Host node device and methods for use therewith

• US 9,866,309 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, Mang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solinsky, Peter G
• Application Number:
  US14/729,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20160359542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 370293
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• 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 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a host node device having a terminal interface that receives downstream channel signals from a communication network and send upstream channel signals to the communication network. An access point repeater launches the downstream channel signals as guided electromagnetic waves on a guided wave communication system and to extract a first subset of the upstream channel signals from the guided wave communication system. A radio wirelessly transmits the downstream channel signals to at least one client node device and to wirelessly receive a second subset of the upstream channel signals from the at least one client node device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A host node device comprising:

at least one access point repeater configured to communicate via a guided wave communication system;

a terminal interface configured to receive first channel signals from a communication network; and

a first channel duplexer configured to transfer the first channel signals to the at least one access point repeater; and

wherein the at least one access point repeater includes a coupler without conducting materials that launches the first channel signals on a physical structure of a transmission medium of the guided wave communication system as guided electromagnetic waves that propagate at non-optical frequencies without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the transmission medium includes one of;

a wire and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave is bound to an outer surface of the wire;

or a dielectric cable comprising a cylindrical dielectric core, a dielectric cladding and a jacket and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave is bound to an outer surface of the dielectric core.

2. The host node device of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one client node device; and

wherein the first channel duplexer is further configured to transfer the first channel signals to the radio.

3. The host node device of claim 2, wherein the radio is an analog radio that upconverts the first channel signals to generate upconverted first channel signals and communicates the upconverted first channel signals to the at least one client node device.

4. The host node device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access point repeater comprises:

a first access point repeater that launches the first channel signals on the guided wave communication system as first guided electromagnetic waves in a first direction along the transmission medium; and

a second access point repeater that launches the first channel signals on the guided wave communication system as second guided electromagnetic waves in a second direction along the transmission medium.

5. The host node device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access point repeater comprises:

an amplifier that amplifies the first channel signals to generate amplified first channel signals;

a channel selection filter configured to select one or more of the amplified first channel signals to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of client devices;

a coupler that guides the amplified first channel signals to a transmission medium of the guided wave communication system; and

a second channel duplexer that transfers the amplified first channel signals to the coupler and to the channel selection filter.

6. The host node device of claim 1, wherein the at least the one access point repeater extracts a second channel signals from the guided wave communication system;

wherein the first channel duplexer is further configured to transfer the second channel signals to the terminal interface; and

wherein the terminal interface configured to send the second channel signals to the communication network.

7. The host node device of claim 6, wherein a radio receives third channel signals from at least one client node device;

wherein the first channel duplexer is further configured to transfer the third channel signals to the terminal interface; and

wherein the terminal interface configured to send the third channel signals to the communication network.

8. The host node device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first channel signals are formatted in accordance with a data over cable system interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol.

9. The host node device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first channel signals are formatted in accordance with a 802.11 protocol or a fourth generation or higher mobile wireless protocol.

10. A method comprising:

receiving downstream channel signals from a communication network;

launching via a coupler without conducting materials, the downstream channel signals on a guided wave communication system as guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path; and

wirelessly transmitting the downstream channel signals to at least one client node device, wherein the transmission medium includes one of;

a wire and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave is bound to an outer surface of the wire;

or a dielectric cable comprising a cylindrical dielectric core, a dielectric cladding and a jacket and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave is bound to an outer surface of the dielectric core.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein wirelessly transmitting the downstream channel signals includes:

upconverting the downstream channel signals to generate upconverted downstream channel signals; and

transmitting the upconverted downstream channel signals to the at least one client node device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein launching the downstream channel signals on the guided wave communication system as guided electromagnetic waves includes:

launching the downstream channel signals on the guided wave communication system as first guided electromagnetic waves in a first direction along a transmission medium; and

launching the downstream channel signals on the guided wave communication system as second guided electromagnetic waves in a second direction along the transmission medium.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein launching the downstream channel signals on the guided wave communication system as the first guided electromagnetic waves includes coupling the downstream channel signals to the transmission medium for propagation in the first direction, and launching the downstream channel signals on the guided wave communication system as the second guided electromagnetic waves includes coupling the downstream channel signals to the transmission medium for propagation in the second direction.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprises:

amplifying the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals;

selectively filtering one or more of the amplified downstream channel signals to generate a subset of the amplified downstream channel signals; and

wirelessly transmitting the subset of the amplified downstream channel signals to a plurality of client devices.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein launching the downstream channel signals on the guided wave communication system as guided electromagnetic waves includes:

amplifying the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals; and

coupling the amplified downstream channel signals to an outer surface of a transmission medium for propagation as the guided electromagnetic waves.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

extracting first upstream channel signals from the guided wave communication system; and

sending the first upstream channel signals to the communication network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving second upstream channel signals from the at least one client node device; and

sending the second upstream channel signals to the communication network.

18. A host node device comprising:

a terminal interface configured to receive first channel signals from a communication network and send second channel signals to the communication network;

at least one access point repeater includes a coupler without conducting materials that is configured to launch the first channel signals as guided electromagnetic waves on a guided wave communication system that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path and to extract a first subset of the second channel signals from the guided wave communication system that propagate along the transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path, wherein the transmission medium includes one of;

a wire and wherein the guided electromagnetic waves are bound to an outer surface of the wire;

or a dielectric cable comprising a cylindrical dielectric core, a dielectric cladding and a jacket and wherein the guided electromagnetic waves are bound to an outer surface of the dielectric core; and

a radio configured to wirelessly transmit the first channel signals to at least one client node device and to wirelessly receive a second subset of the second channel signals from the at least one client node device.

19. The host device of claim 18 wherein the at least one access point repeater is further configured to:

amplify the first channel signals to generate amplified first channel signals;

selectively filter one or more of the amplified first channel signals to generate a subset of the amplified first channel signals; and

wirelessly transmit the subset of the amplified first channel signals to a plurality of client devices via an antenna.

20. The host device of claim 18 wherein the non-coaxial coupler is not coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.