Network module

Abstract

A home network, in one embodiment including a home wiring system; a demarcation point unit in electrical communication with the home wiring system; and a home network module in electrical communication with the home wiring system. The home network module is adapted for connection to a home electronic device. The demarcation point unit passes data to and receives data from the home electronic device through the home network module.

1 - 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A network module, comprising:
 one or more computing devices configured to:
 participate in a selection, by at least a portion of a plurality of network modules coupled to a network, of a master module for the network, wherein the network module and the at least the portion of the plurality of network modules are each configured to operate as the master module for the network when selected as the master module for the network; and 
 when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network:
 assign a respective identifier to each of the plurality of network modules; 
 allocate bandwidth to at least some of the plurality of network modules using a burst that comprises the respective identifiers assigned to the at least some of the plurality of network modules; and 
 manage transmissions comprising variable sized packets of the at least some of the plurality of network modules over the network. 
 
   
     
     
         72 . The network module of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
 when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network:
 register the plurality of network modules; and 
 synchronize the plurality of network modules. 
   
     
     
         73 . The network module of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
 when another network module of the plurality of network modules is selected to operate as the master module for the network:
 register with the another network module of the plurality of network modules; 
 receive an identifier from the another network module of the plurality of network modules; and 
 receive a bandwidth allocation comprising the identifier from the another network module of the plurality of network modules. 
   
     
     
         74 . The network module of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to communicate over a plurality of local area networks using a plurality of protocols. 
     
     
         75 . The network module of  claim 71 , wherein the network comprises a coaxial transmission line. 
     
     
         76 . The network module of  claim 71 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to participate in an election of the master module for the network by the at least some of the plurality of network modules coupled to the network. 
     
     
         77 . A computer program product comprising instructions stored in at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for participating, by a network module, in a selection, by at least a portion of a plurality of network modules coupled to a network, of a master module for the network, wherein the network module and the at least the portion of the plurality of network modules are each configured to operate as the master module for the network when selected as the master module for the network; and   instructions for managing transmissions comprising variable sized packets of at least some of the plurality of network modules over the network when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         78 . The computer program product of  claim 77 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions for assigning a respective identifier to the at least some of the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network; and   instructions for allocating bandwidth to the at least some of the plurality of network modules using a transmission that comprises the respective identifiers assigned to the at least some of the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         79 . The computer program product of  claim 78 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions for registering the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network; and   instructions for synchronizing the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         80 . The computer program product of  claim 77 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions for registering with another network module of the plurality of network modules when the another network module of the plurality of network modules is selected to operate as the master module for the network;   instructions for receiving an identifier from the another network module of the plurality of network modules when the another network module of the plurality of network modules is selected to operate as the master module for the network; and   instructions for receiving a bandwidth allocation comprising the identifier from the another network module of the plurality of network modules when the another network module of the plurality of network modules is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         81 . The computer program product of  claim 77 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions for communicating, by the network module, over a plurality of local area networks using a plurality of protocols.   
     
     
         82 . The computer program product of  claim 77 , wherein the network comprises a coaxial transmission line. 
     
     
         83 . The computer program product of  claim 77 , wherein the instructions for participating, by the network module, in the selection, by the at least the portion of the plurality of network modules, of the master module for the network further comprise instructions for participating, by the network module, in an election of the master module for the network by the at least the portion of the plurality of network modules coupled to the network. 
     
     
         84 . A method for operating a network module, the method comprising:
 participating in a selection, by at least a portion of a plurality of network modules coupled to a network, of a master module for the network, wherein the network module and the at least the portion of the plurality of network modules, are each configured to operate as the master module for the network when selected as the master module for the network; and   managing transmissions comprising variable sized packets of at least some of the plurality of network modules over the network when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , further comprising:
 assigning a respective identifier to the at least some of the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network; and   allocating bandwidth to the at least some of the plurality of network modules using a transmission that comprises the respective identifiers assigned to the at least some of the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , further comprising:
 registering the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network; and   synchronizing the plurality of network modules when the network module is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 84 , further comprising:
 registering with another network module of the plurality of network modules when the another network module of the plurality of network modules is selected to operate as the master module for the network;   receiving an identifier from the another network module of the plurality of network modules when the another network module of the plurality of network modules is selected to operate as the master module for the network; and   receiving a bandwidth allocation comprising the identifier from the another network module of the plurality of network modules when the another network module of the plurality of network modules is selected to operate as the master module for the network.   
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 84 , further comprising:
 communicating over a plurality of local area networks using a plurality of protocols.   
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the network comprises a coaxial transmission line. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein participating in the selection, by the at least the portion of the plurality of network modules, of the master module for the network comprises participating in an election of the master module for the network by the at least the portion of the plurality of network modules coupled to the network.