Modulated signals in spectral segments for managing utilization of wireless resources

• US 10,512,092 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2019
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Fang, Pakee
• Application Number:
  US16/248,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20190150136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0041 Frequency-non-contiguous
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that converts a modulated signal in a spectral segment to the modulated signal at a carrier frequency without modifying a signaling protocol, wherein the carrier frequency is outside of the spectral segment. A guided electromagnetic wave is generated that propagates along a physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path and includes a reference signal in addition to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency. A wireless signal is transmitted by antenna coupled to the physical transmission medium, wherein the signal is directed to a network element of a distributed antenna system, including the reference signal and modulated signal. The reference signal enables the network element to reduce distortion when reconverting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the spectral segment for wireless distribution to a mobile communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

converting, by a processing system including a processor, a modulated signal in a spectral segment to the modulated signal at a carrier frequency without modifying a signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the carrier frequency is outside of the spectral segment; and

generating, by a transmitter of the processing system, a guided electromagnetic wave that propagates along a physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave includes a reference signal in addition to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, wherein an antenna coupled to the physical transmission medium generates, according to the guided electromagnetic wave, a wireless signal directed to a network element of a distributed antenna system, wherein the wireless signal includes the reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, and wherein the reference signal enables the network element to reduce a distortion when reconverting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the spectral segment for wireless distribution of the modulated signal in the spectral segment to a mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modulated signal in the spectral segment is generated by a base station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting comprises up-converting the modulated signal in the spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reconverting by the network element comprises down-converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the spectral segment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting comprises down-converting the modulated signal in the spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reconverting by the network element comprises up-converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the spectral segment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling protocol comprises a cellular communications protocol.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cellular communications protocol comprises a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocol or 5G wireless protocol.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the network element from a plurality of network elements in the distributed antenna system according to a communication range of the mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the network element from a plurality of network elements in the distributed antenna system according to a rate of travel of the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a dielectric antenna.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave operates in a millimeter-wave frequency band.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal operates in a millimeter-wave frequency band.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave operates below a millimeter-wave frequency band.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal operates below a millimeter-wave frequency band.

16. A device, 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;

converting a modulated signal in a spectral segment to the modulated signal at a carrier frequency without modifying a signaling protocol of the modulated signal; and

generating, by a transmitter, a guided electromagnetic wave that propagates along a physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave includes a reference signal in addition to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, wherein an antenna coupled to the physical transmission medium generates, according to the guided electromagnetic wave, a wireless signal directed to a network element of a distributed antenna system, wherein the wireless signal includes the reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, and wherein the reference signal enables the network element to reduce a distortion when reconverting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the spectral segment for wireless distribution of the modulated signal in the spectral segment to a mobile communication device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the modulated signal in the spectral segment is generated by a base station.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the signaling protocol comprises a cellular communications protocol.

19. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, perform operations, the operations comprising:

converting a modulated signal in a spectral segment to the modulated signal at a carrier frequency without modifying a signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the carrier frequency is outside of the spectral segment;

selecting a network element from a plurality of network elements in a distributed antenna system for distribution of the modulated signal in the spectral segment to a mobile communication device; and

generating, by a transmitter, a guided electromagnetic wave that propagates along a physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave includes a reference signal in addition to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, wherein an antenna coupled to the physical transmission medium generates, according to the guided electromagnetic wave, a wireless signal directed to the network element of the distributed antenna system, wherein the wireless signal includes the reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to enable the network element to reconvert the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the spectral segment for wireless distribution of the modulated signal in the spectral segment to the mobile communication device.

20. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the signaling protocol comprises a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocol or 5G wireless protocol.