Client node device and methods for use therewith

• US 10,812,174 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2015
• 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: Bennett, Robert, Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mills, Donald L
• Application Number:
  US14/729,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20160359541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 3/58 Repeater circuits
• 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: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a client node device having a radio configured to wirelessly receive downstream channel signals from a communication network. An access point repeater (APR) launches the downstream channel signals on a guided wave communication system as guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium and to wirelessly transmit the downstream channel signals to at least one client device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A client node device comprising:

a radio configured to wirelessly receive first channel signals from a communication network; and

an access point repeater (APR) configured to launch the first channel signals on a guided wave communication system as first guided electromagnetic waves at non-optical frequencies that are bound to a physical structure of a transmission medium, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium to propagate along a surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the APR comprises;

an amplifier configured to amplify 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 to at least one client device;

an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more of the amplified first channel signals with the at least one client device;

a coupler configured to guide the amplified first channel signals to the transmission medium of the guided wave communication system so as to generate second guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path; and

a channel duplexer configured to transfer the amplified first channel signals to the coupler and to the channel selection filter.

2. The client node device of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium includes a wire and the first guided electromagnetic waves are bound to an outer surface of the wire.

3. The client node device of claim 1 wherein the radio receives the first channel signals from the communication network via one of:

a host node device coupled to the communication network or another client node device.

4. The client node device of claim 1, wherein the radio is an analog radio that adjusts the first channel signals by downconverting the first channel signals from higher carrier frequencies to lower carrier frequencies.

5. The client node device of claim 1, wherein the APR is further configured to extract second channel signals from the guided wave communication system;

and

wherein the radio wirelessly transmits the second channel signals to the communication network.

6. The client node device of claim 5, wherein the APR wirelessly receives third channel signals from the at least one client device;

and

wherein the radio wirelessly transmits the third channel signals to the communication network.

7. The client node device of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium includes one of:

a power line of a public utility or a dielectric core surrounded by a cladding and a jacket.

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

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

10. The client node device of claim 1 wherein the coupler comprises a conductorless dielectric waveguide.

11. The client node device of claim 1 wherein the coupler is non-coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.