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.

What it 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.

What it doesn't 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.

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.

Why it matters

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.

Real-world examples

• 1.Fixed wireless broadband access points
• 2.Rural cable network extensions
• 3.Wireless backhaul for cable internet