METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXCHANGING COMMUNICATION SIGNALS

• US 20170033835A1
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2015
• 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, Henry, Paul Shala, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, Thomas M. III
• Granted Patent: US 9,838,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/50 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via two-conductor transmission lines H04B3/54 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by each of a plurality of receivers, one of a plurality of electromagnetic waves, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by a different one of a plurality of twin-lead transmission lines, each twin-lead transmission line sharing a wire, and each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves including a different one of a plurality of communication signals, and obtaining, by each of the plurality of receivers, one of the plurality of communication signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by each of a plurality of transceivers, one of a plurality of communication signals, each of the plurality of communication signals including different data; and

generating, by each of the plurality of transceivers, one of a plurality of electromagnetic waves, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by a respective one of a plurality of twin-lead transmission lines utilizing a shared transmission line, and each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying a different one of the plurality of communication signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of spacers is coupled to the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines at different locations.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers maintains a uniform spacing between the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines is formed from a plurality of cables, and wherein a different one of the plurality of cables forms a twin-lead cable for propagating one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the twin-lead cable comprises one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines comprises an insulated conductor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by the respective one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines and the shared transmission line is directed to a receiver coupled to the respective one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by each of a plurality of receivers, one of a plurality of electromagnetic waves, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by a different one of a plurality of twin-lead transmission lines sharing a common line, and each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying a different one of a plurality of communication signals; and

obtaining, by each of the plurality of receivers, the different one of the plurality of communication signals.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling a plurality of spacers to the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines at different locations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers maintains a uniform spacing between the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the different one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines and the common line forms a twin-lead cable for propagating one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines comprises a power line.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the power line comprises an insulated conductor.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by the different one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines sharing the common line is generated by a launcher coupled to the different one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines.

15. A device, comprising:

means for facilitating separation of a plurality of transmission lines; and

means for facilitating transmission of one of a first plurality of electromagnetic waves, each electromagnetic wave of the first plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by a different one of a plurality of twin-lead transmission lines formed between different ones of the plurality of transmission lines sharing a common transmission line.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for facilitating separation of the plurality of transmission lines is positioned at different locations of the plurality of transmission lines.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the means for facilitating separation of the plurality of transmission lines maintains a uniform spacing between the plurality of transmission lines and the common transmission line to form the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein each transmission line of the plurality of transmission lines comprises an insulated conductor.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the one of the first plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by the different one of the plurality of transmission lines and the common transmission line is directed to a receiver coupled to the different one of the plurality of transmission lines and the common transmission line.

20. The device of claim 15, further comprising means for facilitating reception of a second plurality of electromagnetic waves, each of the second plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by the different one of the plurality of twin-lead transmission lines.