Apparatus for providing communication services and methods thereof

• US 10,389,405 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• 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: Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dobson, Daniel G
• Application Number:
  US15/397,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20170117939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• 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 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2278 using correlation techniques, e.g. for spread spectrum signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26 Systems using multi-frequency codes H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• 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 modulating a first electrical signal to generate first modulated electromagnetic waves, and transmitting the first modulated electromagnetic waves on a waveguide located in proximity to a transmission medium. In one embodiment, the first electromagnetic waves can induce second electromagnetic waves that propagate on an outer surface of the transmission medium. The second electromagnetic waves can have a first spectral range that is divided into, contains or otherwise includes a first control channel and a first plurality of bands. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a first antenna of a distributed antenna system, a first wireless signal; and

receiving, by an apparatus via a coupler, first electromagnetic waves that propagate along the coupler, wherein the coupler is located in proximity to a transmission medium, wherein the first electromagnetic waves are generated from second electromagnetic waves propagating along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the second electromagnetic waves are generated from the first wireless signal received by the first antenna of the distributed antenna system, wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a first spectral range, and wherein the first spectral range is divided into a first control channel and a first plurality of bands.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a dielectric coupler.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first spectral range comprises a communication link for downstream communications.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by a second antenna, a second wireless signal based at least in part on the first electromagnetic waves received from the coupler.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second wireless signal is directed to a third antenna of the distributed antenna system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third antenna is coupled to a processing system that determines from the first control channel that a signal in a band of the first plurality of bands is to be frequency converted for wireless delivery to a mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the signal in the band comprises a modulated signal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the apparatus, third electromagnetic waves; and

transmitting, by the apparatus, the third electromagnetic waves via the coupler, wherein the third electromagnetic waves generate fourth electromagnetic waves that propagate at least in part along the transmission medium, and wherein the fourth electromagnetic waves have a second spectral range, and wherein the second spectral range is divided into a second control channel and a second plurality of bands.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first spectral range and the second spectral range are separated by a guard band, and wherein the third electromagnetic waves are generated from a second wireless signal received by a second antenna of the distributed antenna system.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a first portion of the first plurality of bands and a second portion of the second plurality of bands are utilized by a first service provider of communication services, and wherein a third portion of the first plurality of bands and a fourth portion of the second plurality of bands are utilized by a second service provider of communication services.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second spectral range comprises a communication link for upstream communications.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first spectral range has a first spread spectrum profile, and wherein the second spectral range has a second spread spectrum profile.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first spread spectrum profile and the second spread spectrum profile have a power level and a frequency range corresponding to unlicensed spectrum.

14. A system, comprising:

a first antenna to facilitate reception of a first wireless signal and to facilitate generation, based on the first wireless signal, first electromagnetic waves that propagate along a first transmission medium;

a first coupler coupled to the first transmission medium to facilitate reception of second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the first coupler, the second electromagnetic waves generated from the first electromagnetic waves, wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a spectral range that includes a control channel and a plurality of bands; and

a receiver that facilitates receiving the second electromagnetic waves via the first coupler, wherein the receiver further facilitates generating a signal from at least one of the plurality of bands, and sending the signal to a transmitter coupled to a second antenna to generate a second wireless signal directed to a communication device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein information included in the control channel directs the receiver to generate the signal from the at least one of the plurality of bands.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second transmitter that facilitates sending the second electromagnetic waves via a second coupler, wherein the second electromagnetic waves generate third electromagnetic waves propagating along a second transmission medium.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first transmission medium and the second transmission medium comprise a single contiguous transmission medium.

18. A system, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an electromagnetic wave that propagates along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic wave is generated by an antenna according to a wireless signal received by the antenna, and wherein the electromagnetic wave has a spectral range that includes a control channel and a plurality of bands; and

obtaining one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of bands according to information in the control channel.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the operations further include transmitting the one or more signals to one or more communication devices.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the spectral range comprises a communication link for downstream communications.