Method and apparatus for responding to events affecting communications in a communication network

• US 9,769,020 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• 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: Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks Harold, Marsha D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ELTON S
• Application Number:
  US14/519,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• 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: H04B 3/06 by the transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• 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 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system for determining an event associated with a mode of transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium, identifying according to the event an updated mode for transmitting or receiving adjusted electromagnetic waves on the surface of a transmission medium, and transmitting or receiving the adjusted electromagnetic waves based on the updated mode. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a waveguide system via a dielectric waveguide coupler, electromagnetic test waves on a power line of a power grid, wherein the electromagnetic test waves propagate at least in part on an outer surface of the power line and are directed to another waveguide system coupled to the power line, wherein the electromagnetic test waves propagate, without requiring an electrical return path, on the outer surface of the power line; and

determining, by the waveguide system, an updated mode of communication for transmitting or receiving adjusted electromagnetic waves between the waveguide system via the dielectric waveguide coupler and the another waveguide system according to an analysis associated with the transmitting of the electromagnetic test waves.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the waveguide system, an event associated with communication services provided by the waveguide system in at least a portion of the power grid; and

generating, by the waveguide system, the electromagnetic test waves responsive to detecting the event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the event comprises a first-time installation of the waveguide system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the event comprises a change in a network topology of a communication system.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the event comprises a condition adversely affecting transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves on the power line.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of wavelengths.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of spectral allocations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of spatial orientations of asymmetric modes included in the electromagnetic test waves.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of phases or a plurality of magnitudes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of network addresses, each network address selectively directing portions of the electromagnetic test waves to a plurality of waveguide systems including the another waveguide system to determine a network topology of a communication system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of modulation modes, and wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of error correction modes.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the event comprises receiving event data from a network management system, the event data being descriptive of the event.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving or transmitting, by the waveguide system, electromagnetic waves according to the updated mode of communication, wherein the updated mode of communication results in an adjustment of a characteristic of the electromagnetic waves or data transported by the electromagnetic waves.

14. A waveguide system, comprising:

a waveguide that facilitates transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that propagate at least in part along a surface of a wire, wherein the electromagnetic waves enable communication services with another waveguide system coupled to the wire via a mode of communication;

a memory that stores instructions; and

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

transmitting, via a dielectric waveguide coupler of the waveguide, electromagnetic test waves on the surface of the wire, wherein the electromagnetic test waves propagate, without requiring an electrical return path, on the surface of the wire; and

determining an updated mode of communication for transmitting or receiving adjusted electromagnetic waves on the surface of the wire based on an analysis associated with the transmitting of the electromagnetic test waves via the dielectric waveguide coupler of the waveguide.

15. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise detecting an event potentially impacting the communication services, and wherein the wire comprises a power line of a power grid enabling the communication services with the another waveguide system, and wherein the processor comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed processing environment.

16. The waveguide system of claim 15, wherein the event comprises a first-time installation of the waveguide system, a reset of the waveguide system, or a change in a network topology of a communication system from which the waveguide system operates.

17. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise generating the electromagnetic test waves according to a plurality of wavelengths, a plurality of phases, a plurality of magnitudes, a plurality of carrier frequencies, a plurality of spatial orientations of asymmetric modes included in the electromagnetic test waves, a plurality of network addresses, a plurality of modulation modes, or a plurality of error correction modes.

18. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise receiving or transmitting the adjusted electromagnetic waves according to the updated mode of communication, and wherein the updated mode of communication is associated with an adjustment of a characteristic of the electromagnetic waves previously transmitted or received by the waveguide system, or data transported by the adjusted electromagnetic waves.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable storage device, comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor of a waveguide system, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting an event associated with a mode of transmitting or receiving, via a dielectric waveguide coupler, electromagnetic waves on an outer surface of a transmission medium;

identifying according to the event an updated mode for transmitting or receiving adjusted electromagnetic waves on the outer surface of the transmission medium; and

transmitting or receiving, via the dielectric waveguide coupler, the adjusted electromagnetic waves based on the updated mode, wherein the adjusted electromagnetic waves propagate, without requiring an electrical return path, on the outer surface of the transmission medium.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the identifying the updated mode comprises:

transmitting test signals on the transmission medium; and

identifying the updated mode according to the transmitting of the test signals.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 20, wherein the identifying the updated mode comprises:

receiving information associated with the test signals from another waveguide system coupled to the transmission medium; and

determining the updated mode according to the information.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 20, wherein the test signals comprise electromagnetic waves that propagate on the outer surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the processor comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed processing environment.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the event comprises a first-time installation of the waveguide system or a change in a network topology of a communication system from which the waveguide system operates.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the identifying the updated mode further comprises transmitting electromagnetic test waves on the transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic test waves have a plurality of wavelengths, a plurality of phases, a plurality of magnitudes, a plurality of carrier frequencies, a plurality of spatial orientations of asymmetric modes included in the electromagnetic test waves, a plurality of network addresses, a plurality of modulation modes, or a plurality of error correction modes.