Network router apparatus and method

Premises network router apparatus, comprising:

• a first signal interface, said first interface having a first protocol stack adapted to:
• receive signals from an entity coupled to an external content delivery network;
• and
• extract a first portion of said signals which are encoded according to an internet protocol;
• a second signal interface having a second protocol stack, said second interface adapted to:
• communicate with a local coaxial cable network having a computerized device coupled thereto, said computerized device being able to communicate via said internet protocol;
• and
• transfer said internet protocol encoded signals to said computerized device;
• and
• an address translator adapted to translate a first address to a second address, said first address being associated with said router apparatus on said external content delivery network and said second address being associated with said local coaxial cable network, said second address being used to deliver said internet protocol encoded signals to said computerized device;
• wherein said router apparatus is further adapted to deliver a second portion of said signals not encoded according to said internet protocol to an apparatus operatively coupled to said local coaxial cable network.

A network device, comprising:

• a first interface adapted to communicate with a first network;
• and
• a second interface adapted to communicate with a second network and with said first interface;
• wherein said device is further adapted to:
• evaluate signals received from said first network to determine the presence of at least one protocol therein;
• based at least in part on said evaluation, selectively pass a first portion of said signals to said second network;
• and
• based at least in part on said evaluation, process a second portion of said signals prior to passing said second portion of said signals to said second network.

A method of providing local network services within a premises using coaxial cabling installed therein, comprising:

• receiving signals from a content delivery network;
• evaluating said received signals to identify internet protocol encoded signals and MPEG encoded signals present therein;
• distributing said MPEG encoded signals to at least one user computerized device operatively coupled to said local network;
• processing said internet protocol encoded signals;
• and
• distributing said processed internet protocol encoded signals to said at least one user computerized device.

A method of initiating a router coupled between an external network and local network, comprising:

• generating a downstream transmission channel to at least one access node associated with said local network;
• receiving, in response to the detection of said downstream transmission channel by said at least one node, a network address request;
• and
• assigning an address to said at least one node;
• wherein signals encoded according to a first protocol received at said router from said external network using a network address associated with said router are re-directed to said at least one node via address translation to said address assigned to said at least one node.

A method of delivering data and content to a plurality of user apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing a premises network router apparatus adapted for use in a content-based network, said router being able to receive both data and content-based signals delivered from said network;
• assigning a first network address to said router;
• receiving said data signals at said router based on said first network address;
• translating, within said router, said first address to at least one second local network address, said second local network address being associated with said plurality of user apparatus operatively coupled to said router apparatus;
• delivering, based on said second local network address, at least a portion of said data signals to at least one of said plurality of user apparatus;
• and
• configuring said network router apparatus for converting out-of-band messages from at least two formats to a common third format.

A premises network device adapted to interface between an HFC cable network and a premises network comprising coaxial cabling within a user premises and having a plurality of computerized devices coupled thereto via said coaxial cabling, said premises network device comprising:

• an apparatus adapted to utilize realm specific internet protocol (RSIP) to translate an IP address associated with said premises network device on said HFC network to a single IP address associated with said premises network;
• a first interface having a first protocol stack and adapted to:
• receive signals from said HFC network;
• and
• evaluate received signals and extract a first portion of said signals encoded according to an internet protocol;
• and
• a second interface having a second protocol stack and adapted to:
• transfer said first portion of said signals to a first set of said plurality of computerized devices via said coaxial cabling within said user premises using said single IP address associated with said premises network, said first set adapted to communicate via said internet protocol;
• and
• transfer a second portion of said signals to a second set of said plurality of computerized devices, said second signals not encoded according to said internet protocol;
• wherein said transfer of said first and said second portions of said signals to said first and second sets of said plurality of computerized devices comprises utilizing unused bandwidth of said coaxial cabling within said user premises