TRANSMISSION DEVICE WITH IMPAIRMENT COMPENSATION AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20160182161A1
• Filed: 03/01/2016
• Published: 06/23/2016
• 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: BENNETT, ROBERT, Barzegar, Farhad, GERSZBERG, IRWIN, HENRY, PAUL SHALA
• Granted Patent: US 9,571,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/00 Coupling devices of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/02 with invariable factor of coupling H01P5/12 takes precedence choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/02 Reducing interference from electric apparatus by means located at or near the interfering apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system that includes a transmission device having a coupler positioned with respect to a transmission medium to facilitate transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that transport communications data. The electromagnetic waves propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium. A training controller detects an impairment on the transmission medium adverse to the transmission or reception of the electromagnetic waves and adjusts the electromagnetic waves to reduce the effects of the impairment on the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A waveguide system, comprising:

a coupler that is positioned with respect to a transmission medium to facilitate transmission of electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium; and

a training controller configured to detect an impairment on at least a portion of the transmission medium that is adverse to the propagation of the electromagnetic waves, the impairment having a location corresponding to at least one of;

a position on the at least the portion of the outer surface of the transmission medium or an azimuthal orientation on the at least the portion of the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the training controller is further configured to adjust an envelope of the electromagnetic waves to reduce adverse effects of the impairment by reducing a field strength of the electromagnetic waves at the location of the impairment.

2. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the training controller adjusts the envelope of the electromagnetic waves by adjusting at least one carrier frequency of the electromagnetic waves based on feedback data received from at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the electromagnetic waves.

3. The waveguide system of claim 2, wherein the training controller coordinates the adjusting of the at least one carrier frequency of the electromagnetic waves with the at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the electromagnetic waves.

4. The waveguide system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor that facilitates detection of the impairment by the training controller.

5. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a conductorless transmission medium that supports propagation of the electromagnetic waves without an electrical return path.

6. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a power line of a power grid for distribution of electric power.

7. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the detecting the impairment on the at least the portion of the transmission medium is based on transmission of electromagnetic wave test signals on the transmission medium.

8. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the location that corresponds to the impairment on the at least the portion of the transmission medium, includes a displacement and an azimuthal orientation.

9. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a dielectric member and the transmission medium facilitates wireless network connectivity via an antenna.

10. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the detecting the impairment on the at least the portion of the transmission medium is based on detecting an absence of acknowledgement data from at least one remote transmission device.

11. A method comprising:

facilitating, via a transmission device, transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of a transmission medium;

detecting an impairment on the transmission medium that is adverse to the transmission of the electromagnetic waves; and

adjusting, via the transmission device, an envelope of the electromagnetic waves to reduce adverse effects of the impairment, wherein the adjusting the envelope of the electromagnetic waves includes adjusting at least one carrier frequency of the electromagnetic waves based on feedback data received from at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the electromagnetic waves.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting the envelope of the electromagnetic waves includes placing a local minimum of the envelope in a location that corresponds to a position of the impairment on the transmission medium.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

coordinating the adjusting of the at least one carrier frequency of the electromagnetic waves with the at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the electromagnetic waves.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

facilitating detection of the impairment via a sensor.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic waves convey data formatted in accordance with a fifth generation cellular protocol.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting the impairment on the transmission medium is based on transmitting electromagnetic wave test signals on the transmission medium.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting the impairment on the transmission medium is based on detecting an absence of acknowledgement data from at least one remote transmission device.

18. A waveguide system, comprising:

a transmission device including a coupler, wherein the coupler is positioned with respect to a transmission medium to facilitate transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium; and

a training controller, coupled to the transmission device, configured to detect an impairment on the transmission medium adverse to the transmission or reception of the electromagnetic waves and further configured to adjust the electromagnetic waves to have a first field strength at a location corresponding to the impairment on the transmission medium, wherein the first field strength is lower compared to at least one second field strength of the electromagnetic waves occurring at a distance along the transmission medium further from the coupler than the location corresponding to the impairment.

19. The waveguide system of claim 18, wherein the training controller detects the impairment on the transmission medium based on feedback data received from at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the electromagnetic waves.

20. The waveguide system of claim 18, wherein the training controller detects the impairment on the transmission medium based on an absence of feedback data received from at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the electromagnetic waves.