Method and apparatus for extending point-to-point/asynchronous transfer mode services to client computer systems

1. A method for managing a broadband modem, comprising:

transmitting a discovery signal over a connection;

entering a connect state in response to receiving a discovery acknowledge signal;

recording a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to the broadband modem, the boardband modem to transmit the discovery acknowledge signal in response to the discovery signal; and

transmitting a terminate message to other broadband modems connected to the connection.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising specifying data formats supported in the discovery signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recording a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a poll message to the broadband modem; and

entering a disconnect state if a poll acknowledge message is not received in response to the poll message within a predefined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a sleep message to the broadband modem indicating that its binding client system is about to enter into a sleep state.

6. A method for managing a broadband modem, comprising:

transmitting a discovery acknowledge signal over a transmission medium in response to receiving a discovery signal from a first client computer system;

forwarding asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells between the first client computer system and an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL);

generating and verifying a header error control (HEC) field in the ATM cells;

entering a sleep state and disabling an activity timer upon receiving a sleep message from the first client computer system;

entering a connect state upon receiving a wake-up event from a second client computer system; and

entering a disconnect state if a poll message is not received from the first client computer system within a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising specifying a data format supported by the broadband modem among data formats specified in the discovery signal.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

transmitting a poll acknowledge message in response to receiving the poll message; and

entering the disconnect state if the poll message is not received within the predetermined period of time.

9. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data including sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

transmit a discovery signal over a connection;

enter a connect state in response to receiving a discovery acknowledge signal;

record a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to a broadband modem, the boardband modem to transmit the discovery acknowledge signal in response to the discovery signal; and

transmit a terminate message to other broadband modems connected to the connection.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the sets of instruction which, when executive by the machine, further cause the machine to specify data formats supported in the discovery signal.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to record a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to:

send a poll message to the broadband modem; and

enter a disconnect state if a poll acknowledge message is not received in response to the poll message within a predefined period of time.

13. A method for establishing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signal for transmitting an ATM cell from a first computer system to a second computer system, comprising:

transmitting the ATM cell from the first computer system to a given one of a plurality of broadband modems, the plurality of broadband modems configured to operate as peripherals;

transmitting a discovery signal from the second computer system to the plurality of broadband modems;

the given one of the plurality of broadband modems transmitting a discovery acknowledge signal to the second computer system in response to the discovery signal to establish a binding between the second computer system and the given one of the plurality of broadband modems; and

the second computer system entering into a connect state with the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to accept the ATM cell from the given broadband modem.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising specifying data formats supported in the discovery signal.

15. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data including sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

transmit a discovery signal over a connection;

transmit an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell from a first computer system to a given one of a plurality of broadband modems, the plurality of broadband modems configured to operate as peripherals; and

transmit a discovery signal from a second computer system to the plurality of broadband modems;

the given one of the plurality of broadband modems transmit a discovery acknowledge signal to the second computer system in response to the discovery signal to establish a binding between the second computer system and the given one of the plurality of broadband modems;

the second computer system enter into a connect state with the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to accept the ATM cell from the given broadband modem.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to specify data formats supported in the discovery signal.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to record a data format selected by the given one of the plurality of broadband modems in the discovery acknowledge signal.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising recording a data format selected by the given one of the plurality of broadband modems in the discovery acknowledge signal.

19. A system for establishing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signal for transmitting an ATM cell from a first computer system to a second computer system, comprising:

the first computer system to transmit the ATM cell to a given one of a plurality of broadband modems, the plurality of broadband modems configured to operate as peripherals;

the second computer system coupled to the first computer system, the second computer system to transmit a discovery signal to the plurality of broadband modems;

the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to transmit a discovery acknowledge signal to the second computer system in response to the discovery signal to establish a binding between the second computer system and the given one of the plurality of broadband modems; and

the second computer system to enter into a connect state with the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to accept the ATM cell from the given broadband modem.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein data formats supported in the discovery signal are specified.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal is recorded.

22. A system for managing a broadband modem, comprising:

the broadband modem to

transmit a discovery acknowledge signal over a transmission medium in response to receiving a discovery signal from a first client computer system;

forward asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells between the first client computer system and an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL);

generate and verifying a header error control (HEC) field in the ATM cells;

enter a sleep state and disable an activity timer upon receiving a sleep message from the first client computer system;

enter a connect state upon receiving a wake-up event from a second client computer system; and

enter a disconnect state if a poll message is not received from the first client computer system within a predetermined period of time.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein data formats supported in the discovery signal are specified.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal is recorded.