Dual Broadband Modem Traffic Splitting Across Cable and Cellular
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadband access technologies, such as fiber and DSL, have limitations in deployment and speed, with fiber being costly and DSL providing insufficient bandwidth, limiting widespread high-speed internet availability.
Innovation Solution
A broadband modem with dual wireline (cable) and wireless (cellular) connections, utilizing a Traffic Integrate & Split Unit (TISU) to split and schedule data transmission over both networks based on latency, bandwidth, and buffering, ensuring seamless and high-speed internet access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fiber service is deployed to provide high-speed internet, then transmission speed is improved, but deployment cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the single broadband connection into multiple parallel connections (cable modem and cellular modem). Each connection handles a portion of the data traffic, allowing the system to achieve high-speed performance similar to fiber without requiring fiber infrastructure deployment in the area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple different connection technologies (cable and cellular) into a unified broadband access system. The Traffic Integrate & Split Unit merges the data streams from both modems, creating a composite high-speed connection that replicates fiber performance using existing infrastructure.
2Ease of manufacture
If DSL service is used to provide internet access in developed communities, then ease of deployment is improved, but transmission speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the data transmission load across multiple connection types. While DSL provides easy deployment, the patent supplements it with cable and cellular connections that provide higher speed, with each connection type handling specific portions of the traffic based on performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadband access system uses a composite approach by integrating multiple connection technologies (cable, cellular, and potentially DSL) into a single unified system. The Traffic Integrate & Split Unit combines these different 'materials' (connection types) to create a composite connection that achieves both ease of deployment and high transmission speed.
3Device complexity
If a single connection type is used for broadband access, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent connection paths (cable modem connection and cellular modem connection) into a single unified broadband access system. This redundancy ensures that if one connection fails, the other can take over, significantly improving reliability while the Traffic Integrate & Split Unit manages the complexity transparently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different qualities to different connection types based on their characteristics. The cable connection may handle high-bandwidth applications while the cellular connection handles lower-bandwidth or backup traffic. Each connection is optimized for its specific role, improving overall system reliability while managing complexity through specialized handling.
4Speed
If cable modem alone is used for broadband access, then transmission speed is improved, but adaptability to different areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The broadband modem system is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both cable modem and cellular modem capabilities in a single device. This universal design allows the system to adapt to different geographic areas and infrastructure availabilities, maintaining high-speed performance regardless of whether cable, cellular, or both connections are available.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation based on available connections and environmental conditions. The Traffic Integrate & Split Unit can dynamically allocate traffic between cable and cellular modems based on signal quality, availability, and performance requirements, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions in different areas while maintaining optimal speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a broadband modem that includes a wireless modem and a wireline modem. A traffic integrate and split unit (TISU) within the broadband modem may split uplink data between the wireless and wireline connection based on a scheduling criteria. The TISU may also integrate or combine downlink data received by the wireless and wireline modems. Other embodiments are disclosed.