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

• US 10,367,603 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• 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
• Application Number:
  US15/910,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20180248652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 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 transmission medium, 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 comprising a processor, an impairment, wherein the impairment is a physical discontinuity present on a surface of a first transmission medium that adversely affects a propagation of electromagnetic waves along the first transmission medium;

adjusting, by the first waveguide system, a mode of communication for transmitting or receiving the electromagnetic waves guided by the first transmission medium to mitigate an adverse effect of the impairment; and

notifying, by the first waveguide system, a second waveguide system of the adjusting of the mode of communication for transmitting or receiving the electromagnetic waves.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the mode of communication comprises adjusting a wave propagation mode for transmitting or receiving the electromagnetic waves.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting of the wave propagation mode comprises adjusting a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the adjusting of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves comprises increasing the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second waveguide system receives the electromagnetic waves from the first waveguide system according to the mode of communication adjusted by the first waveguide system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second waveguide system is coupled to the first transmission medium and positioned after the impairment of the first transmission medium.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second waveguide system retrieves content from the electromagnetic waves received from the first waveguide system and retransmits the content to other waveguide systems based on other electromagnetic waves that use a different mode of communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the mode of communication comprises rerouting the electromagnetic waves to bypass the impairment of the first transmission medium.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rerouting of the electromagnetic waves comprises routing the electromagnetic waves to a second transmission medium.

10. 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, an original mode of communication used by the first waveguide system for transmitting or receiving the electromagnetic waves.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the impairment is modified by a placement of a jumper between ends of the impairment, wherein the jumper enables the electromagnetic waves to bypass the impairment by propagating on a surface of the jumper.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the impairment is modified by a placement of a sleeve around the impairment, wherein the sleeve enables the electromagnetic waves to bypass the impairment by propagating on a surface of the sleeve.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the impairment is modified with an application of an insulating or conducting material on the impairment, wherein the insulating or conducting material enables the electromagnetic waves to bypass the impairment by propagating on a surface of the insulating or conducting material.

14. A waveguide system, comprising:

a waveguide, wherein the waveguide is positioned with respect to a transmission medium, wherein the waveguide facilitates transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium;

a memory that stores instructions; and

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

detecting a physical discontinuity present on a surface of the transmission medium that adversely affects a propagation of the electromagnetic waves along the transmission medium;

adjusting a wave propagation mode of the electromagnetic waves transmitted or received by the waveguide to reduce an adverse effect caused by the physical discontinuity; and

notifying another waveguide system of the adjusting of the wave propagation mode for transmitting or receiving the electromagnetic waves.

15. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the adjusting of the wave propagation mode comprises adjusting a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves.

16. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the adjusting of the wave propagation mode comprises adjusting a fundamental mode of the electromagnetic waves.

17. The waveguide system of claim 14, wherein the adjusting of the wave propagation mode comprises adjusting an asymmetric mode of the electromagnetic waves.

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

detecting a source of signal degradation that adversely affects a propagation of electromagnetic waves generated by a waveguide system, wherein the propagation of the electromagnetic waves is guided by a transmission medium, and wherein the source of signal degradation comprises a physical discontinuity present on a surface of the transmission medium;

adjusting a characteristic of the electromagnetic waves generated by the waveguide system to reduce an adverse effect caused by the source of signal degradation; and

notifying another waveguide system of the adjusting of the characteristic of the electromagnetic waves.

19. The machine-readable device of claim 18, wherein the adjusting of the characteristic of the electromagnetic waves comprises adjusting a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves.

20. The machine-readable device of claim 19, wherein the adjusting of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves comprises increasing the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves.