COMBINATION BROUTER AND CLUSTER CONTROLLER

An apparatus for transmitting data from a first device to a second device is provided. The invention is suitable for use in a system having first and second communications media. The apparatus includes a network interface coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device. A clustering facility is provided for coupling the first device directly to the network interface and for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface. The network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to either the clustering facility or the second medium. The apparatus transmits the data from the network interface to the second device by way of the clustering facility, if the network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering facility. The apparatus routes the data from the network interface to the second device by way of the second medium if the network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to the second medium. In the exemplary embodiment, both media follow the Consumer Electronics Bus (CEBus) standard. For example, the first medium may be a wired coaxial cable medium, and the first device may be a video cassette recorder. The second medium may be a wireless infrared medium, and the second device may be a remote control unit.