Selection of a Proxy Device for a Network
AssigneeComcast Cable Communications, LLC
InventorsChristopher R. Albano, Ross Gilson, Mark Francisco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Multiple devices in a user's premises may each be configured to separately communicate with an external network, but the signal strength available to each may vary significantly depending on the wiring of the premises. The disclosure provides methods wherein the various devices may coordinate with one another, and determine which among them has the best signal connection and the most available capacity, and a subset of the devices may be chosen to act as network proxies to relay communications to/from the other devices in the premises.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- comparing a first signal strength of downstream data received by a first device from an external network and a second signal strength of downstream data received by a second device, from the external network;
- and
- based on the comparing, receiving, by the first device, upstream data from the second device via an internal network and transmitting the upstream data received from the second device to the external network.
A method comprising:
- determining first usage information for a first device and second usage information for a second device;
- and
- based on the determining, using the first device to receive upstream data from a third device via an internal network and to transmit the upstream data received from the third device to an external network.
A method comprising:
- comparing a first signal strength of downstream data received by a first device from an external network and a second signal strength of downstream data received by a second device from the external network;
- and
- based on the comparing, sending, via an internal network and by the second device, upstream data to the first device for the first device to transmit to the external network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.