Home gateway architecture and its implementation

We propose a home network architecture, which integrates heterogeneous home network environments. Our architecture incorporates various home network technologies into the gateway technology. We use link-layer dependent protocols within a single network communication, and, in contrast, we use the gateway technology when the communication is over multiple networks. We also propose home gateway architectures, which are the key component of the residential network. The home gateway interconnects the home networks and the public (access) network. We show the requirements of the home gateway and its software design. We implemented the experimental home gateway system, which is based on the Web server enhanced with Java facilities. The home gateway interconnects the Internet on the public network side, and the home networks (IEEE 1394 AV network and the home automation power line network). It also has a real-time MPEG4 transcoding function which transcodes AV data on IEEE1394 into MPEG4 video that is suitable for transmitting through the Internet. The home gateway provides the capability of remote control of the connected appliances on the home networks from the Internet, and the AV data transmission/translation capabilities.