Network coupling device and data network with network coupling device

Abstract

For the flexible linking-up of a so-called home network to further data networks, a network coupling device, with which the home network can be coupled to a local area network, is provided. The network coupling device couples the two data networks on the data link layer of the OSI reference model and is consequently transparent with respect to all the higher protocol layers. The transparent coupling to a local area network provides the home network with access to the entire infrastructure of the local area network, and to all the further data networks accessible from the latter, without any additional expenditure.