Systems and methods for integrating microservers with a network interface device
View Patent ↗A network interface device has an isolation device adapted to isolate a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media. A first interface is coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the external transport medium, which is in communication with a distribution point. A second interface is coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium. A microserver is disposed external to the customer premises and coupled with the first and second interfaces. The microserver is adapted to receive telecommunication information from the external transport medium and includes software for implementing a predetermined function over the internal transport medium by processing the received telecommunication information.
1. A network interface device comprising:
a body-portion, wherein the body-portion comprises:
an isolation device adapted to isolate a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media; and
a first interface coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the external transport medium, wherein the external transport medium is in communication with a distribution point;
at least one hinge coupled to the body-portion; and
a lid-portion coupled to the body-portion via the at least one hinge such that the body-portion and the lid-portion form a clam-shell design, wherein when closed, the clam-shell design is configured to restrict access to the body-portion and the lid-portion and when opened provide access to the body-portion and the lid-portion, the lid-portion comprising:
a second interface in communication with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium;
a plurality of microservers disposed external to the customer premises and coupled with the first and second interfaces, wherein the plurality of microservers are adapted to receive information from the external transport medium and includes software and hardware for implementing a first microserver to process the collected data and a second microserver to exchange the data between the internal transport medium and the external transport medium wherein the plurality of microservers are plug-and-play compatible such that any of the plurality of microservers are configured to be able to be added and/or removed from the network interface device at any time and without configuration, and wherein the plurality of microservers are integrated in the network interface device, and wherein at least one of the plurality of microservers comprises a television signal microserver adapted to receive encoded telecommunication information from the external transport medium and to generate television signals from the encoded telecommunication information for transmission over the internal transport medium;
a processor in communication with the plurality of microservers and having software instructions to coordinate transmission of the collected data over the transport medium external to the customer premises;
wherein the isolation device is further adapted to provide communications security by preventing a microserver from accessing communications information which is associated with another microserver; and
an addressable application device coupled with the plurality of microservers, wherein the addressable application device is adapted to receive the processed telecommunication information and to execute a defined application as an aid to implementing the functions over the internal transport medium.
2. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the isolation device and the plurality of microservers are disposed within a common housing.
3. The network interface device recited in claim 2 wherein the common housing is disposed on an exterior wall of the customer premises.
4. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the addressable application device is disposed external to the customer premises.
5. The network interface device recited in claim 4 wherein the isolation device, plurality of microservers, and addressable application device are disposed within a common housing.
6. The network interface device recited in claim 1 further comprising an authentication microserver adapted to verify that the microserver functions are authorized for the customer premises.
7. The network interface device recited in claim 1 further comprising a file-transfer microserver is adapted to transfer an electronic file of information to or from the network interface device.
8. The network interface device recited in claim 1 further comprising a dynamic host configuration protocol microserver is adapted to manage an internet-protocol address assignment to a device coupled with the internal transport medium.
9. The network interface device recited in claim 8 wherein the internet-protocol address assignment comprises a public Internet-protocol address assignment.
10. The network interface device recited in claim 8 wherein the internet-protocol address assignment comprises a private internet-protocol address assignment.
11. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microservers comprise a code-processing microserver adapted to receive code and process the code for use by another component of the network interface device.
12. The network interface device recited in claim 11 wherein the webserver microserver is adapted to render a display of incoming web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser enabled device.
13. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microservers comprise an email alert microserver adapted to initiate an alert in response to receipt of an email message at an email account.
14. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microservers comprise an instant-messenger microserver adapted to provide instant-messaging functionality over the internal transport medium.
15. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microservers comprise: a webserver microserver adapted to render a display of web-page information suitable for presentation with a web-browser enabled device; and an advertising microserver adapted to overlay an advertisement over the display of web-page information.
16. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microservers comprise a wireless microserver adapted to provide an interface between wireless communications within the customer premises to the external transport medium.
17. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microservers comprise an RF power-level microserver adapted to monitor an RF power level of telecommunication information received at the first interface.
18. The network interface device recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of microservers comprise a test-access microserver adapted to verify proper functioning of another component of the network interface device.
19. The network interface device recited in claim 1 further comprising a webserver microserver coupled with the plurality of microservers and adapted to provide a customer-based graphical user interface for implementing software configuration changes of the microserver.
20. The network interface recited in claim 1 further comprising upgradeable firmware that supports the plurality of microservers.