METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING OF DATA CHANNELS PROVIDED IN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a switching device from a first waveguide system, first signals that convey data, wherein the first signals are generated by the first waveguide system according to first electromagnetic waves received by the first waveguide system, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium comprises an external surface, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves convey the data;
selecting, by the switching device according to routing information conveyed by the first signals, a second waveguide system from among a group of waveguide systems, the group of waveguide systems being communicatively coupled to the switching device;
generating, by the switching device according to the first signals and the routing information, second signals, wherein the second signals convey at least a first portion of the data; and
providing, by the switching device, the second signals to the second waveguide system.
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Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a first waveguide system that receives first electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium where the transmission medium comprises an external surface where the first electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the first electromagnetic waves convey data. The first waveguide system can generate, according to the first electromagnetic waves, first signals, where the first signals convey the data. The first waveguide system can provide the first signals to a switching device that facilitates generating and providing, according to the first signals and routing information conveyed by the first signals, second signals to a second waveguide system selected from among a group of waveguide systems communicatively coupled to the switching device, where the second signals convey at least a first portion of the data. Other embodiments are disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by a switching device from a first waveguide system, first signals that convey data, wherein the first signals are generated by the first waveguide system according to first electromagnetic waves received by the first waveguide system, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium comprises an external surface, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves convey the data; selecting, by the switching device according to routing information conveyed by the first signals, a second waveguide system from among a group of waveguide systems, the group of waveguide systems being communicatively coupled to the switching device; generating, by the switching device according to the first signals and the routing information, second signals, wherein the second signals convey at least a first portion of the data; and providing, by the switching device, the second signals to the second waveguide system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A first waveguide system, comprising:
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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; receiving first electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium comprises an external surface, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves convey data and routing information; generating, according to the first electromagnetic waves, first signals, wherein the first signals convey the data and the routing information; and providing the first signals to a switching device that facilitates generating and providing, according to the first signals and the routing information, second signals to a second waveguide system selected by the switching device from among a group of waveguide systems communicatively coupled to the switching device, wherein the second signals convey at least a first portion of the data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a switching device including a processing system comprising a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
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receiving, from a first waveguide system, first signals that convey data, wherein the first signals are generated by the first waveguide system according to first electromagnetic waves received by the first waveguide system, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium comprises an external surface, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves convey the data; selecting, according to routing information, a second waveguide system from among a group of communication devices comprising a plurality of waveguide systems, the group of communication devices being communicatively coupled to the switching device; generating, according to the first signals, second signals, wherein the second signals convey at least a first portion of the data; and providing the second signals to the second waveguide system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification