may allow customer self installation of particular communication services. The residential gateway, network interface devices, and removable plug-in modules may also allow installation, enabling, and disabling of services without requiring that a customer be at home in order to access hardware inside the customer premise. Additionally, the residential gateway, the network interface devices, and removable plug-in modules may provide for remote troubleshooting of communication problems via loopback testing and more detailed troubleshooting of the communication problems via onboard testing and performance monitoring. Such troubleshooting may help to distinguish between downstream problems inside the customer&#39;s premise (e.g., hardware or wiring), and upstream problems outside of the customer&#39;s premise. Further, the residential gateway, the network interface devices, and removable plug-in modules may provide for simplified error correction. For example, errors may be corrected by removing and replacing one or more removable plug-in modules at the network interface device. Additionally, the network interface device and removable plug-in modules may provide for recoverability, exchangeability and reusability of various components of the network interface device, such as a video unit, a residential gateway, a data router, a controller, a power coupling device, a line conditioning unit, a connection manager, a diagnostic unit, or a memory. Further, the residential gateway, the network interface devices, and removable plug-in modules may be adapted to communicate via communication lines having a two-wire configuration or a four-wire configuration. For example, the residential gateway and network interface devices may communicate via a standard twisted pair telephone line, via a T-1 line or via E-1 line. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system is shown and is designated  600 . The computer system  600  can include a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system  600  to perform any one or more of the methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. The computer system  600  may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices. For example, the computer system  600  may include or be included within any one or more of the databases, communication networks, field units, residential gateways, network interface devices, computing devices, or set-top box devices discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The computer system  600  can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system  600  can be implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single computer system  600  is illustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the computer system  600  may include a processor  602 , e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system  600  can include a main memory  604  and a static memory  606  that can communicate with each other via a bus  608 . As shown, the computer system  600  may further include a video display unit  610 , such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system  600  may include an input device  612 , such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device  614 , such as a mouse. The computer system  600  can also include a disk drive unit  616 , a signal generation device  618 , such as a speaker or remote control, and a network interface device  620 . 
     In a particular embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the disk drive unit  616  may include a computer-readable medium  622  in which one or more sets of instructions  624 , e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, the instructions  624  may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions  624  may reside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory  604 , the static memory  606 , and/or within the processor  602  during execution by the computer system  600 . The main memory  604  and the processor  602  also may include computer-readable media. 
     In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented by software programs executable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionality as described herein. 
     The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium that includes instructions  624  or receives and executes instructions  624 , so that a device connected to a network  626  can communicate voice, video or data over the network  626 . Further, the instructions  624  may be transmitted or received over the network  626  via the network interface device  620  or residential gateway  630  connected to the network interface device  620 . 
     While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. 
     In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions that may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to such standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet transmission, other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP, IPTV, IPv4, IPv6, VoIP, VDSL, VDSL2, ADSL2+, OC, HPNA) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed herein are considered equivalents thereof. 
     The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be reduced. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter. 
     The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.