Method and apparatus for connecting a home network to the internet

A method for connecting a home network to the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting, using a unicast data stream, at least one server application device to a home gateway using at least one home gateway port;
• connecting the home gateway to the Internet using a single Internet address;
• autodiscovering, for each of the at least one server application device, the home Internet address;
• using one home gateway port as a first home gateway port;
• using another home gateway port as a second home gateway port;
• before the connecting between the home gateway and the server application device step, requesting the first home gateway port;
• after connecting the server application device to the first home gateway port, listening on the first home gateway port for an initial data transaction;
• after the initial data transaction arrives, requesting the second home gateway port;
• after requesting the second home gateway port, connecting the data transaction flow to the second home gateway port;
• after connecting the data transaction flow to the second home gateway port, connecting the server application device to the second home gateway port;
• after connecting the server application device to the second home gateway port, relinquishing the first home gateway port;
• and
• after the end of the data transaction flow, relinquishing the second home gateway port.

A method for connecting a home network to the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting, using a multicast data stream, at least two client application devices to a home gateway using at least one home gateway port;
• connecting the home gateway to the Internet using a single Internet address;
• autodiscovering, for each of the at least two client application devices, the home Internet address;
• using one home gateway port in the connecting between the home gateway and the client application devices step;
• before the connecting between the home gateway and the client application devices step, requesting the home gateway port;
• and
• after the connecting between the home gateway and the client application devices step is no longer required, relinquishing the home gateway port.

A method for connecting a home network to the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting, using a multicast data stream, at least two server application devices to a home gateway using at least one home gateway port;
• connecting the home gateway to the Internet using a single Internet address;
• autodiscovering, for each of the at least two server application devices, the home Internet address;
• using one home gateway port as a first home gateway port;
• using another home gateway port as a second home gateway port;
• before the connecting between the home gateway and the server application devices step, requesting the first home gateway port;
• after connecting the server application devices to the first home gateway port, listening on the first home gateway port for an initial data transaction;
• after the initial data transaction arrives, requesting the second home gateway port;
• after requesting the second home gateway port, connecting the data transaction flow to the second home gateway port;
• after connecting the data transaction flow to the second home gateway port, connecting two or more of the server application devices to the second home gateway port;
• after connecting the two or more server application devices to the second home gateway port, relinquishing the first home gateway port;
• and
• after the end of the data transaction flow, relinquishing the second home gateway port.

A method for connecting Internet Protocol (IP) telephones on a home network to the Internet using a single Internet address, the method comprising the steps of:

• for each IP telephone in the house, autodiscovering the home Internet address;
• registering interest in a home gateway port associated with IP telephony;
• multicasting incoming data traffic to the home Internet address, and the IP telephony port, within the home to all the IP telephones;
• ringing all the IP telephones;
• arbitrating between IP telephones;
• and
• multimedia mixing to have the IP telephones work like a POTS paradigm.

A method for connecting a personal computer on a home network to the Internet using a single Internet address, the method comprising the steps of:

• using the computer, issuing a DHCP to the home network;
• using the IPRP, carrying the DHCP to a residential gateway;
• using the gateway, recognizing the DHCP by the combination of a higher layer protocol identifier and a target port;
• using the gateway, responding with the home Internet address;
• for an outgoing World Wide Web (WWW) browsing request, borrowing a port number from the residential gateway;
• using that port number for a browsing session;
• spawning additional windows or services using more port numbers;
• and
• using application level software that is correctly aware of the home Internet address that is used with the target port number, thus enabling client based applications such as electronic commerce.