Method and apparatus for adjusting a mode of communication in a communication network

• US 9,847,850 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2016
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• 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): PHU, PHUONG M
• Application Number:
  US15/176,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20160365943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 375257, 375296, 375346
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• 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 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• 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: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• 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 waveguide system for detecting a condition that adversely affects a propagation of electromagnetic waves generated by the waveguide system on a surface of the wire, and adjusting characteristics of the electromagnetic waves generated by the waveguide system to reduce adverse effects caused by the condition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a first waveguide system, an impairment that impedes a longitudinal propagation of electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring and electrical return path, wherein the impairment that is detected corresponds to a physical discontinuity on the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the physical discontinuity on the surface of the transmission medium impedes the longitudinal propagation of the electromagnetic waves on the surface of the transmission medium;

responsive to the detecting, adjusting, by the first waveguide system, a first communication mode to a second communication mode for transmitting the electromagnetic waves for propagation on the surface of the transmission medium; and

transmitting, by the first waveguide system, the electromagnetic waves on the surface of the transmission medium according to the second communication mode, the electromagnetic waves directed to an antenna coupled to the transmission medium, the antenna facilitating a transmission of a wireless signal to an antenna system of a plurality of antenna systems of a distributed antenna system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves include a modulated signal in a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves, and wherein the physical discontinuity on the surface of the transmission medium comprises a physical object disposed on the surface of the transmission medium, a discontinuity in a physical path of the transmission medium, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting further comprises frequency converting the modulated signal in a cellular frequency band to the modulated signal in the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the frequency converting comprises up-converting the modulated signal in the cellular frequency band to the modulated signal in the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the frequency converting comprises down-converting the modulated signal in the cellular frequency band to the modulated signal in the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the antenna system further facilitates frequency converting the modulated signal in the frequency band to the modulated signal in a cellular frequency band for wireless delivery to a mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the frequency converting comprises down-converting the modulated signal in the frequency band to the modulated signal in the cellular frequency band.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the frequency converting comprises up-converting the modulated signal in the frequency band to the modulated signal in the cellular frequency band.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the first communication mode to the second communication mode comprises adjusting a wave propagation mode for transmitting the electromagnetic waves.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the first communication mode to the second communication mode comprises adjusting a wavelength for transmitting the electromagnetic waves.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying, by the first waveguide system, a second waveguide system that the first communication mode has been adjusted to the second communication mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second waveguide system receives the electromagnetic waves from the first waveguide system according to the second communication mode.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the first waveguide system, that the impairment has been modified; and

restoring, by the first waveguide system, the first communication mode used by the first waveguide system for transmitting the electromagnetic waves.

14. A waveguide system, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

detecting an impairment that affects a propagation of electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring and electrical return path, wherein the impairment that is detected corresponds to a physical discontinuity on the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the physical discontinuity on the surface of the transmission medium impedes the propagation of the electromagnetic waves on the surface of the transmission medium;

responsive to the detecting, adjusting a first communication mode to a second communication mode for transmitting the electromagnetic waves for propagation on the surface of the transmission medium; and

launching the electromagnetic waves on the surface of the transmission medium according to the second communication mode, the electromagnetic waves directed to an antenna coupled to the transmission medium to facilitate a transmission of a wireless signal.

15. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal is directed to an antenna system of a plurality of antenna systems of a distributed antenna system.

16. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the electromagnetic waves include a modulated signal in a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves.

17. The waveguide system of claim 16, wherein the launching further comprises frequency converting the modulated signal in a cellular frequency band to the modulated signal in the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves.

18. A machine-readable device, comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting a signal degradation in a longitudinal propagation of electromagnetic waves generated by a waveguide system on a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring and electrical return path, wherein the signal degradation that is detected corresponds to a physical discontinuity on the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the physical discontinuity on the surface of the transmission medium impedes the longitudinal propagation of the electromagnetic waves on the surface of the transmission medium; and

adjusting characteristics of the electromagnetic waves generated by the waveguide system to reduce adverse effects caused by the signal degradation, wherein the electromagnetic waves are directed to an antenna coupled to the transmission medium, the antenna facilitating a transmission of a wireless signal to an antenna system of a plurality of antenna systems of a distributed antenna system.

19. The machine-readable device of claim 18, wherein the electromagnetic waves include a modulated signal in a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves, and wherein the antenna system facilitates frequency converting the modulated signal in the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves to the modulated signal in a cellular frequency band for wireless delivery to a communication device.

20. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a first waveguide system, an impairment that affects a propagation of electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium;

responsive to the detecting, adjusting, by the first waveguide system, a first communication mode to a second communication mode for transmitting the electromagnetic waves for propagation on the surface of the transmission medium; and

transmitting, by the first waveguide system, the electromagnetic waves on the surface of the transmission medium according to the second communication mode, the electromagnetic waves directed to an antenna coupled to the transmission medium, and the antenna facilitating a transmission of a wireless signal to an antenna system of a plurality of antenna systems of a distributed antenna system,

wherein the electromagnetic waves include a modulated signal in a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves, wherein the transmitting further comprises frequency converting the modulated signal in a cellular frequency band to the modulated signal in the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves, and wherein the frequency converting comprises down-converting the modulated signal in the cellular frequency band to the modulated signal in the frequency band of the electromagnetic waves.

21. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a first waveguide system, an impairment that affects a propagation of electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium;

responsive to the detecting, adjusting, by the first waveguide system, a first communication mode to a second communication mode, wherein the adjusting of the first communication mode comprises rerouting the electromagnetic waves via an alternate transmission medium; and

transmitting, by the first waveguide system, the electromagnetic waves along the alternate transmission medium according to the second communication mode, the electromagnetic waves directed to an antenna coupled to the alternate transmission medium, and the antenna facilitating a transmission of a wireless signal to an antenna system of a plurality of antenna systems of a distributed antenna system.