METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING COMMUNICATION SESSIONS IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20160105239A1
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• 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: Henry, Paul Shala, Barnickel, Donald J., Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Willis, Thomas M. III
• Granted Patent: US 9,503,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H01P 3/02 with two longitudinal conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/06 Coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/02 with invariable factor of coupling H01P5/12 takes precedence choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/026 between coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/028 between strip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/08 for linking dissimilar lines or devices H01P1/16, H01P5/04 take precedence; linking lines of the same kind but with different dimensions H01P5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• 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 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• 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: 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 determining a usage pattern, and sending instructions to a plurality of waveguide systems to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves along a surface of each of a plurality of wires according to the usage pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system comprising a processor, a channel reuse pattern for adjusting characteristics of electromagnetic waves transmitted or received along a surface of each of a plurality of wires by instances of a plurality of waveguide systems, wherein the plurality of wires are physically spaced apart by a series of spacers, and wherein the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems are separated by spacers in the series of spacers; and

providing, by the system, instructions to the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems to utilize the channel reuse pattern to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves along the surface of each of the plurality of wires, wherein each channel of the channel reuse pattern is used for transporting data via the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received between the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern is further based on a number of spans of the series of spacers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern is further based on a number of the plurality of wires.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a positioning of the plurality of wires with respect to each one of the spacers of the series of spacers forms a center waveguide.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein instances of a center waveguide system of the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems are positioned with respect to the center waveguide, wherein the instances of the center waveguide system transmit or receive electromagnetic waves that transport a portion of the data via the center waveguide, and wherein the instances of the center waveguide system are separated by the spacers of the series of spacers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the instances of the center waveguide system transmit or receive electromagnetic waves via the center waveguide according to the channel reuse pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a diversity communication arrangement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication arrangement.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern is determined according to an electromagnetic wave interference analysis, and wherein the electromagnetic wave interference analysis is based on a proximity between the plurality of wires physically spaced apart by the series of spacers or characteristics associated with the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received by the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristics of the electromagnetic waves comprise a propagation mode of the electromagnetic waves, a characteristic of an asymmetric mode in the electromagnetic waves, a characteristic of a fundamental mode in the electromagnetic waves, or a spatial characteristic of the electromagnetic waves.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern corresponds to a frequency reuse pattern of the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received by the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern corresponds to a wave propagation mode reuse pattern of the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received by the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern corresponds to a symmetric assignment of communications bandwidth between channels of the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received by the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern corresponds to an asymmetric assignment of communications bandwidth between channels of the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received by the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires comprise a plurality of power lines of a power grid that facilitates delivery of electric power to devices.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein each wire of the plurality of wires is assigned to an independent communications service provider for delivering communication services to subscribers.

17. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

determining a channel reuse pattern for facilitating communication sessions along a surface of each of a plurality of wires between instances of a plurality of waveguide systems coupled to the plurality of wires; and

sending instructions to the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves along the surface of each of the plurality of wires according to the channel reuse pattern.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the channel reuse pattern reduces signal interference between the electromagnetic waves propagating on the plurality of wires.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of wires are bundled with a series of spacers that spaces the plurality of wires apart from each other.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems are separated by spacers in the series of spacers.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges the communication sessions between the instances of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a diversity communication arrangement or a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication arrangement.

22. A machine-readable storage device, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, a processor performs operations comprising:

determining a channel reuse pattern for reducing electromagnetic interference between communication sessions taking place along a surface of each of a plurality of wires initiated by a plurality of waveguide systems coupled to the plurality of wires; and

sending instructions to the plurality of waveguide systems to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves along the surface of each of the plurality of wires according to the channel reuse pattern.

23. The machine-readable storage device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of wires are bundled with a series of spacers that spaces the plurality of wires apart from each other.

24. The machine-readable storage device of claim 22, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges the communication sessions between the plurality of waveguide systems according to a diversity communication arrangement or a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication arrangement.

25. The machine-readable storage device of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise determining the channel reuse pattern by analyzing an attenuation of the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received along the surface of each of the plurality of wires.

26. The machine-readable storage device of claim 25, wherein the analyzing further comprises adjusting characteristics of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the plurality of waveguide systems.