Patent ID: 7164690

Claim:
A method for networking a central controller with a first group of one or more remote devices operating in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more remote devices operating in accordance with a second protocol, comprising: assigning one or more time slots on the same logical upstream channel during which said first group and second group of remote devices may transmit information to said central controller; distinguishing transmissions from said first group of remote devices from transmissions from said second group of remote devices based on said time slot assignments; routing said transmissions from said first group of remote devices to a first processor operating in accordance with said first protocol within said central controller; routing said transmissions from said second group of remote devices to a second processor operating in accordance with said second protocol within said central controller; wherein said assigning includes transmitting a first group message from said central controller to said first group of remote devices via a first multicast transmission and transmitting a second group message from said central controller to said second group of remote devices via a second multicast transmission.