Apparatus for providing communication services and methods thereof

• US 9,948,355 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• 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: Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOBSON, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US15/341,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20170117941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• 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 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• 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: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2278 using correlation techniques, e.g. for spread spectrum signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26 Systems using multi-frequency codes H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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 system for modulating a first electrical signal to generate first modulated electromagnetic waves, and transmitting the first modulated electromagnetic waves on a waveguide located in proximity to a transmission medium. In one embodiment, the first electromagnetic waves can induce second electromagnetic waves that propagate on an outer surface of the transmission medium. The second electromagnetic waves can have a first spectral range that is divided into, contains or otherwise includes a first control channel and a first plurality of bands. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, first modulated electromagnetic waves via a coupler located in proximity to a transmission medium, wherein the first modulated electromagnetic waves are induced on the coupler by second modulated electromagnetic waves propagating at least in part on an outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the first modulated electromagnetic waves have a first spectral range, and wherein the first spectral range includes a first control channel and a first plurality of bands;

obtaining, by the apparatus, the first control channel and at least one of the first plurality of bands from the first modulated electromagnetic waves; and

obtaining, by the apparatus, control information from the first control channel and channel signals from at least a portion of the first plurality of bands according to the control information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first spectral range comprises a downlink.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the apparatus, a first electrical signal from the first modulated electromagnetic waves.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control information identifies an arrangement of at least one communication session in at least a portion of the first plurality of bands.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one communication session comprises a voice communication session, a streaming video session or a data communication session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the apparatus, third modulated electromagnetic waves on the coupler, wherein the third modulated electromagnetic waves induce fourth modulated electromagnetic waves that propagate at least in part on the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the fourth electromagnetic waves have a second spectral range, and wherein the second spectral range includes a second control channel and a second plurality of bands.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first spectral range and the second spectral range are separated by a guard band.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a first portion of the first plurality of bands and a second portion of the second plurality of bands are utilized by a first service provider of communication services, and wherein a third portion of the first plurality of bands and a fourth portion of the second plurality of bands are utilized by a second service provider of communication services.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the second spectral range comprises an uplink.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first spectral range has a first spread spectrum shape, and wherein the second spectral range has a second spread spectrum shape.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first spread spectrum shape and the second spread spectrum shape have a power level and a frequency range corresponding to an unlicensed spectrum.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing, by the apparatus, control information in the second control channel for identifying an arrangement of at least one communication session in at least a portion of the second plurality of bands.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one communication session comprises a voice communication session or a data communication session.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver that facilitates receiving first electromagnetic waves having a first propagation mode; and

a coupler that facilitates propagation of the first electromagnetic waves at least in part along a surface of the coupler, wherein second electromagnetic waves that propagate at least in part on a surface of a transmission medium generate the first electromagnetic waves proximal to an interface between the transmission medium and the coupler, wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a second propagation mode, wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a spectral range comprising a control channel and a plurality of bands, and wherein the first propagation mode differs from the second propagation mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a transmitter that facilitates generating third electromagnetic waves that propagate on the surface of the coupler, wherein the third electromagnetic waves couple, at least in part, to the surface of the transmission medium in proximity to the coupler to generate fourth electromagnetic waves that propagate at least in part on the surface of the transmission medium.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first propagation mode comprises symmetric electromagnetic waves, and wherein the second propagation mode comprises symmetric electromagnetic waves combined with asymmetric electromagnetic waves.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupler comprises a dielectric coupler, and wherein the transmission medium comprises a wire having a non-conductive outer surface.

18. A waveguide system, comprising:

at least one coupler, wherein the at least one coupler facilitates propagating first electromagnetic waves at least in part on a surface of the at least one coupler that are generated from second electromagnetic waves propagating at least in part along a surface of a transmission medium, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a spectral range divided into a control channel and a plurality of bands; and

a transceiver coupled to the at least one coupler, wherein the transceiver facilitates receiving the first electromagnetic waves.

19. The waveguide system of claim 18, further comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising obtaining control information in the control channel for identifying an arrangement of at least one communication session in at least a portion of the plurality of bands.

20. The waveguide system of claim 19, wherein the processor comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed processing environment, and the at least one coupler is not coaxially aligned with the transmission medium.