Method and system for providing virtual gateway services

摘要

A broadband gateway configured to operate as a virtual broadband gateway may comprise a network portion and a local portion. The network portion is communicatively coupled to the local portion via a plurality of physical layer connections to one or more network access service providers. The virtual broadband gateway may acquire content from one or more providers, process the content for delivery to one or more local devices, and deliver the content to the one or more local devices. The remote portion may be implemented in one or more network devices. The network devices may be owned and/or operated by one or more content providers, one or more network access service providers, and/or one or more independent entities. Gateway functions performed by the network portion may comprise, for example, content downloading, content streaming, content authentication, data format conversion, service negotiation, service selection, data encryption, data decryption and/or data storage.

主权项

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
in a broadband gateway configured to operate as a virtual broadband gateway, the virtual broadband gateway comprising a remote network portion external to a housing of the broadband gateway and a local network portion integrated within a housing of the broadband gateway, the remote network portion being communicatively coupled to the local network portion via physical layer connections to one or more network access service providers:
configuring the remote network portion instead of the local network portion to perform a first function with respect to handling content from one or more providers, responsive to a determination of at least one of energy consumption or device capabilities between the remote network portion and the local network portion;configuring the local network portion instead of the remote network portion to perform a second function with respect to handling the content, responsive to the determination;acquiring, by the remote network portion, the content from the one or more providers;processing, by the remote network portion, the acquired content for delivery to one or more local devices handled by the virtual broadband gateway, the processing including performing the first function, wherein the one or more local devices interface with the local network portion of the broadband gateway; anddelivering, by the local network portion, the processed content to the one or more local devices after performing the second function.