Method and apparatus for arranging communication sessions in a communication system

• US 10,659,105 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2019
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• 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, Barnickel, Donald J., Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dzung D
• Application Number:
  US16/433,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20190288745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 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: H01P 3/02 with two longitudinal conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/06 Coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/02 with invariable factor of coupling H01P5/12 takes precedence choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/026 between coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/028 between strip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/08 for linking dissimilar lines or devices H01P1/16, H01P5/04 take precedence; linking lines of the same kind but with different dimensions H01P5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• 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 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• 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 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• 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: 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 determining a usage pattern, and sending instructions to a plurality of waveguide systems to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves along a surface of each of a plurality of wires according to the usage pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a processing system comprising a processor, a channel reuse pattern for adjusting characteristics of electromagnetic waves transmitted along surfaces of a plurality of transmission mediums, wherein the determining is according to an electromagnetic wave interference analysis; and

providing, by the processing system, instructions to a plurality of waveguide systems coupled to the plurality of transmission mediums to utilize the channel reuse pattern to transmit the electromagnetic waves along respective ones of the surfaces of the plurality of transmission mediums, wherein each channel of the channel reuse pattern is used for transporting data via the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the plurality of waveguide systems.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between waveguide systems of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication arrangement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between waveguide systems of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a diversity communication arrangement.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is based on a propagation mode of the electromagnetic waves, a first characteristic of a non-fundamental mode in the electromagnetic waves, a second characteristic of a fundamental mode in the electromagnetic waves, a spatial characteristic of the electromagnetic waves, or any combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern reduces signal interference between the electromagnetic waves.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern is determined based in part on a number of the plurality of transmission mediums.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern corresponds to an asymmetric assignment of communications bandwidth between channels of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the plurality of waveguide systems.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern corresponds to a symmetric assignment of communications bandwidth between channels of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the plurality of waveguide systems.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel reuse pattern corresponds to a wave propagation mode reuse pattern of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the plurality of waveguide systems.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmission mediums comprises one or more insulated conductors, one or more uninsulated conductors, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmission mediums is spaced apart by a plurality of spacers, and wherein the channel reuse pattern is determined based in part on a number of spans between spacers of the plurality of spacers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a positioning of the plurality of transmission mediums with respect to each one of the spacers of the plurality of spacers forms a center waveguide.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein instances of a center waveguide system of the plurality of waveguide systems are positioned with respect to the center waveguide, wherein the instances of the center waveguide system transmit electromagnetic waves that transport a portion of the data via the center waveguide, and wherein the instances of the center waveguide system are separated by the spacers of the plurality of spacers.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the instances of the center waveguide system transmit electromagnetic waves via the center waveguide according to the channel reuse pattern.

15. A device, 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, the operations comprising;

determining a channel reuse pattern for adjusting characteristics of electromagnetic waves transmitted along surfaces of a plurality of transmission mediums, wherein the channel reuse pattern is determined based in part on a number of the plurality of transmission mediums; and

providing instructions to a plurality of waveguide systems coupled to the plurality of transmission mediums to utilize the channel reuse pattern to transmit the electromagnetic waves along respective ones of the surfaces of the plurality of transmission mediums, wherein each channel of the channel reuse pattern is used for transporting data via the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the plurality of waveguide systems.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the determining is further based on a propagation mode of the electromagnetic waves, a first characteristic of a non-fundamental mode in the electromagnetic waves, a second characteristic of a fundamental mode in the electromagnetic waves, a spatial characteristic of the electromagnetic waves, or any combinations thereof.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between waveguide systems of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a diversity communication arrangement.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between waveguide systems of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication arrangement.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

determining a channel reuse pattern for adjusting characteristics of electromagnetic waves transmitted along surfaces of a plurality of transmission mediums, wherein the determining is based on a propagation mode of the electromagnetic waves, a first characteristic of a non-fundamental mode in the electromagnetic waves, a second characteristic of a fundamental mode in the electromagnetic waves, a spatial characteristic of the electromagnetic waves, or any combinations thereof; and

providing instructions to a plurality of waveguide systems coupled to the plurality of transmission mediums to utilize the channel reuse pattern to transmit the electromagnetic waves along respective ones of the surfaces of the plurality of transmission mediums, wherein each channel of the channel reuse pattern is used for transporting data via the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the plurality of waveguide systems.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between waveguide systems of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication arrangement.