US 12,267,184 B1
Enabling inter-node communication using local communication networks
Jennifer Andreoli-Fang, Louisville, CO (US); Bernardo Huberman, Louisville, CO (US); and Mario Di Dio, Louisville, CO (US)
Assigned to Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., Louisville, CO (US)
Filed by Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., Louisville, CO (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/354,711.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/184,873, filed on May 6, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/042,094, filed on Jun. 22, 2020.
Int. Cl. H04L 12/46 (2006.01); H04L 12/28 (2006.01)
CPC H04L 12/46 (2013.01) [H04L 12/2801 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of enabling inter-node communication between a plurality of modems within a local communication network (LCN) including a shared communication medium in operable communication with (a) a modem termination system (MTS) remote from the LCN, and (b) each modem of the plurality of modems, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a first modem of a plurality of modems within the LCN, a first data packet from a first UE within the LCN for transmission to a second UE within the LCN;
identifying the first data packet as including local data to the LCN;
transmitting the first data packet and transmission timing instructions from the first modem directly over an inter-modem interface separate from the shared communication medium, without first passing through the MTS, to a second modem of the plurality of modems over an inter-modem interface separate from the shared communication medium that does not pass through the MTS, using a bandwidth allocated for local data transmissions; and
simultaneously transmitting the first data packet to the second UE directly from the first modem and directly from the second modem over the segment of the shared communication medium without first passing through the MTS,
wherein the first data packet is transmitted according to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol.