Apparatus of communication utilizing wireless network devices

• US 10,298,293 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2017
• 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: Gerszberg, Irwin, Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M., Barzegar, Farhad, Henry, Paul Shala, Kafka, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US15/456,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20180261925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/00 Current supply arrangements for telephone systems for selecting-equipment H04Q1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example a housing defining an open volume therein where the housing includes a connection structure for connecting with a utility structure, a first wireless device contained in the housing where the first wireless device is coupled with a first antenna extending outside of the housing, and a second wireless device contained in the housing where the second wireless device is coupled with a second antenna extending outside of the housing. The first and second wireless devices can be coupled to each other. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a housing defining an open volume therein, wherein the housing includes a connection structure for connecting with a utility structure;

a micro base station contained in the housing, the micro base station being coupled with a first antenna extending outside of the housing; and

a wireless device contained in the housing, the wireless device being coupled with a second antenna extending outside of the housing,

wherein the wireless device and the micro base station are coupled to each other,

wherein first wireless signals representative of communications are received by the wireless device from another wireless device of another communication device connected with another utility structure along a backhaul communication path,

wherein information representative of the communications are provided from the wireless device to the micro base station, and

wherein second wireless signals, representative of the communications and based on the information, are transmitted from the micro base station to an end user device located in a coverage area of the micro base station.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a cylindrical shape.

3. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a transformer contained in the housing, wherein the transformer is coupled with a power line supported by the utility structure, and wherein the transformer provides power to the wireless device and the micro base station.

4. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising an Ethernet switch contained in the housing, wherein the wireless device and the micro base station are coupled to each other by the Ethernet switch.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna comprises an omnidirectional antenna, wherein the second antenna comprises a dielectric antenna, and wherein the dielectric antenna facilitates receiving the first wireless signals and converting the first wireless signals to electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium coupled to a receiver circuit that converts the electromagnetic waves to an electrical signal.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless signals include a pilot signal for correcting signal distortion.

7. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a cooling system including a fan, wherein the housing comprises a vent.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises first and second wireless devices that operate utilizing an E band channel, and wherein the second wireless signals are based on Long Term Evolution protocol.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the housing has an exterior shape substantially similar to exterior shapes utilized for conventional transformers.

10. A communication device comprising:

a housing having a cylindrical shape and defining an open volume therein, wherein the housing includes a connection structure for connecting with a utility structure;

a micro base station contained in the housing, the micro base station being coupled with a first antenna extending outside of the housing;

a wireless device contained in the housing, the wireless device being coupled with a second antenna extending outside of the housing, the second antenna being a dielectric antenna; and

an Ethernet switch contained in the housing, wherein the wireless device and the micro base station are coupled to the Ethernet switch,

wherein first wireless signals representative of communications are received by the wireless device,

wherein information representative of the communications are provided from the wireless device to the micro base station, and

wherein second wireless signals, representative of the communications and based on the information, are transmitted from the micro base station to an end user device located in a coverage area of the micro base station.

11. The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a transformer contained in the housing, wherein the transformer is coupled with a power line supported by the utility structure, and wherein the transformer provides power to the wireless device and the micro base station.

12. The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a cooling system including a fan, wherein the housing comprises a vent.

13. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device comprises first and second wireless devices that operate utilizing an E band channel.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the second antenna comprises a pair of dielectric antennas that are each coupled with one of the first or second wireless devices.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the pair of dielectric antennas is diametrically opposed along the housing.

16. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the second wireless signals are based on Long Term Evolution protocol.

17. A communication device comprising:

a housing having a cylindrical shape and defining an open volume therein, wherein the housing includes a connection structure for connecting with a utility structure;

a first wireless device contained in the housing, the first wireless device being coupled with a first antenna extending outside of the housing; and

a second wireless device contained in the housing, the second wireless device being coupled with a second antenna extending outside of the housing,

wherein the first and second wireless devices are coupled to each other,

wherein first wireless signals representative of communications are received by the first wireless device on an E band channel,

wherein information representative of the communications are provided from the first wireless device to the second wireless device, and

wherein second wireless signals, representative of the communications and based on the information, are transmitted from the second wireless device to an end user device located in a coverage area of the second wireless device utilizing Long Term Evolution protocol.

18. The communication device of claim 17, further comprising a transformer contained in the housing, wherein the transformer is coupled with a power line supported by the utility structure, and wherein the transformer provides power to the first and second wireless devices.

19. The communication device of claim 17, further comprising a waveguide device that transmits or receives signals by electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of a power line supported by the utility structure, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the power line, and wherein the waveguide device is coupled with at least one of the first or second wireless devices.

20. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the first antenna comprises a dielectric antenna, and wherein the second antenna comprises an omnidirectional antenna.