Method and apparatus for configuring a communication interface

• US 10,009,067 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Birk, Martin, Henry, Paul Shala
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Shuwang
• Assistant Examiner(s): AHN, SUNG S
• Application Number:
  US14/560,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20160164573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/085 in power transmission or distribution lines, e.g. overhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/03 Hybrid circuits for transceivers H04B1/52, H04B1/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for exchanging electrical signals and guided electromagnetic waves between customer premises equipment and service provider equipment to provide uplink and/or downlink communication services. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a network interface device (NID), electromagnetic waves guided by a non-conductive outer surface of a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium is coupled to NID, wherein the transmission medium has an electrical return path to enable a flow of electrical signals in a conductive material internal to the transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the non-conductive outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves convey first digital subscriber line (DSL) signals;

converting, by the NID, the electromagnetic waves to first electrical signals that convey the first DSL signals;

providing, by the NID, the first electrical signals that convey the first DSL signals to a first DSL device;

receiving, by the NID, second electrical signals from the first DSL device, wherein the second electrical signals convey second DSL signals; and

transmitting, by the NID, the second electrical signals into the conductive material internal to the transmission medium, wherein the second electrical signals received from the first DSL device that convey the second DSL signals are directed to a second DSL device, and wherein the electrical return path of the transmission medium enables the second electrical signals to propagate along the conductive material internal to the transmission medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a telephone cable comprising a bundle of insulated twisted pair wires surrounded by a layer of insulation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmission medium comprises the layer of insulation surrounding the bundle of insulated twisted pair wires.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate at least partially along an outer surface of the layer of insulation.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate inside the layer of insulation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a bundle of insulated twisted pair wires.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate at least partially along an outer surface of the bundle of insulated twisted pair wires.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second electrical signals propagate in at least two conductors of the bundle of insulated twisted pair wires.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first DSL device comprises a DSL modem, and wherein the method further comprises:

supplying, by the NID, the first electrical signals to the DSL modem.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the NID is coupled to the DSL modem by way of a pair of twisted wires, and wherein the NID supplies the first electrical signals to the DSL modem by way of the pair of twisted wires.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a power line.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a downlink communication path.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises an uplink communication path.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver that facilitates receiving first electrical signals via at least a pair of conductors coupled to the apparatus and that facilitates generating first digital subscriber line (DSL) signals, wherein the first DSL signals comprise first data; and

a network interface device (NID) that facilitates converting the first DSL signals to electromagnetic waves guided by a non-conductive outer surface of a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium has an electrical return path to enable a flow of electrical signals in a conductive material internal to the transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the non-conductive outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves comprise the first data supplied by the first DSL signals, wherein the NID facilitates receiving second electrical signals via the conductive material internal to the transmission medium, wherein the second electrical signals comprise second DSL signals that convey second data, wherein the electrical return path of the transmission medium enables the second electrical signals to propagate along the conductive material internal to the transmission medium, and wherein the first data and the second data are different.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmission medium comprises a telephone cable comprising a bundle of insulated twisted pair wires surrounded by an insulator, and wherein the non-conductive outer surface of the transmission medium guiding the electromagnetic waves corresponds to the insulator of the telephone cable.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmission medium comprises a coaxial cable comprising a center conductor and a ground shield separated by a first insulator, and wherein the non-conductive outer surface of the transmission medium guiding the electromagnetic waves corresponds to a second insulator surrounding the ground shield.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the NID comprises a transmitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a modem for providing data services.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second DSL signals are based upon output from a DSL modem.

26. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmission medium comprises a power line.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

an optical receiver that facilitates receiving optical signals from a fiber cable and that facilitates generating first digital subscriber line (DSL) signals from the optical signals, wherein the first DSL signals convey first data;

a transmitter that facilitates converting the first DSL signals to guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a non-conductive outer surface of a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium has an electrical return path to enable a flow of electrical signals in a conductive material internal to the transmission medium, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the non-conductive outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path, and wherein the guided electromagnetic waves convey the first data; and

an electrical receiver that facilitates receiving electrical signals via the conductive material internal to the transmission medium, wherein the electrical return path of the transmission medium enables the electrical signals to propagate along the conductive material internal to the transmission medium, and wherein the electrical signals comprise second DSL signals that convey second data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus further comprises a digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transmission medium comprises a telephone cable.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the conductive material internal to the transmission medium comprises first and second conductors of a telephone cable or first and second conductors of a coaxial cable.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transmission medium comprises a coaxial cable.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transmission medium comprises a power line.