Apparatus of communication utilizing wireless network devices

• US 10,574,293 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2019
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• 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:
  US16/376,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20190260420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 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 first wireless device contained in the housing, the first wireless device being coupled with a first antenna extending outside of the housing;

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

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

a switch,

wherein the first, second and third wireless devices are selectively coupled to each other via the switch,

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

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.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and third antennas comprise a dielectric antenna, and wherein the second antenna comprises an omnidirectional antenna.

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 first, second and third wireless devices.

4. The communication device of claim 3, further comprising a monitoring relay positioned between the transformer and the first, second and third wireless devices, wherein the monitoring relay provides a shutdown signal responsive to detection of an undesired power condition.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises an Ethernet switch contained in the housing.

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 first wireless device utilizes 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 switch comprises an Ethernet switch contained in the housing, wherein the second wireless signals are based on Long Term Evolution protocol, wherein the end user device comprises a mobile phone, and wherein the utility structure comprises a utility pole supporting a transmission medium.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first wireless device housed in a communication device that is connected with a utility structure, first wireless signals representative of communications being transmitted from another wireless device of another communication device connected with another utility structure along a backhaul communication path, wherein the first wireless signals are received via a first antenna coupled with the first wireless device;

providing, by the first wireless device to a second wireless device housed in the communication device, information representative of the communications, wherein the providing is via a switch that selectively couples the first wireless device, the second wireless devices and a third wireless device of the communication device; and

transmitting, by the second wireless device to an end user device, second wireless signals representative of the communications and based on the information, wherein the end user device is located in a coverage area of the second wireless device, wherein the second wireless signals are transmitted via a second antenna coupled with the second wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second wireless device comprises a micro base station, wherein the second antenna comprises an omnidirectional antenna, and wherein the first antenna comprises a dielectric antenna.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing, by a transformer housed in the communication device, power to the first, second and third wireless devices, wherein the transformer is coupled with a power line supported by the utility structure.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing, by a monitoring relay housed in the communication device, a shutdown signal responsive to detection of an undesired power condition, wherein the monitoring relay is positioned between the transformer and the first, second and third wireless devices.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the switch comprises an Ethernet switch.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first wireless signals include a pilot signal for correcting signal distortion.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the second wireless signals is via a Long Term Evolution protocol.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting an orientation of the second antenna.

18. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a micro base station, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

receiving, from a wireless device via a switch of a communication device, information representative of communications conveyed by first wireless signals received by the wireless device, wherein the first wireless signals are transmitted from another communication device connected along a backhaul communication path, wherein the first wireless signals are received via a first antenna coupled with the wireless device, and wherein the micro base station, the wireless device and another wireless device are housed in the communication device that is coupled to a utility structure; and

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

19. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein power is provided by a transformer housed in the communication device to the micro base station, the wireless device and the other wireless device, wherein the transformer is coupled with a power line supported by the utility structure.

20. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise generating, via a monitoring relay housed in the communication device, a shutdown signal responsive to detection of an undesired power condition, wherein the monitoring relay is positioned between the transformer and the micro base station.