Harmonic secures virtualised cable access patent

Technology outfit Harmonic has secured what it describes as a key patent for its CableOS virtualised cable access technology.

Harmonic has been awarded Patent Number 10,020,962 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the Virtual Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) Core.

The patent describes virtualisation of the traditionally hardware-based CCAP technology that is key to modern cable broadband networks.

Patrick Harshman

With Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) having a significant impact on the telecommunications industry, Harmonic says that its patented CableOS technology brings NFV to the cable access space, providing operators with a software-based CCAP and end-to-end remote PHY system that supports centralised and distributed architectures.

Harmonic says that CableOS is now beginning to be rolled out in volume by a number of leading cable operators.

“The future of cable access technology is virtualised software, and the award of this foundational patent highlights Harmonic’s ground-breaking innovation and increasingly strong market position,” said Patrick Harshman, president and chief executive officer of Harmonic. “Our CableOS solution is rapidly gaining momentum in the market, reflecting that leading cable operators are becoming convinced of the advantages offered by virtualisation. This patent and our 94 pending patent applications, a number of which relate to our CableOS technologies, make a clear statement of our ability to solve the real-world challenges for our customers: an initiative we are proud to lead.”