METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING A HOME NETWORK TO THE INTERNET

摘要

A method and apparatus for connecting a home network to the Internet using the ports or sockets of the home gateway to muliplex the data flow. The devices on the home network may be client or server applications. The home gateway has a single Internet address. Unicast and multicast data flows to the home network are supported. The apparatus includes the home network and a home gateway. The home network includes at least one home network device. The home gateway includes at least one home gateway port. Each home network device is connected to at least one home gateway port. The home gateway is connected to the Internet. The method includes the steps of connecting at least one home network device to a home gateway using at least one home gateway port and connecting the home gateway to the Internet using a single Internet address.