USB to coax bridge

A method of transferring data, the method comprising:

• a first USB-compatible device sending a ping with an exploratory packet to a first USB-to-coaxial network bridge;
• the first USB-compatible device receiving a reply to the ping from a second USB-compatible device;
• the first USB-compatible device partitioning data into a plurality of frames, and sending the frames via a USB interface of the first USB-compatible device to the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge;
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge receiving the data frames sent from the first USB-compatible device via a USB communication interface, wherein the received data frames are intended for transmittal to the second USB-compatible device over a coaxial network;
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge combining the received data frames into an aggregated frame, making a reservation request to send the aggregated frame across the coaxial network, receiving a bandwidth allocation from a network controller, and addressing the aggregated frame to allow the aggregated frame to be routed to the second USB-compatible device over the coaxial network;
• and
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge sending the aggregated frame to the second USB-compatible device over the coaxial network.

A method of bridging, the method comprising:

• a first USB-to-coaxial network bridge receiving a ping with an exploratory packet from a local USB device;
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge broadcasting the exploratory packet across a coaxial network to probe for network devices;
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge receiving a reply from a remote USB device that is appropriate for a given transmission;
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge receiving data frames from the local USB device via a USB communication interface, wherein the received data frames are intended for transmittal to the remote USB device over the coaxial network;
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge combining the received data frames into an aggregated frame, making a reservation request to send the aggregated frame across the coaxial network, receiving a bandwidth allocation from a network controller, and addressing the aggregated frame to allow the aggregated frame to be routed to the remote USB device over the coaxial network;
• and
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge sending the aggregated frame to the remote USB device over the coaxial network.

A communication network, the communication network comprising:

• a first USB device that is not otherwise compatible with a coaxial network, comprising a first processor and a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium coupled to the first processor, the first computer readable storage medium including computer program logic embodied therein, which when executed by the processor causes the first USB device to perform the operations comprising:
• sending a ping with an exploratory packet to a first USB-to-coaxial network bridge,
• receiving a reply to the ping from a second USB-compatible device,
• partitioning data into a plurality of frames to be transmitted across the coaxial network to the second USB device, and
• sending the frames via a USB interface of the first USB compatible device to the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge;
• and
• the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge, comprising a second processor and a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium coupled to the second processor, the second computer readable storage medium including computer program logic embodied therein, which when executed by the processor causes the first USB-to-coaxial network bridge to perform the operations comprising:
• receiving the data frames sent from the first USB device via a USB communication interface, wherein the received data frames are intended for transmittal to the second USB device over a coaxial network;
• combining the received data frames into an aggregated frame and addressing the aggregated frame to allow the aggregated frame to be routed to the second USB device over the coaxial network;
• making a reservation request to send the aggregated frame across the coaxial network;
• receiving a bandwidth allocation from a network controller;
• and
• sending the aggregated frame to the remote device over the coaxial network.

A communication device, the communication device comprising:

• a USB-to-coaxial network bridge comprising one or more circuits, the one or more circuits being operable to:
• receive a ping with an exploratory packet from a local USB device;
• broadcast the exploratory packet across a coaxial network to probe for network devices;
• receive a reply from a remote USB device that is appropriate for a given transmission;
• receive data frames from the local USB device via a USB communication interface, wherein the received data frames are intended for transmittal to the remote USB device on the coaxial network;
• combine the received data frames into an aggregated frame and address the aggregated frame to allow the aggregated frame to be routed to the remote USB device over the coaxial network;
• make a reservation request to send the aggregated frame across the coaxial network;
• receive a bandwidth allocation from a network controller;
• and
• send the aggregated frame to the remote USB device over the coaxial network.