Method and apparatus for communication utilizing electromagnetic waves and a telecommunication line

• US 10,812,139 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2018
• 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: Barzegar, Farhad, Vannucci, Giovanni, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, III, Thomas M., Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Shawkat M
• Application Number:
  US16/204,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20200177238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 343702, 343754, 343757, 343762, 385 11, 385 31, 385 39, 375219, 375257
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• 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

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for receiving signals that convey data, obtaining energy from a telecommunication line of a telecommunications network where an AC or DC power signal is injected into the telecommunication line and where the energy is utilized by at least a subset of components of a waveguide system, and transmitting electromagnetic waves that convey the data where the electromagnetic waves propagate along the telecommunication line without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A waveguide system, comprising:

an inductive coupler;

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;

receiving signals that convey data;

obtaining, by the inductive coupler, energy via an inductive coupling with a telecommunication line of a telecommunications network, wherein Alternating Current (AC) power is injected into the telecommunication line from an AC power injection device, the AC power injection device coupled to a span of the telecommunication line having a first end coupled to the waveguide system and a second end coupled to another waveguide system, the power injection device coupled to the span of the telecommunication line at a location between the first end and the second end, wherein at least a portion of the energy is utilized by at least a subset of components of the waveguide system; and

transmitting electromagnetic waves that convey the data, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the telecommunication line without requiring an electrical return path.

2. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a portion of the energy to the other waveguide system to be utilized by at least a subset of other components of the other waveguide system.

3. The waveguide system of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device, wherein the waveguide system does not obtain any power via a direct electrical connection with the telecommunication line.

4. The waveguide system of claim 3, wherein the energy storage device comprises a supercapacitor, a battery, or a combination thereof.

5. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the signals are received via a tethered interface connecting the waveguide system with a network device.

6. The waveguide system of claim 5, wherein the tethered interface comprises an optical fiber.

7. The waveguide system of claim 5, wherein the signals conform to an Ethernet protocol, and wherein the network device comprises an Ethernet switch.

8. The waveguide system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver, wherein the signals are received by the wireless receiver.

9. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the signals are received as other electromagnetic waves that convey the data, wherein the other electromagnetic waves propagate along the telecommunication line without requiring the electrical return path.

10. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the signals are received as other electromagnetic waves that convey the data, wherein the other electromagnetic waves propagate along a transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path, wherein the transmission medium and the telecommunication line are separate conduits.

11. 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, the operations comprising;

receiving signals that convey data;

obtaining power via an inductive coupling with a telecommunication line of a telecommunications network, wherein the power is injected into the telecommunication line from an Alternating Current (AC) power injection device, the AC power injection device coupled to a span of the telecommunication line having a first end coupled to the waveguide system and a second end coupled to another waveguide system, the AC power injection device coupled to the span of the telecommunication line at a location between the first end and the second end, wherein at least a portion of the power is utilized by at least a subset of components of the waveguide system; and

transmitting electromagnetic waves that convey the data, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the telecommunication line without requiring an electrical return path.

12. The waveguide system of claim 11, further comprising an energy storage device, and wherein the operations further comprise providing a portion of the power to the other waveguide system to be utilized by at least a subset of other components of the other waveguide system.

13. The waveguide system of claim 11, wherein the signals are received via a tethered interface connecting the waveguide system with a network device.

14. The waveguide system of claim 13, wherein the tethered interface comprises an optical fiber.

15. The waveguide system of claim 13, wherein the signals conform to an Ethernet protocol, and wherein the network device comprises an Ethernet switch.

16. The waveguide system of claim 11, further comprising a wireless receiver, wherein the signals are received by the wireless receiver.

17. The waveguide system of claim 11, wherein the signals are received as other electromagnetic waves that convey the data, wherein the other electromagnetic waves propagate along the telecommunication line without requiring the electrical return path.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, by a waveguide system, signals that convey data;

obtaining, by the waveguide system, energy via an inductive coupling with a telecommunication line of a telecommunications network, the energy obtained via an Alternating Current (AC) power injection device coupled to a span of the telecommunication line having a first end coupled to the waveguide system and a second end coupled to another waveguide system, the AC power injection device coupled to the telecommunication line at a location between the first end and the second end, wherein the energy is utilized by at least a subset of components of the waveguide system; and

transmitting, by the waveguide system, electromagnetic waves that convey the data, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the telecommunication line without requiring an electrical return path.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the signals are received via a tethered interface connecting the waveguide system with a network device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tethered interface comprises an optical fiber.