Optimizing bandwidth utilization in an in-home network

1. A method for multimedia communication, the method comprising:

in a network controller in a multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network:

monitoring one or more capabilities of a wired communication link operating in accordance with a wired communication standard and capabilities of a wireless communication link operating in accordance with a wireless local area network standard, in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network, wherein said wired communication standard comprises Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA);

communicating reallocation commands to one or more devices in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network based on said one or more capabilities;

routing some or all data communications from said wired communication link to said wireless communication link, based on said reallocation commands; and

configuring a bit-loading of said data communications in said wired communication link and a bit-loading of said data communications in said wireless communication link based on said reallocation commands.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more of: bandwidth, data throughput, usage, and signal-to-noise ratio.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said monitoring is performed by one or more Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA) network controllers.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said routing is performed by one or more Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA) network controllers.

5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising increasing bandwidth usage efficiency of said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network by said routing.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising increasing data throughput of said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network by said routing.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said monitoring and said routing are performed dynamically.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more media capabilities.

9. A system for multimedia communication, the system comprising:

a network device comprising a bandwidth optimization module, a physical layer (PHY), and a wireless local area network (WLAN) module, said network device for use in a multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network, said network device being operable to:

monitor, using said bandwidth optimization module, one or more capabilities of said PHY operating in accordance with a wired communication standard and capabilities of said WLAN module operating in accordance with a wireless local area network standard, in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network, wherein said wired communication standard comprises Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA);

communicate reallocation commands to one or more devices in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network based on said one or more capabilities;

route some or all data communications from said PHY to said WLAN module, based on said reallocation commands; and

configure a bit-loading of said data communications in said PHY and a bit-loading of said data communications in said WLAN module-based on said reallocation commands.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more of: bandwidth, data throughput, usage, and signal-to-noise ratio.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said network device comprises a MoCA network controller.

12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said routing is performed by a MoCA network controller that comprises said network device.

13. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said network device is operable to increase bandwidth usage efficiency of said multi-protocol wired and wireless network by the routing.

14. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said network device is operable to increase data throughput of said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network by the routing.

15. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more media capabilities.

16. A system for multimedia communication, the system comprising:

a Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA) network controller in a premises, said MoCA network controller comprising a bandwidth optimization module, a MoCA PHY, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) module, said network controller being operable to:

monitor, using said bandwidth optimization module media capabilities of a wired communication link via said MoCA PHY operating in accordance with a MoCA standard and capabilities of a wireless communication link operating in accordance with a wireless local area network standard, in a multi-protocol wired and wireless network within said premises;

communicate reallocation commands to one or more devices in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network based on said one or more capabilities;

route some or all data communications from said MoCA PHY to said WLAN module, based on said reallocation commands; and

configure a bit-loading of said data communications in said MoCA PHY and a bit-loading of said data communications in said WLAN module-based on said reallocation commands.

17. A method for multimedia communication, the method comprising:

in a network device of a multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network:

monitoring one or more capabilities of a wireless communication link operating in accordance with a wireless local area network standard and a wired communication link operating in accordance with a wired communication standard, in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network, wherein said wired communication standard comprises Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA);

communicate reallocation commands to one or more devices in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network based on said one or more capabilities;

routing some or all data communications from said wireless communication link to said wired communication link, based on said reallocation commands; and

configuring a bit-loading of said data communications in said wireless communication link and a bit-loading of said wired communication link based on said reallocation commands.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said monitoring is performed by one or more MoCA network controllers.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said routing is performed by one or more MoCA network controllers.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more of: bandwidth, data throughput, usage, and signal-to-noise ratio.

21. The method according to claim 17 , comprising increasing bandwidth usage efficiency of said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network by said routing.

22. The method according to claim 17 , comprising increasing data throughput of said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network by said routing.

23. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said monitoring and said routing are performed dynamically.

24. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more media capabilities.

25. A system for multimedia communication, the system comprising:

a network device for use in a multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network, said network device comprising a bandwidth optimization module, a physical layer (PHY), and a wireless local area network (WLAN) module, said network device being operable to:

monitor one or more capabilities of a wireless communication link operating in accordance with a wireless local area network standard and a wired communication link operating in accordance with a wired communication protocol, in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network, wherein said wired communication standard comprises Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA);

communicate reallocation commands to one or more devices in said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network based on said one or more capabilities;

route some or all data communications from said wireless communication link to said wired communication link, based on said reallocation commands; and

configure a bit-loading of said data communications in said wireless communication link and a bit-loading of said data communications in said wired communication link based on said reallocation commands.

26. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said monitoring is performed by one or more MoCA network controllers.

27. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more of: bandwidth, data throughput, usage, and signal-to-noise ratio.

28. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said routing is performed by one or more MoCA network controllers.

29. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said network device is operable to increase bandwidth usage efficiency of said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network by the routing.

30. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said network device is operable to increase data throughput of said multi-protocol premises-based wired and wireless network by the routing.

31. The system according to claim 25 , wherein said one or more capabilities comprise one or more media capabilities.