Network interface device having virtual private network capability

A demarcation device configured to facilitate the communication of information services between customer premises equipment (CPE) at a customer's premises and a source of the information services, comprising:

• means for establishing a virtual private network (VPN) with a source of information services, wherein signals are received at the demarcation device from the source of information services via an interface comprising an external transport medium substantially external to the customer's premises;
• means for establishing a virtual local area network (VLAN) with the CPE, wherein signals are sent from the demarcation device to the CPE via an interface comprising an internal transport medium substantially interior to the customer's premises;
• and
• a routing table that stores information used to map signals from the VPN of the source of information services to the VLAN of the CPE.

A method of registering customer premises equipment (CPE) at a customer's premises with a demarcation device to receive information services from a source of the information services, comprising:

• establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between the demarcation device and the source of information services, wherein the VPN is comprised by an external transport medium substantially exterior to the customer's premises;
• establishing an interface between the CPE and the demarcation device, wherein the interface is comprised by an internal transport medium substantially internal to the customer's premises;
• establishing a virtual local area network (VLAN) between the CPE and the demarcation device by transmitting an address of the CPE to the demarcation device;
• and
• storing at least a portion of the address in a routing table of the demarcation device, wherein the routing table comprises a CPE receiving devices;
• wherein the information services are received via the VPN and the VLAN.

A demarcation device configured to facilitate communication of information services between customer premises equipment (CPE) at a customer's premises and a source of the information services, comprising:

• an interface between an internal transport medium substantially internal to the customer's premises and an external transport medium substantially external to the customer's premises;
• and
• a microserver programmed to:
• serve as a termination point for a virtual private network (VPN) between the demarcation device and the source of information services;
• serve as a termination point for a virtual local area network (VLAN) between the demarcation device and the CPE;
• and
• map signals received from the source of information services via the VPN to the CPE via the internal transport medium and the VLAN.