Method and apparatus for mitigating interference affecting a propagation of electromagnetic waves guided by a transmission medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144036-B2
Application number	US-201514609573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for detecting an accumulation of a liquid on a transmission medium that may interfere with the propagation of guided electromagnetic waves on a surface of the transmission medium, and directing a device to remove at least a portion of the liquid accumulating on the surface of the transmission medium to mitigate the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
detecting, by a mitigation system comprising a processing circuit, a condition associated with an accumulation of a liquid on a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium comprises a physical transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium is used for transmitting or receiving guided electromagnetic waves along an outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the accumulation of the liquid has an adverse effect on a propagation of the guided electromagnetic waves along the outer surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path; and
enabling, by the mitigation system, a device to remove a portion of the accumulation of the liquid on the transmission medium.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a mechanism that generates a vibration on the transmission medium to remove the portion of the accumulation of the liquid.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mitigation system is an integral part of a waveguide system serving to mitigate an attenuation of the guided electromagnetic waves caused by the accumulation of the liquid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises measuring humidity in a vicinity of the transmission medium.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises performing a barometer reading in a vicinity of the transmission medium.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guided electromagnetic waves are transmitted or received by a waveguide system, and wherein the mitigation system and the waveguide system are separate devices.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring a vibration on the transmission medium produced by the device; and
directing the device to adjust the vibration.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining information associated with a physical characteristic of the transmission medium; and
initializing the device to produce a vibration on the transmission medium according to the information associated with the physical characteristic.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a deterioration of the device according to a vibration measured on the transmission medium.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises water.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device generates a sonic signal for removing the portion of the accumulation of the liquid on the transmission medium.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises predicting the accumulation of the liquid prior to its occurrence.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a vibration produced by the device with an accelerometer.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmission medium comprises a wire.

15. A device, comprising:
a sensor that facilitates detection of a condition associated with an accumulation of a liquid on an outer surface of a transmission medium, and wherein the transmission medium comprises a physical transmission medium;
a mitigation system that facilitates removing a portion of the liquid accumulating on the outer surface of the transmission medium; and
a processor coupled to a memory that facilitates storage of executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
detecting the accumulation of the liquid according to signals provided by the sensor; and
directing the mitigation system to remove the portion of the liquid accumulating on the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium is used for transmitting or receiving guided electromagnetic waves along the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the portion of the accumulation of the liquid has an adverse effect on a propagation of guided electromagnetic waves on the outer surface of the transmission medium.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the mitigation system comprises an electromechanical device that generates a vibration on the transmission medium to remove the portion of the accumulation of the liquid.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device is a component of a waveguide system that transmits or receives the guided electromagnetic waves.

18. The device of claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises a barometer, a humidity detector, or a rain sensor.

19. The device of claim 15 , wherein the detecting comprises predicting the accumulation of the liquid prior to its occurrence.

20. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
detecting an accumulation of a liquid on a transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium comprises a physical transmission medium; and
directing a system to remove at least a portion of the liquid accumulating on an outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium is used for transmitting or receiving guided electromagnetic waves along the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the portion of the accumulation of the liquid has an adverse effect on a propagation of guided electromagnetic waves on the outer surface of the transmission medium.

21. The machine-readable storage device of claim 20 , wherein the system comprises an electromechanical device that generates a vibration on the transmission medium to remove the portion of the accumulation of the liquid.

22. The machine-readable storage device of claim 20 , wherein the system is a component of a waveguide system that transmits or receives the guided electromagnetic waves.

23. The machine-readable storage device of claim 20 , wherein the accumulation of the liquid is detected by a sensor that indicates a condition associated with the accumulation of the liquid.

24. The machine-readable storage device of claim 20 , wherein the detecting comprises predicting the accumulation of the liquid prior to its occurrence.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp
• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Fuchs Mitchell Harvey
• Bennett Robert
• Gerszberg Irwin
• Reichmann Kenneth C

Classifications

• H04Q9/00

  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 title

• G01R31/00

  Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere ({measuring superconductive properties G01R33/1238;} testing line transmission systems H04B3/46; testing or measuring semiconductors or solid state devices during manufacture {H10P74/00}) · CPC title

• G08C23/06

  through light guides, e.g. optical fibres · CPC title

• H04B2203/5425

  improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control · CPC title

• B06B1/18 Primary

  wherein the vibrator is actuated by pressure fluid (B06B1/20 takes precedence) · CPC title