# Device for Receiving and Processing TV Signals from Cables and Wireless Sources > This patent describes a device that combines signals from a cable TV line and a wireless source, processes them to create copy-protected video and audio, and sends them to a TV or other device. - **Patent:** US 8887212 - **Original title:** Extended connectivity point-of-deployment apparatus and concomitant method thereof - **Owner:** Individual - **Granted:** 2014 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 170 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, telecommunications, software ## What it does This patent details a 'Point-of-Deployment' (POD) module apparatus designed to bring content to your screen. It has a housing with a connector for a coaxial cable, which brings in a cable signal. It also has a port that can receive wireless signals from various sources like a local computer network, the internet, or even a remote control signal. Inside, a module unit takes the cable signal and the wireless signal. It processes these to create copy-protected video and audio signals. Finally, a connector on the housing sends these processed signals to a third device, like a TV, which then displays the image and plays the sound. For example, it could receive a standard cable TV feed and a wireless signal for interactive features, then combine them for a richer viewing experience. ## What it does NOT cover - Devices that only receive signals from a coaxial cable and do not incorporate any wireless signal reception. - Systems that do not generate copy-protected video or audio signals. - Apparatuses that do not have a physical connector designed to be mechanically separable from a host device's connector. - Modules that do not process both a cable signal and a wireless signal to produce output. - Devices that solely function as a wireless router or access point without cable signal integration. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in the module's ability to act as a central hub, unifying disparate signal types (coaxial cable and various wireless networks) into a single, processed output stream for a display device, while also incorporating copy protection mechanisms. ## Real-world examples 1. Set-top boxes for cable TV providers 2. Digital video recorders (DVRs) 3. Smart TV media processing units ## Why it matters This patent is significant as it describes an early integrated approach to content delivery, combining traditional cable TV signals with emerging wireless data streams. It addresses the need for flexible content reception and processing in a home entertainment environment, paving the way for more sophisticated set-top boxes and media devices. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Device for Receiving and Processing TV Signals from Cables and Wireless Sources cover? This patent describes a device that combines signals from a cable TV line and a wireless source, processes them to create copy-protected video and audio, and sends them to a TV or other device. ### Who owns patent US 8887212? Individual owns this patent, granted in 2014. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on November 11, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 8887212 cited by? This patent has been cited by 170 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent is significant as it describes an early integrated approach to content delivery, combining traditional cable TV signals with emerging wireless data streams. It addresses the need for flexible content reception and processing in a home entertainment environment, paving the way for more sophisticated set-top boxes and media devices. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Devices that only receive signals from a coaxial cable and do not incorporate any wireless signal reception. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8887212/netflix-content-delivery-network-open-connect **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8887212 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Local Server Decides to Save or Degrade Digital Content](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9934408/windows-information-protection) — A system that checks if incoming digital files are authentic, fake, or unknown, and then either saves them, rejects them, or lowers their quality accordingly. - [How Cable Networks Manage Virtual Ownership of Digital Movies](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9021535/netflix-user-profiles) — A system for cable providers to let users 'own' digital movies on a server instead of buying physical discs, allowing the provider to update that content remotely. - [How Cable Boxes Download Software Updates Remotely](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5440632/reprogrammable-subscriber-terminal) — A method for cable television boxes to automatically download and install new software updates sent over the air from the cable provider's main office. - [How Home Gateways Manage Video Streaming Traffic to Prevent Buffering](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9479807/netflix-interactive-content-bandersnatch) — A system where home internet gateways report device buffer status to a central server to intelligently manage bandwidth for multiple video streams. - [How to Browse TV Shows Using 3D Virtual Objects](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8176439/windows-8-live-tiles) — A method for organizing television content by mapping category labels onto 3D surfaces that transform into video players when selected.