Abstract: A system and/or a method for detecting interference using correlation may be used in a communication system to protect against, or to report the presence of, narrowband interference, which has deleterious effects on the performance of the wideband communication system. The interference detection system described herein may be used to determine presence of narrowband interference by calculating correlation factors for a plurality of narrowband channels disposed within the wideband communication system and comparing the correlation factors with a threshold correlation factor.

Abstract: A terminal communicates with a serving base station and at least one soft handoff (SHO) base station for soft handoff on the reverse link in a wireless communication system. In one design, the serving base station schedules the terminal for transmission on the reverse link, forms an assignment for the terminal, and generates signaling for the terminal. The assignment indicates communication parameter(s) to be used by the terminal for transmission on the reverse link. The signaling contains sufficient information to allow the SHO base station(s) to receive and process the transmission from the terminal. The serving base station sends the signaling via a backhaul to the SHO base station(s). Each SHO base station receives the signaling via the backhaul, receives the transmission from the terminal via the reverse link, and processes the transmission in accordance with the signaling to recover the data sent in the transmission.

Abstract: An intenna of a wireless terminal including at least one intenna for transmission/reception of wireless communication signals, and an intenna for reception of digital broadcast signals. Also an intenna of a wireless terminal, which includes at least one intenna for both transmission/reception of wireless communication signals and reception of digital broadcast signals, and an intenna for reception of the digital broadcast signals. Further, an intenna of a wireless terminal, which includes an intenna for both transmission/reception of wireless communication signals and reception of digital broadcast signals. Furthermore, an intenna of a wireless terminal, which includes at least one intenna for both transmission/reception of wireless communication signals and reception of digital broadcast signals, and at least one intenna for transmission/reception of the wireless communication signals.

Abstract: A method for communicating a voice call between heterogeneous microprocessor modules is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method for inter-processor communication in a mobile communication terminal equipped with first and second microprocessor modules includes the acts of: sending a first High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) message packet to the second microprocessor module; receiving the first HDLC message packet from the first microprocessor module; sending a second HDLC message packet to the first microprocessor module; and receiving the second HDLC message packet from the second microprocessor module.

Abstract: A wireless communication method and apparatus for selecting cells in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) measures a downlink path loss of a current serving cell and at least one other cell. The WTRU determines whether a path loss difference between the serving cell and the other cell is below a threshold. If the path loss difference is below the threshold, the WTRU measures a channel quality indicator (CQI) for each of the plurality of subcarrier blocks in the downlink of the current serving cell and the other cell, respectively. The WTRU reports the CQIs to a serving Node-B which selects a new cell based on the CQIs. Alternatively, a centralized access gateway (aGW) may select the new serving cell/Node-B, or the cell selection decision made by the serving Node-B may be forwarded to another Node-B via the centralized aGW.

Abstract: Techniques for improving reliability of signaling are described. A transmitter determines if improved reliability is applicable for signaling for a data frame. The transmitter sends the signaling without improved reliability if deemed not applicable and with improved reliability if deemed applicable. A receiver receives the signaling and declares the signaling as reliable or unreliable based on the received signal quality of the received frame and a threshold. The receiver recovers the signaling if deemed reliable and decodes the received frame in accordance with the recovered signaling. The receiver declares the received frame as a null frame or performs some other action if the signaling is deemed unreliable.

Abstract: A transmission rate control method for controlling, at a mobile station, a transmission rate of uplink user data, based on a dedicated absolute transmission rate of uplink user data received via a dedicated E-AGCH which is transmitted using a dedicated identifier for the mobile station or a common absolute transmission rate of uplink user data received via a common E-AGCH which is transmitted using a common identifier for mobile stations which satisfy a predetermined condition, includes: storing, at the mobile station, the common absolute transmission rate of the uplink user data received via the common E-AGCH; and deleting, at the mobile station, the stored common absolute transmission rate of the uplink user data when changing a serving cell for the mobile station.

Abstract: A transmission power control method for controlling a transmission power of an E-AGCH including an absolute transmission rate of uplink user data, which is transmitted from a cell controlled by a radio base station to a mobile station, includes: notifying, from a radio network controller to the radio base station which controls a serving cell, an offset between the transmission power of the E-AGCH and a transmission power of a DPCH, when the mobile station is performing a soft-handover with the serving cell and non-serving cells; determining, at the serving cell to which the offset is notified, the transmission power of the E-AGCH based on the notified offset; and transmitting, at the serving cell, the E-AGCH to the mobile station using the determined transmission power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback period to increase uplink capacity in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The uplink capacity is increased by reducing the uplink interference caused by CQI transmissions. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) monitors a status of downlink transmissions to the WTRU and sets the CQI feedback period based on the status of the downlink transmissions to the WTRU. A base station monitors uplink and downlink transmission needs. The base station determines the CQI feedback period of at least one WTRU based on the uplink and downlink transmission needs and sends a command to the WTRU to change the CQI feedback period of the WTRU.

Abstract: A communication system utilizes a Downlink Radio Link Control (RLC) data block conveyed to a mobile station (MS) via a first downlink time slot to inform the MS of an allocation of a second downlink time slot, which Downlink RLC data block is conveyed to the MS regardless of the allocation. By utilizing the Downlink RLC data block, the communication system informs the MS of the dynamically allocated time slot without the specialized messages of, and the additional bandwidth consumed by, the prior art. Furthermore, when the first downlink time slot comprises a bearer channel already allocated to the MS, the system then provides for in-band signaling of the MS of the newly allocated time slot.

Abstract: A dual mode (e.g. WLAN/UMTS) terminal with two network interfaces sends one interface to sleep mode following handover from one network to the other. Here sleep mode is synchronised with the end of the data stream, either by marking the stream or in response to sending a handover related SIP ACK message to the corresponding node.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communication terminal includes a wireless communication module and a controller. The wireless communication module is configured to communicate with other communication terminals over at least one direct point-to-point wireless interface. The controller is configured to establish a connection with each of a plurality of participant wireless communication terminals via the wireless communication module, to receive an image send command from a user, and to send a digital image file over the at least one direct point-to-point wireless interface to each of the plurality of participant wireless communication terminals as a group responsive to the image send command.

Abstract: Described is a method for regulating power consumption during page scanning operations in a Bluetooth enabled communication device (102) having a power source (118) and a processor (120) that is configured to communicate according to a plurality of page scanning intervals. The method include assessing trigger events (304, 306) to dynamically adjust page scanning interval output values (308) and accordingly adjusting a power consumption level in accordance with the page scanning interval output values. The variable page scanning intervals change from idle, slow and fast according to their type.

Abstract: Deterioration of communication quality in mobile communication through an IP network caused by a shortage of transfer capacity in a home agent or a capacity shortage in an access channel is prevented, in a mobile IP network. The mobile IP network includes a home agent and a mobile node of which location is registered in the home agent, the home agent includes a storage unit for storing channel capacity information; a registration unit for deciding based on bandwidth information in a registration request transmitted from the mobile node, whether or not the requested registration is acceptable by referring to the channel capacity information stored in the storage unit; and a transfer unit for transferring to a care-of address a packet destined to the mobile node which is decided registrable by the registration unit.

Abstract: To achieve end-to-end quality guarantee in regard to communication with a mobile terminal (node) in a carrier network in which Mobile IP is presupposed, in an IP network, quality guarantee is realized by performing network resource reservation in a resource reservation server receiving a resource reservation request from a node. The resource reservation server receives the resource reservation request, and decides whether the node initiating the resource reservation request is a mobile node. When the above resource reservation request is initiated from the mobile node, resource reservation is performed for the route between the mobile node and the correspondent node via a mobility management server having a home address of the mobile node.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for sending a message that recommends viewing a digital multimedia broadcast to a mobile terminal capable of receiving the digital multimedia broadcasting services.

Abstract: A beacon scheduling method in multi-hop ad-hoc communications is provided. This method can prevent overhead in a manner that a base station (BS) transmits beacon slot information to a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA)/collision avoidance (CA) node (CN) and a gateway (GW) through contention-free time division multiple access (TDMA) communications at initial clustering, the CN and the GW performs a sequential clustering to forward the beacon slot information to a cluster head (CH), the CH aggregates joining messages from nodes and assigns non-colliding beacon slots to the nodes, and the GW uses a beacon slot frame of a beacon transmission period (BTP) used by its selected CH in a beacon reply period (BRP) as well. Accordingly, the CH does not need to separately perform the initialization to elect the beacon slot, and the GW also does not require a separate initialization to select the beacon relay slot.

Abstract: A user equipment which receives a CDMA communication signal that is wirelessly transmitted includes a system for correcting phase errors in an information signal which has been transmitted. The correction system comprises circuitry for generating a correction signal and for combining the correction signal with the information signal to produce a corrected information signal. An analyzer analyzes the phase of the corrected information signal and generates an error signal based on the deviation of the analyzed phase from a reference phase. A bandwidth controller recursively adjusts the phase of the corrected information signal such that the phase of said corrected information signal is substantially equal to said reference phase. The bandwidth controller selects a bandwidth within an adjustable range based on the error signal, estimates an offset based on the error signal, and modifies the correction signal using the offset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a serving cell/Node-B in a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) system are disclosed. For intra-Node-B serving cell selection, a serving Node-B measures channel quality indicators (CQIs) of each subcarrier block in an uplink of each cell controlled by the serving Node-B and selects a new serving cell based on the CQIs. The serving Node-B reports the selected new serving cell to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). For inter-Node-B serving cell selection, each of a plurality of Node-Bs measures a CQI of each of a plurality of subcarrier blocks in an uplink transmission in each cell controlled by each Node-B and forwards the CQIs to a serving cell selection entity. The serving cell selection entity selects a new serving cell/Node-B based on the CQIs. The serving cell selection entity may be a centralized access gateway, a current serving Node-B or a WTRU.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention distinguish a first type of data packet transmitted over a random access communication channel of a wireless cellular communications system from a second type of data packet transmitted over the same random access communication channel, allowing the first and second data packet data packet types to share a common set of random access channels through the use of different types of channel coding. This reduces data packet collision probability by eliminating the need to segregate the set of random access channels according to data packet type. Backward compatibility with legacy base stations that handle only the first data packet type is maintained in that no changes to the first data packet type are needed.

Abstract: Networks, devices and methods related to wireless networking. A wireless network using nodes that perform both distribution and backhaul functions is provided. These nodes constitute the key elements of a wireless network that would be deployed and controlled by a wireless network operator. Each node contains a distribution wireless module which is wirelessly coupled to the wireless end user device using a point to multipoint scheme. Also integrated into each node is at least one backhaul wireless module with a directional wireless antenna. Each backhaul wireless module communicates by way of a point to point wireless link with the backhaul module of one other node. The nodes in the wireless network are interconnected to form a mesh backhaul network. Because of the nature of a mesh network, data traffic can be routed around obstacles that may prevent line of site links. Furthermore, the mesh network allows dynamic routing of data traffic to avoid congestion points or downed links in the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a size variable playout buffer (120) adapted for temporarily storing data packets comprising bursty audio data received over a communications system (1) at user equipment (100). The temporary storage and size variability compensates for changes in bit-rate or any transmission delay over the communications system (1). According to the invention, the size of the playout buffer (120) is adapted based on the audio burst length. Typically, the buffer size is controlled based on length values of multiple audio bursts, e.g. an average of multiple audio burst lengths, including a weighted average length. The number (M) of audio burst lengths to be employed in the averaging is preferably dynamically determined based on an audio burst length (average) value.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (for example, a cellular telephone) has one air interface for wireless communication with wireless LAN and another air interface for cellular telephone communication with a cellular telephone network. Initially, the communication device is used to transmit VoIP packets of a media stream to a target communication device in a first session across one of the air interfaces. It is then desired to use the other air interface. A spawn SIP message is communicated to the target, which returns a spawn identifier. The communication device sets up a second session by sending a SIP INVITE containing the spawn identifier to the target across the other air interface. Both sessions are active VoIP sessions. The target uses the spawn identifier to associate the first and second sessions. The flow of VoIP packets for the media stream is then switched from the first session to the second session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering a media activity are disclosed. The provision (101) of a dynamic media activity to a recipient user is enhanced by the dynamic acquisition (102) of information regarding an ambient condition of the user's environment and the use (104) of the information to dynamically alter the media activity in a manner that correlates with the information. An apparatus (200) embodying the method comprises a dynamic media activity engine (201) operably linked to a memory (202) having information regarding at least one ambient condition of the user and to a user interface (205). Information regarding ambient conditions may be obtained by an ambient condition detector (203) linked to the memory (202) or by means of a wireless interface (204).

Abstract: A connection is established in a communications network responsive to receiving a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal at a port having an assigned sequence associated therewith. A dialed sequence corresponding to the received DTMF signal is identified. If the dialed sequence is associated with a request for a specified service, first and second fields of a packet-switched signaling protocol message are populated with the assigned sequence associated with the port. The populated packet-switched signaling protocol message is transmitted over a packet-switched network to request the specified service, and a connection is established to provide the specified service through the port. Related systems and devices are also discussed.

Abstract: A method of providing caller identification information to a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone device is disclosed and includes receiving an incoming telephone call. The method also includes determining a destination VoIP telephone device associated with the incoming call. Further, the method includes populating a caller identification portal with a plurality of identification characteristics from a caller profile and presenting the caller identification portal to a display of the destination VoIP telephone device. The caller identification portal can include a first mode in which a partial caller identification portal is presented and a second mode in which a full caller identification portal is presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calling multimedia IP units about an impending emergency situation. A multimedia IP communication network or government authority forecasts the path of an impending emergency situation to create an impending impact area. The VoIP communication network determines the multimedia IP units that are located within the impending impact area. The multimedia IP communication network calls the multimedia IP units that are located within the impending impact area about the impending emergency situation, providing multi-media instructions to the users of the multimedia IP units.

Abstract: A method for detecting a status regarding provision or otherwise of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) service to a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) apparatus includes the steps of: providing a dummy load circuit and an off-hook detection circuit; entering a PSTN mode; coupling the dummy load circuit to a PSTN to simulate an off-hook status of a telephone set; detecting whether there is a dial tone from the PSTN by the off-hook detection circuit; and determining whether the PSTN service is provided to the VoIP apparatus according to a detection or otherwise of a dial tone from the PSTN. A VoIP apparatus employing the method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to telecommunication systems and more specifically, to a method of and system for managing and routing calls and/or data between various devices. The invention includes a method of routing real-time communications including the steps of: obtaining rule preferences from a user, and responding to the receipt of a communication by determining the current contextual state of the user. The method then determines how to route the communication with respect to the current contextual state of the User and the User's rules, and routes the communication in accordance with that determination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for providing a call set-up triggered push content to at least one receiving party via a first telecommunication network. The method includes performing a call control function in response to a call set-up from a calling party to a called party. The call control function operates on at least one call parameter. The method further includes applying application logic based upon the at least one call parameter for determining the at least one receiving party and the corresponding push content details of the at least one receiving party, and delivering the push content specified by the push content details to the at least one receiving party. The method further addresses inter-working between operators when the calling and called parties are subscribers of different operators.

Abstract: An information processing device is configured to set up a port as one of an output destination and an input destination corresponding to a peripheral device. The information processing device is configured to acquire identification information on the port from the peripheral device, and to determine whether identification information on the port is already set up in the peripheral device. The information processing device is configured to, when the determining unit determines that identification information on the port is not yet set up in the peripheral device, set up, in the peripheral device, identification information on the port corresponding to the peripheral device and setup, in the information processing device, the identification information on the port as a name of the port.

Abstract: A local area network that includes multiplexing means for establishing out-of-band channels along with corresponding Ethernet channels over shared network cabling; the out-of-band channels are configured dedicatedly for operating an IP telephony system including IP phones; a power sourcing equipment (PSE) may be further provided for remotely supplying power to the IP phones over shared network cabling; and means for access control and device location tracking may be further implemented for the IP telephony system.

Abstract: A system for of converting circuit switches to packet switches, and associated methods. The system includes a terminal block having disconnect blocks and switching blocks. A half-tap is provided to connect the terminal block with an existing main distribution frame in a manner that enables cut over or conversion from the existing main distribution frame to the terminal block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a method for precedence-based Quality of Service (QoS) to become a customer configurable parameter on network interfacing premise equipment, such as a Terminal Adapter (TA), a customer gateway or a customer router is disclosed. The invention enables customers to dynamically adjust the QoS level of voice traffic handling by premise based access equipment from an access perspective as a function of their specific requirements, e.g., on either a call by call basis, a time of day basis, or a day of the week basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating queries across different media types so that the response time performance of a customer care agent, such as time to respond and/or time to repair can be uniformly measured are disclosed. The present method can provide configurable time to respond and time to repair targets on a per media type basis or on a per queue basis across all different media types. Individual media type and/or queue thresholds can be set and alarms and notifications can be triggered when customer care agents exceed these thresholds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider, in concert with IP technology and protocols, to provide the ability to offer a simple pre-answer or post-answer call redirection, such as call transfer, to customers with IP endpoints is disclosed. The present invention allows call transfers to be initiated from an IP endpoint but processed in the packet network, e.g., the VoIP network instead of being processed by the endpoint. When a redirecting party (RP) receives a call from a calling party (CP), the RP simply sends a VoIP signaling message to the network to initiate a call transfer to redirect the call from the CP to a TP instead and the network will complete the call transfer on behalf of the RP.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with provisioning an internet protocol (IP) multimedia core network subsystem (IMS) are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes logic for provisioning an IMS application server (AS) database with AS data and logic for provisioning an IMS user database with user data. The exemplary system embodiment may also include logic for provisioning an IMS initial filter criteria (IFC) database with data that relates a user to an AS based, at least in part, on an AS class of service (COS) identifier.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing the Hunt group function without the necessity of using any proxy functionalities. The Hunt group function can be independent of the signaling protocol being used by VoIP terminals. Consequently, there is no need of any special or proprietary signaling protocol to be implemented. Instead of registering all members or all VoIP nodes belonging to a Hunt group to a registration entity, only one pre-configured VoIP node belonging to the particular Hunt group needs to be registered. Likewise, instead of all members or VoIP nodes in the Hunt group registering with a registration entity and having a Hunt group number in addition to their usual peer-to-peer numbers, only one pre-configured VoIP node in the Hunt group would perform the registration and be registered with the Hunt group number. All incoming calls to the Hunt group will be directed by the gateway to the pre-configured VoIP node first.

Abstract: A voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone server is disclosed and includes a computer readable medium that is accessible to a processor. A centralized address book is embedded within the computer readable medium. Further, a computer program is embedded within the computer readable medium and the computer program utilizes the centralized address book to selectively restrict incoming telephone calls and outgoing telephone calls. The centralized address book can include a plurality of address books and each of the plurality of address books is associated with a corresponding VoIP telephone coupled to the VoIP telephone server. The computer program can include instructions to determine whether an address book only calling lock is on for the VoIP telephone. Moreover, the computer program can include instructions to determine whether an originating telephone number associated with an incoming telephone is stored within the centralized address book.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein which are operable to manage Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

Abstract: A virtual private branch exchange is formed by a plurality of interconnected feature server modules, each having an integral feature server that is configured and operates independently of the other feature server modules. Within a virtual private branch exchange, the feature server modules may be logically arranged in a hierarchy having at least a main feature server module and one or more subordinate feature server modules. A particular feature server module may operate in multiple virtual private branch exchanges, and may have a distinct set of rules for handling calls originating in different virtual private branch exchanges.

Abstract: In some embodiments a switching device is disclosed that includes one or more ingress queues to queue data received from external sources while waiting to forward the data to one or more egress queues. The egress queues queue the data while waiting to transmit the data to external sources. The switching device also includes a switch fabric to provide connectivity between the one or more ingress queues and the one or more egress queues. The switching device further includes an ingress flow-control manager to monitor flow-control state of the one or more ingress queues, and to detect and recover from loss of ON flow-control messages. Other embodiments are otherwise disclosed herein.

Abstract: A blade server is disclosed, comprised of multiple server blades that plug into a midplane from the front, and an I/O router including multiple IOCs (one for each server blade) and an embedded switch that plugs into the midplane from the back. The midplane carries PCI Express lanes for connecting the server blades to the I/O router. Each of the IOCs is physically couplable to a server blade over a separate PCI Express connection in the midplane, preserving existing driver compatibility, and is coupled to the embedded switch via an internal FC link within the I/O router. Each embedded switch may contain full fabric services ports. Alternatively, the full fabric services may be left out, and N_PORT virtualization or FC_AL stealth mode may be employed to allow the embedded switch to interoperate transparently with the external fabric switch and eliminate the third hop in the blade server chassis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expandable structure for peripheral storage devices. The expandable structure includes an interface controller having a plurality of connecting ports for serial data transmission; and a Port Multiplier electrically connected to one of the connecting ports of the interface controller for serial data transmission, and the Port Multiplier having a plurality of expanded connecting ports, wherein each of the expanded connecting ports is capable of connecting to a peripheral storage device with a parallel data transmission mode or a peripheral storage device with a serial data transmission mode.

Abstract: A wireless computer system (30) is formed to have a host section (31) and a wireless hardware section (40). A first portion of a transmission frame is formed in system memory (36) of a host section (31) and a second portion of the transmission frame is formed in the wireless hardware section (40). The wireless hardware section (40) begins transmitting the first transmission frame portion while downloading the second transmission frame portion from the system memory (36) into the wireless hardware section (40).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for preserving sequencing of signaling messages at a routing node are disclosed. First and second signaling messages are received at a routing node of a communications network. The first signaling message is received prior to the second signaling message. Next, it is determined whether processing is required for the first signaling message. In response to determining that processing is required for the first signaling message, first and second sequence identifiers are assigned to the first and second signaling messages, respectively, the first and second sequence identifiers indicating a relative sequence four routing the first and second signaling messages. Next, the first and second signaling messages are routed to the communications network based on the relative sequence indicated by first and second sequence identifiers.

Abstract: An Ethernet switch for use in an Ethernet network comprises a set of ingress ports for receiving data frames and a set of egress ports. A memory is associated with each ingress port and stores forwarding information indicating one or more of the egress ports to which data frames received by that ingress port should be forwarded. A control or management interface receives information about a network connection established, or to be established, through the switch. A switch controller causes forwarding information to be stored in a memory associated with a first ingress port which the network connection will use, on the basis of the received information about a network connection. Forwarding information is not stored in a memory associated with a second of the set of ingress ports which the network connection will not use.

Abstract: A multi-grained high-performance rotorswitch scaling to high capacities is disclosed. In one embodiment, the rotorswitch comprises common-memory switch modules each of which cyclically accessing each other switch module for an access interval of a predefined value and transmitting, during the access interval, a number of data segments collectively having a duration not exceeding the access interval. The data segments transmitted to a given switch module during an access interval may be destined to several other switch modules. The switch modules may cyclically connect to each other using a plurality of rotators of the same rotational speed. In another embodiment, the rotorswitch uses rotators of different speeds connecting common-memory switch modules so that each of the switch modules has parallel cyclic access, possibly at different cyclic rates, to each other switch module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for real-time audio-visual quality monitoring in a network. In one implementation, a system displays an IPTV network in a user interface as a tree consisting of the nodes and the links between nodes of the IPTV network. When a user selects one or more test points, such as one of the links, the system displays a real-time rendering of the audio-visual stream flowing at the link or at each of the endpoints of the link so that the user can make a visual assessment or comparison of the audio-visual quality of the rendered audio-visual content.

Abstract: An access device and method for preventing transmission of copyrighted contents to an external network and a method for the same. The access device includes a packet-header analyzer analyzing a header of a packet received from a home network device, a copyrighted-content sensor detecting whether the packet includes copyrighted content as a result of the analysis, an address converter for converting a packet source IP address into an IP address supported by the external network if a packet destination address is an external network address as a result of the analysis, a mapping-table generator generating a mapping table for managing a mapping a relationship between the packet source IP address and the converted IP address, and a packet transmitter transmitting the packet to the IP address supported by the external network and discarding the packet to block transmission of the copyrighted content to the external network if the copyrighted-content sensor detects that the packet includes the copyrighted content.