Directional Wireless Drop Systems for Broadband Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional broadband cable television networks require extensive coaxial cabling and infrastructure for connecting subscriber premises, leading to high installation and maintenance costs, as well as complexity in managing signals and noise.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of directional wireless drop systems, which include a tap unit, cable modem unit, wireless routers, and directional antennas, allowing for the transmission of signals directly from pedestals or street locations to subscriber premises without the need for in-premises coaxial cabling, using millimeter wave wireless links and beam-forming antennas to optimize signal delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coaxial cabling and infrastructure are used to connect subscriber premises, then signal transmission is achieved, but installation and maintenance costs increase and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmissionVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the coaxial cabling infrastructure from the system by replacing it with wireless communication. The directional wireless drop system transmits signals wirelessly from network nodes to subscriber premises, eliminating the need for physical coaxial drop cables while maintaining signal transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical coaxial cable system with an electromagnetic wireless communication system. Directional antennas transmit signals through the air using millimeter wave frequencies, substituting the physical mechanical connection with an electromagnetic field-based transmission medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If coaxial cabling and infrastructure are used to connect subscriber premises, then signal transmission is achieved, but installation and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmissionVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the expensive coaxial cabling installation requirement by implementing wireless communication. The directional wireless drop system eliminates the need for trenching, cable laying, and physical infrastructure installation at subscriber premises, significantly reducing installation costs while maintaining signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If coaxial drop cables are used, then signal delivery to premises is achieved, but uplink noise funneling occurs and signal quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal deliveryVSAvoiduplink noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the coaxial cable transmission medium with wireless electromagnetic transmission. This substitution eliminates the physical conduit that funneles uplink noise from subscriber premises back to the network, as wireless communication does not share the same physical pathway for upstream and downstream signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs directional antennas that focus signal transmission in specific directions toward individual subscriber premises. This directional focusing creates isolated communication paths for each subscriber, preventing noise from one premises from affecting others and eliminating the noise funneling effect inherent in shared coaxial infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If extensive coaxial cabling infrastructure is deployed, then network coverage is achieved, but equipment quantity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidcable quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the extensive coaxial cabling infrastructure by implementing wireless communication. The directional wireless drop system provides network coverage to subscriber premises without requiring physical cable deployment, thereby reducing the quantity of cable material needed while maintaining adaptability and coverage capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution significantly reduces the equipment and infrastructure required, lowers installation and maintenance costs, and enhances signal quality and security by eliminating coaxial drop cables and uplink noise funneling, while enabling efficient streaming of content to subscriber premises.

Implementation Method 1

using millimeter wave wireless links and beam-forming antennas to optimize signal delivery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBeam-forming:

Implementation Method 2

The directional antenna unit is connected to at least a first of the wireless routers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation:

Data Source

PatentUS11336483B2Directional wireless drop systems for broadband networks and related methods

Publication Date: 2022.05.17 OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

Directional wireless drop systems are provided. These systems include a tap unit that is connected to a communications line of the broadband network; a cable modem unit connected to the tap unit; a plurality of wireless routers connected to the cable modem unit; and a directional antenna unit that is connected to at least a first of the wireless routers. Each wireless router is associated with a respective one of a plurality of subscriber premises that are served by the directional wireless drop system and is configured to communicate with at least one device that is located at the respective one of plurality of subscriber premises.