Patent ID: 7653701

Claim:
A network device configured to be coupled to a network, the network device comprising: a plurality of input/output ports configured to be coupled directly to a plurality of input source devices proximate to the network device and receive a plurality of input data items from the input source devices; an input device distinct from the input source devices for entering destination information and output format information for each of the plurality of input data items; an interface bridge coupled to the plurality of input/output ports, the interface bridge receiving the plurality of input data items from the plurality of input/output ports and outputting the plurality of input data items using a single output protocol; and a controller coupled to the interface bridge, the controller receiving the plurality of input data items from the interface bridge, the controller automatically converting each of the input data items to an output data item based on the entered destination and output format information, and automatically outputting the output data items to the network.