JP3485867B2 - Outlet with bridge function and home network - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a home network used in the home based on the IEEE 1394 standard, and an outlet with a bridge function used for the home network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when expanding a home network using IEEE 1394, a simple IEEE 139 is used.
Four repeaters can be used. However, in this case, network initialization and topology redefinition are automatically executed every time an IEEE 1394 device is inserted / removed (addition / deletion) in the network, and packet transmission / reception becomes impossible during that time. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the utilization efficiency of the bus becomes low.

[0003] In particular, when considering application to a home network, for example, during video recording, video is interrupted as much as possible due to network initialization due to removal and insertion of IEEE 1394 equipment in another room. Must be avoided.

[0004]

By the way, the IEEE1
To extend your home network using 394,
For example, it is conceivable to install an outlet having a bridge function in each room and connect an IEEE1394 device to the outlet for use. In this case, in order to prevent the reset signal at the time of plugging / unplugging (adding / removing) the IEEE 1394 equipment and to increase the number of the IEEE 1394 equipment to be connected, the outlet should be connected to all the outlets and It is necessary to manage the addresses of all the IEEE 1394 equipment used. Therefore, the processing function of the outlet becomes very heavy. As a result, the circuit scale for realizing it becomes large, and it is not economical to mount it on an outlet that requires low power consumption and miniaturization.

Therefore, in the extension of a home network using IEEE 1394, a hub that does not require low power consumption and miniaturization has a bridge function, and as shown in FIG. 6, IEEE 1394 equipment is wired in a star shape. It is thought that it can be realized by doing so. However, as shown in FIG. 6, in the star type wiring from the hub 51, IEEE
Although the bridge function can be realized for the 1394 devices 52a to 52c, the IEEE 1394 devices 52c and the IEEE
In a daisy chain connection such as the connection between the 1394 device 52d and the IEEE 1394 device 52c and the IEEE
It is impossible to separate from the 1394 device 52d by the hub 51.

In addition, when the home network is expanded, the wiring to all the rooms is star-shaped centering on the hub 51, which is very restrictive in terms of construction, and even more so in the case of an existing house. Is impossible. Also,
As described above, when the home network is expanded by the repeater, there is an inconvenience that the total number of terminal devices that can be connected to the network is limited to 63.

In view of the above points, a first object of the present invention is to reduce the function as a bridge and to add / extend IEEE 1394 equipment when expanding a home network.
An object of the present invention is to provide an outlet with a bridge function capable of preventing harmful effects due to interruption of packet transmission due to deletion and dramatically improving the degree of freedom in construction.

Further, in view of the above points, a second object of the present invention is to prevent harmful effects due to interruption of packet transmission due to addition / deletion of IEEE 1394 equipment, and to dramatically improve construction flexibility. To provide a home network that can

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems and to achieve the first object of the present invention, claims 1 to 4 are provided.
Each of the inventions described in 1. is configured as follows. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is an outlet with a bridge function, which is arranged between a network configured based on the IEEE 1394 standard and a local bus and relays data, and is connected to the inside of the network. A storage unit that stores outlet IDs that identify all outlets with a bridge function including self, and a real physical ID that identifies an IEEE 1394 device connected to the local bus to which the self belongs, and a storage unit that stores the self or self in the network. When an outlet with a bridge function other than the above is added / reduced, outlet IDs of all outlets with a bridge function connected to the network are determined according to a predetermined procedure, and the contents of the storage means are determined. First updating means for rewriting to the contents of ID When the IEEE 1394 device is added / removed to / from the local bus, the real physical IDs of the IEEE 1394 device itself and all the IEEE 1394 devices connected to the local bus are determined by a predetermined procedure, and the contents of the storage means are determined. The second to rewrite the contents of the determined outlet ID
And an updating means of.

The memory means corresponds to the memory shown in FIG. The first updating means corresponds to steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 3, and the second updating means corresponds to steps S11 to S16 in FIG. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the outlet with a bridge function according to the first aspect, the storage means stores a first register for storing the content of the outlet ID and a first register for storing the content of the real physical ID. It is characterized by comprising two registers.

In the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2 having such a configuration, only the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device connected to the local bus to which the self belongs is required to be retained, and the local non-local Since it is not necessary to hold the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device connected to the bus, the real physical ID (address) not held
Management is unnecessary. Therefore, when expanding the home network, the function as a bridge can be reduced, and the function of a bridge to an outlet that requires low power consumption and miniaturization can be implemented for the first time.

Further, in the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, for example, when the local bus is configured in each room unit, when there is addition / deletion of the IEEE 1394 equipment in the local bus of a certain room, another The local bath in the room can be unaffected. Therefore, it is possible to add / remove an IEEE 1394 device from the local bus.
In the case of deletion, the range of interruption of packet transmission can be minimized.

Next, the invention described in claim 3 is the same as claim 1
Alternatively, in the outlet with a bridge function according to claim 2, IEEE connected to a local bus to which the self belongs
When there is an inquiry of the communication destination from the E1394 device, the content of the outlet ID stored in the storage means is referred to, and the inquiry is made for the outlet ID of the outlet with the bridge function related to the communication destination.
When the IEEE 1394 device connected to the local bus to which it does not belong receives an inquiry about the communication destination, the real physical ID stored in the storage means.
Of the IEEE 1394 device related to the communication destination by referring to the contents of the
It is characterized by further comprising notifying means for notifying the four devices.

Here, the notifying means is step S2 in FIG.
3 corresponds to step S25. In the invention according to claim 3 having such a configuration, when the IEEE 1394 devices connected to different local buses communicate with each other via the network, each IEEE 1394 device has the ID of the other party's IEEE 1394 device. Data can be transmitted to the other party without knowing it.

Next, the invention according to claim 4 is the outlet with bridge function according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the outlet with bridge function is configured to be star-connectable to a hub. , Or a socket having a bridge function other than its own so that it can be connected in a daisy chain, thereby forming the network.

According to the invention of claim 4 having such a configuration, it becomes possible to deal with both star type wiring and daisy chain type wiring of an outlet, or a tree type wiring of a combination thereof, and a home network. When forming the, the degree of freedom in construction can be dramatically improved. On the other hand, in order to achieve the second object of the present invention, the respective inventions described in claims 5 and 6 are configured as follows.

That is, the invention according to claim 5 is the IE
Wall-side network based on EE1394 standard and IEEE
A home network including a plurality of local buses arranged in each room based on the E1394 standard, and a plurality of outlets with a bridge function connected to the wall-side network and the plurality of local buses, the bridge function The outlet with a bridge comprises the plurality of outlets with a bridge function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and the wall-side network communicates with the plurality of outlets with a bridge function. At least a star connection is made to a possible hub using a plastic optical fiber, and an IEEE 394 device is configured to be connectable to the plurality of local buses.

According to the invention of claim 5 having such a configuration, since the local bath is configured for each room,
When an IEEE 1394 device is added / removed on a local bus in a room, the local bus in another room is not affected. Therefore, in the case of adding / deleting the IEEE 1394 equipment, the range of interruption of packet transmission can be minimized.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the home network according to the fifth aspect, the wall-side network is a star-connected outlet having a bridge function,
It is characterized in that another outlet with a bridge function is configured to be daisy chain connected using a plastic optical fiber. In the invention according to claim 6 having such a configuration, the outlet with a bridge function can be daisy chain type wiring in addition to star type wiring, and thus can be freely adapted to the tree type wiring of the combination. As a result, the degree of freedom in construction can be dramatically improved when forming a home network.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the embodiment of the home network of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This home network is based on the IEEE 1394 standard and is installed inside a house so that electronic devices such as personal computers and video cameras equipped with the IEEE 1394 interface can communicate with each other.

For this reason, this home network is
As shown in FIG. 1, the wall side network 1 based on the IEEE 1394 standard and the IEEE 13
A plurality of local buses 2a to 2d based on the 94 standard, and a plurality of outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function for connecting the wall side network 1 and the plurality of local buses 2a to 2d
Etc.

The wall-side network 1 is a hub (concentrator).
4 and a plurality of outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function based on the IEEE 1394 standard, the outlets 3a, 3b and 3c with a bridge function are respectively connected to the hub 4 via the plastic optical fiber 5 and the outlet 3c with a bridge function. 3d outlet with bridge function
Are daisy chained by a plastic optical fiber 6. Therefore, the outlet 3c with a bridge function and the outlet 3d with a bridge function are configured to be daisy-chained by the plastic optical fiber 6.

Here, the hub 4 is connected to the outside communication line via the gateway 8 so that it can communicate with the outside. The gateway 8 converts data such as an Internet packet received through the outside-home communication line into an IEEE 1394 packet and sends it to the hub 4, and converts an IEEE 1394 packet from the hub 4 into an Internet packet and sends it. It has become.

Outlets 3a to 3d with bridge function
Has its main body installed between the walls of a house, and its indoor side is connected to the local buses 2a to 2d. The plastic optical fibers 5 and 6 are installed between the walls of the house so that they are not exposed indoors. Further, electronic devices (hereinafter referred to as IEEE 1394 devices) 7 equipped with an IEEE 1394 interface are connected to the indoor local buses 2a to 2d.

Next, a concrete configuration of the outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function which constitute the above home network will be described with reference to FIG. The outlets 3a, 3b, 3d with a bridge function have the same configuration, and the outlet 3c with a bridge function is different from the outlet 3d with a bridge function in that optical communication can be performed by the plastic optical fiber 6 and the like. The configuration is similar to that of the outlet 3a with a bridge function. Therefore, the outlet 3a with a bridge function will be described below.

The outlet 3a with a bridge function is shown in FIG.
, The optical communication unit 31, the physical layer processing unit 32,
Data link layer processing unit 33, physical layer processing unit 34, data link layer processing unit 35, and microprocessor 36
A data link layer processing unit 33 and a data link layer processing unit 35.
, The microprocessor 36 and the memory 37 are connected to the bus 3
8 is connected.

Here, the optical communication unit 31, the physical layer processing unit 3
2, and the data link layer processing unit 33 forms a wall side port, and the physical layer processing unit 34 and the data link layer processing unit 3
5 forms an indoor port. The optical communication unit 31 receives the packet data propagating through the plastic optical fiber 5 and converts it into an electric signal, or converts the packet data from the physical layer processing unit 32 into light and sends it out to the plastic optical fiber 5. It has become.

The physical layer processing unit 32 receives the packet data received by the optical communication unit 31, transfers the packet data to the data link layer processing unit 33, and receives the packet data from the data link layer processing unit 33 to perform optical communication. In addition to outputting to the unit 31, the operation described later is performed. The data link layer processing unit 33 is adapted to receive the packet data received by the optical communication unit 31 and perform processing such as checking the packet data.

The physical layer processing unit 34 is connected to the local bus 2a, receives and transmits an IEEE 1394 packet with the IEEE 1394 equipment 7 connected to the local bus 2a, and operates as described below. I am supposed to do it. Data link layer processing unit 3
5 receives the IEEE 1394 packet received by the physical layer processing unit 34, and performs processing such as checking this packet data.

The microprocessor 36 is adapted to perform a predetermined operation as described below based on a predetermined procedure as described later. The memory 37 specifies, for example, a 10-bit outlet I for identifying all the outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function connected in the wall-side network 1.
An outlet ID register 371 that stores D, and a real physical ID register 372 that stores, for example, a 6-bit real physical ID that identifies all of the IEEE 1394 devices 7 connected to its own outlet 3a and the local bus 2a to which it belongs. Is equipped with.

Therefore, the outlet 3a with a bridge function
Is specified by the outlet ID, and IEEE1394
The device 7 has two IDs, an outlet ID and an actual physical ID.
And the outlet ID is common to the outlet 3a with a bridge function and the IEEE 1394 equipment 7. The memory 37 is used for temporarily storing various data in addition to storing the above outlet ID and real physical ID.

Next, the operation of the home network having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operation of each unit when the outlet 3b with a bridge function is added / deleted in the wall-side network 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Now
When the outlet 3b with a bridge function is added to or deleted from the home network (step S1), a reset signal is generated in all the outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function connected to the wall network 1 (step S1).
2). As a result, outlets 3a to 3 with bridge function
Each of the physical layer processing units 32 on the wall side of d enters the reset sequence, and the reset signal is also transmitted to the microprocessors 36 of the outlets 3a to 3d with the bridge function (step S3).

Next, each microprocessor 36 has an outlet ID register 371 on each memory 37 and a real physical I.
Outlet ID register 37 of D registers 372
1 is initialized (step S4). Subsequently, the physical layer processing units 32 of all the outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function that have entered the reset sequence are
According to the setting procedure of the predetermined ID number (address) by No. 4, the new ID numbers of all the outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function are determined (step S5).

Next, when the new ID numbers of all the outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function are determined, the outlets 3a to 3d with a bridge function acquire all the assigned new ID numbers. The acquired ID number is written in the outlet ID register 371 (step S6). Next, on the local bus 2a in the room, IEEE
The operation of each unit when the 1394 device 7 is added / deleted will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

Now, for example, the IEEE 139 is connected to the indoor local bus 2a to which the outlet 3a with a bridge function belongs.
When four devices 7 are added / deleted (step S11), all the IEEE1s connected to the local bus 2a
A reset occurs in the physical layer processing unit 34 of the 394 device 7 and the outlet 3a with a bridge function (step S1).
2).

As a result, the local bus 2a enters the reset sequence, and in the outlet 3a with a bridge function, the fact is transmitted from the indoor physical layer processing unit 34 to the microprocessor 36 (step S13). When recognizing the reset of the local bus 2a, the microprocessor 36 initializes its own real physical ID register 372 (step S14).

The indoor side port of the outlet 3a with a bridge function that has entered the reset sequence (physical layer processing unit 34
And the data link layer processing unit 35), and the IEEE 1394 equipment 7 connected to the local bus 2a is
A new ID number is determined according to the ID number setting procedure of 394 (step S15). After that, the microprocessor 36 acquires new ID numbers assigned to all the IEEE 1394 devices 7 connected to the local bus 2a and the indoor port side of the outlet 3a with a bridge function, and the acquired ID numbers are used as real physical ID registers. 372
(Step S16).

Next, the IEEE 13 connected to the local bus 2a to which the outlet 3a with the bridge function belongs
IEEE 1394 in which the 94 device 7 is connected to the local bus 2c to which the outlet 3c with a bridge function belongs
Regarding the operation when transmitting data to the device 7, FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5. Now, the IEEE 1394 device 7 in the local bus 2a is connected to the local bus 2c.
When the communication is requested to the IEEE 1394 equipment 7 in the inside (step S21), the IEEE 1394 which requests the communication is requested.
The device 7 refers to its own real physical ID register (not shown) to check the real physical ID of the outlet 3a with the bridge function, and uses the real physical ID to connect the outlet 3a with the bridge function to the bridge function. Inquires about the outlet ID of the attached outlet 3c (step S2)
2).

Upon receipt of the inquiry, the outlet 3a with the bridge function refers to the outlet ID register 371, and the outlet I of the outlet 3c with the bridge function.
When D is acquired, IEEE139 requesting communication with it
The four devices 7 are notified (step S23). Next, the IEEE 1394 device 7 that has requested the communication uses the acquired outlet ID and uses the outlet 3c with the bridge function.
To the communication destination I connected to the local bus 2c.
It inquires about the real physical ID of the EEE1394 device 7 (step S24).

Upon receiving the inquiry, the outlet 3c with the bridge function refers to its own real physical ID register 372, and the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 equipment 7 of the communication destination.
IEEE1394 requested to communicate with
The device 7 is notified (step S25). Next, the IEEE 1394 device 7 that has received the notification uses the outlet ID of the outlet 3c with the bridge function and the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device in the local bus 2c, which have been obtained so far, to the IEEE 1394 device of the communication destination. Data is transmitted (step S26). The communication destination IEEE 1394 device receives the data (step S26).

As described above, the outlet with a bridge function according to this embodiment is the wall-side network 1
And between the local buses 2a-2d,
It has the outlet IDs of all the outlets with a bridge function including itself connected to the wall-side network 1 and the real physical IDs of the IEEE 1394 devices 7 connected to the local bus to which it belongs. Since the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 equipment 7 connected to the local bus is not held,
It becomes unnecessary to manage the real physical ID that is not held.

Therefore, the outlet with a bridge function according to this embodiment can have the function of the bridge and can lighten the function of the bridge. Therefore, by providing such a light bridging function, it is possible to add this bridging function to each outlet at a low price, and therefore to build a separable wall-side network with excellent expandability. Even when the wall-side network is expanded in a daisy chain type connection form, the expansion can be flexibly dealt with.

Further, in this embodiment, when a self or a non-self-attached outlet with a bridge function is added / deleted in the wall-side network 1, outlets of all outlets with a bridge function connected to the wall-side network are added. The ID is determined by a predetermined procedure, the register 371 is rewritten with the content of the determined outlet ID, and the IEEE 1394 equipment 7 is connected to the local bus in each room.
When the number is added / deleted, the real physical IDs of all the IEEE 1394 devices 7 connected to the local bus are determined by a predetermined procedure, and the register 372 is rewritten with the content of the determined outlet ID.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when an IEEE 1394 device is added / deleted in a local bus in a room, the local bus in another room is not affected by the addition / deletion. Therefore, when expanding a home network using IEEE 1394, the range of interruption of packet transmission can be minimized when an IEEE 1394 device is unplugged or plugged.

Further, according to this embodiment, when data is transmitted between the IEEE 1394 devices connected to different other local buses, the bridge function to which the data transmission destination IEEE 1394 is connected each time. The plug-in outlet is inquired about the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device of the data transmission destination. As described above, since the outlet with a bridge function according to the present embodiment does not hold the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device connected to another local bus, the addition / deletion of the IEEE 1394 device is performed in the other local bus. Even if the real physical IDs in other local buses are updated, it is not necessary to retain the updated real physical IDs.

In the home network according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the outlets 3a to 3c with a bridge function are star-connected to the hub 4, and the outlets 3c and 3d with a bridge function are daisy-chain connected to form a whole. It corresponds to the tree type wiring. For this reason, the degree of freedom in construction and the degree of freedom in addition can be dramatically improved when a home network is formed or when an outlet with a bridge function is added later.

[0047]

As described above, according to the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, it is sufficient to hold the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device connected to the local bus to which the self belongs, and the self Since it is not necessary to hold the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device connected to the local bus that does not belong, it is not necessary to manage the real physical ID (address) that does not belong. Therefore, when expanding the home network, the function as a bridge can be reduced,
The function of a bridge to an outlet that requires low power consumption and miniaturization became possible for the first time.

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, for example, when the local bus is configured for each room, the IEEE 139 is used for the local bus of a certain room.
When 4 devices are added / deleted, the local buses in other rooms are not affected. Therefore, IEEE1
In the case of adding / deleting 394 devices, the range of interruption of packet transmission can be minimized.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3,
When IEEE 1394 devices connected to different local buses communicate with each other via a network, each IEEE
The EE1394 device can transmit data to the other party without knowing the ID of the other party's IEEE1394 device. Further, according to the invention of claim 4, it becomes possible to freely deal with both the star type wiring and the daisy chain type wiring of the outlet with the packet function, or the tree type wiring of the combination thereof, thereby forming a home network. In doing so, the degree of freedom in construction can be dramatically improved.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5,
Since the local bus is configured for each room, when an IEEE 1394 device is added / deleted in a local bus in a room, the local bus in another room is not affected. Therefore, in the case of adding / deleting the IEEE 1394 equipment, the range of interruption of packet transmission can be minimized.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the outlet having a bridge function can be daisy chain type wiring in addition to star type wiring, and thus can be freely adapted to the tree type wiring of the combination. As a result, the degree of freedom in construction can be dramatically improved when forming a home network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a home network of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an outlet with a bridge function of the present invention included in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of each unit when an outlet with a bridge function is added / deleted in a wall-side network in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of each unit when an IEEE 1394 device is added / deleted on a local bus in a room in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of each unit when communicating between IEEE 1394 devices connected to different local buses in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Wall side network 2a-2d local bus 3a-3d Outlet with bridge function 4 hubs 5, 6 Plastic optical fiber 7 IEEE 1394 equipment 31 Optical Communications Department 32, 34 Physical layer processing unit 33, 35 data ring layer processing unit 36 microprocessors 37 memory 38 bus 371 outlet ID register 372 real physical ID register

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/28 H04L 12/44-12/46

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An outlet with a bridge function, which is arranged between a network configured according to the IEEE 1394 standard and a local bus, and relays data, and all bridges including self connected to the network. A storage unit that stores an outlet ID that identifies a functioning outlet and a real physical ID that identifies an IEEE 1394 device connected to the local bus to which the outlet belongs, and an outlet with a bridge function other than itself or in the network. Is added / reduced, the outlet IDs of all outlets with a bridge function connected to the network are determined by a predetermined procedure, and the contents of the storage means are rewritten to the determined outlet IDs. 1 update means and the local bus The above-mentioned IEEE 1394 equipment is added /
When reduced, the real physical IDs of itself and all IEEE 1394 devices connected to the local bus
And a second updating means for rewriting the content of the storage means to the content of the determined outlet ID according to a predetermined procedure, and an outlet with a bridge function. 2. The storage means comprises a first register for storing the content of the outlet ID and a second register for storing the content of the real physical ID. Outlet with bridge function. 3. When an inquiry about a communication destination is made from an IEEE 1394 device connected to a local bus to which the self device belongs, the contents of the outlet ID stored in the storage means are referred to and the outlet with a bridge function of the communication destination is referred to. IEEE asked for the outlet ID
IEEE13 that notifies the E1394 device and is connected to the local bus to which it does not belong
When there is an inquiry of the communication destination from the 94 device, the content of the real physical ID stored in the storage means is referred to, and the real physical ID of the IEEE 1394 device relating to the communication destination is obtained and notified to the inquiring IEEE 1394 device. A notification means is further provided, The claim 1 or claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.
An outlet with the bridge function described in. 4. The outlet having a bridge function is configured to be star-connectable to a hub or to be daisy-chained to an outlet having a bridge function other than its own so as to form the network. The outlet with a bridge function according to claim 1, 2, or 3. 5. A wall-side network based on the IEEE 1394 standard, a plurality of local buses arranged in each room based on the IEEE 1394 standard, and a plurality of bridge functions connected to the wall-side network and the plurality of local buses A home network including an outlet, wherein the outlet with bridge function comprises the plurality of outlets with bridge function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and the wall-side network Is at least a star connection of a plurality of outlets with a bridge function and a hub capable of communicating with the outside by using a plastic optical fiber, and the plurality of local buses are configured so that IEEE 394 devices can be connected. A home network that is characterized by 6. The wall-side network is configured such that a star-connected outlet with a bridge function can be daisy-chained to another outlet with a bridge function by using a plastic optical fiber. The home network according to item 5.