How to Send Cable Internet Signals Over Wireless Links
A system that lets cable companies extend their internet service to remote homes using wireless radio signals instead of digging new underground cables.
Original patent title: “Apparatus and method for extending DOCSIS cable modem service over wireless links”
A system that lets cable companies extend their internet service to remote homes using wireless radio signals instead of digging new underground cables. Granted to Arcowv Wireless LLC in 2009 with 21 claims and 2 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a hardware bridge that connects a traditional cable television network to a wireless transmitter. It uses an embedded controller to take standard cable internet signals (DOCSIS) and map them onto radio frequencies that can travel through the air. The system includes an antenna and specific gain control units to ensure the signal remains stable despite the challenges of wireless transmission, such as power fluctuations. Essentially, it acts as a translator, allowing a cable modem at a subscriber's house to talk to the cable company's headend via a wireless jump rather than a physical wire.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover standard wired DOCSIS cable modem operations.
- Does not cover cellular network protocols like 4G or 5G.
- Does not cover satellite-based internet delivery systems.
- Does not cover software-defined radio systems that operate outside the specified frequency ranges.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system uses an embedded controller to perform frequency mapping and power adjustment in a 'long loop' that extends all the way back to the cable headend, effectively tricking the cable network into thinking the wireless link is just another piece of wire.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Fixed wireless broadband access points
Rural cable network extensions
Wireless backhaul for cable internet
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology provides a way for cable providers to reach customers in rural or difficult-to-reach areas where laying new coaxial cable is too expensive. By using wireless as a 'last mile' extension, providers can offer high-speed internet without the massive infrastructure costs of physical trenching. It bridges the gap between fixed-line cable networks and wireless broadband delivery.
Filed
June 16, 2003
Granted
September 29, 2009
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like CommScope and various regional wireless internet service providers (WISPs) utilize similar techniques to extend broadband reach. The core concept of wireless backhaul for cable-like services remains a staple for operators looking to minimize infrastructure investment.
Market impact
This patent addressed the 'last mile' problem for cable operators, allowing them to expand their subscriber base into areas where physical cable deployment was economically unfeasible. It helped formalize the use of unlicensed wireless spectrum as a viable extension for standardized cable data protocols.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a hardware bridge that connects a traditional cable television network to a wireless transmitter. It uses an embedded controller to take standard cable internet signals (DOCSIS) and map them onto radio frequencies that can travel through the air. The system includes an antenna and specific gain control units to ensure the signal remains stable despite the challenges of wireless transmission, such as power fluctuations. Essentially, it acts as a translator, allowing a cable modem at a subscriber's house to talk to the cable company's headend via a wireless jump rather than a physical wire.
The clever bit
The system uses an embedded controller to perform frequency mapping and power adjustment in a 'long loop' that extends all the way back to the cable headend, effectively tricking the cable network into thinking the wireless link is just another piece of wire.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover standard wired DOCSIS cable modem operations.
- Does not cover cellular network protocols like 4G or 5G.
- Does not cover satellite-based internet delivery systems.
- Does not cover software-defined radio systems that operate outside the specified frequency ranges.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$8K – $26K
Midpoint $16K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nash, T. R., Bertonis, J. G., & Melzig, A. R. (2009). How to Send Cable Internet Signals Over Wireless Links (U.S. Patent No. 7,596,798). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7596798/netflix-streaming-service
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Send Cable Internet Signals Over Wireless Links cover?
A system that lets cable companies extend their internet service to remote homes using wireless radio signals instead of digging new underground cables.
Who owns patent US 7596798?
Arcowv Wireless LLC owns this patent, granted in 2009.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 29, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7596798 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology provides a way for cable providers to reach customers in rural or difficult-to-reach areas where laying new coaxial cable is too expensive. By using wireless as a 'last mile' extension, providers can offer high-speed internet without the massive infrastructure costs of physical trenching. It bridges the gap between fixed-line cable networks and wireless broadband delivery.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover standard wired DOCSIS cable modem operations.
Patent monitoring