Abstract: In a multi-unit building, a DHCP service receives a DHCP request from a user attempting to connect to the internet. A database associates a user's MAC address with an ISP identifier, and uses same to assign an available IP address from a pool of IP addresses that correspond to the ISP identifier. Databases that associate MAC addresses with ISPs, and a pool of IP addresses with each of the multiple ISPs, may reside on a DHCP server locally at the multi-unit building, or remote from the building at an ISP's local DHCP server. Thus, even if the building only has a single distribution network for providing broadband access, users at the building can choose access to the internet from among multiple ISPs having a contract with the building's management, rather than being stuck using only a single ISP that has a contract with the building's management.

Abstract: A distributed processing system including one or more modems connected to a server through a network, such as a cable network or other similar network for transporting data and/or voice. The processing applied to information to be transported to a public network, such as the Internet, is performed by the server rather than the modem. Voice services are provided to telephone equipment connected to a modem by digitizing the voice signals and forwarding the signals as packets to the server. The application of a network stack to the voice packets is performed by the server prior to sending the packets over the public network. Likewise, voice packets received from the public network include network stack formatting. The server removes this formatting prior to sending the voice packets to the modem. This significantly reduces the complexity and cost of the modems.