Method and apparatus for arranging communication sessions in a communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10340982-B2
Application number	US-201815860758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2018
Priority date	Oct 10, 2014
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 cables, wherein each of the plurality of cables is spaced apart from others of the plurality of cables, and 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 cables to utilize the channel reuse pattern to transmit the electromagnetic waves along respective ones of the surfaces of the plurality of cables, 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 electromagnetic wave interference analysis is based on the electromagnetic waves transmitted by waveguide systems of the plurality of waveguide systems.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristics of the electromagnetic waves comprise 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cables 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.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a positioning of the plurality of cables with respect to each one of the spacers of the plurality of spacers forms a center waveguide.

10. The method of claim 9 , 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.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the instances of the center waveguide system transmit electromagnetic waves via the center waveguide according to the channel reuse pattern.

12. 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.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges the communication sessions between the waveguide systems of the plurality of waveguide systems according to a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communication arrangement.

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

15. A system, comprising:
a memory to store instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations, the operations comprising:
determining a channel reuse pattern for adjusting characteristics of electromagnetic waves transmitted along surfaces of a plurality of cables, wherein each of the plurality of cables is spaced apart from others of the plurality of cables, and 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 cables to utilize the channel reuse pattern to transmit the electromagnetic waves along respective ones of the surfaces of the plurality of cables, 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 system of claim 15 , wherein the channel reuse pattern reduces signal interference between the electromagnetic waves propagating on the plurality of cables, and wherein the channel reuse pattern is determined based in part on a number of the plurality of cables.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of cables is bundled with a plurality of spacers that space each of the plurality of cables apart from one another.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of waveguide systems is separated by spacers in the plurality of spacers.

19. A system, comprising:
a memory to store instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations, the operations comprising:
determining a channel reuse pattern for adjusting characteristics of electromagnetic waves transmitted along surfaces of a plurality of cables, wherein each of the plurality of cables is spaced apart from others of the plurality of cables, and wherein the channel reuse pattern arranges communication sessions between waveguide systems of a plurality of waveguide systems according to a diversity communication arrangement; and
providing instructions to the plurality of waveguide systems coupled to the plurality of cables to utilize the channel reuse pattern to transmit the electromagnetic waves along respective ones of the surfaces of the plurality of cables, 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 system of claim 19 , wherein the channel reuse pattern is determined by analyzing an attenuation of the electromagnetic waves transmitted along each cable of the plurality of cables.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Henry Paul Shala
• Barnickel Donald J
• Bennett Robert
• Gerszberg Irwin
• Barzegar Farhad
• Willis Iii Thomas M

Classifications

• H02J13/1311

  using the power network as support for the transmission · CPC title

• G01R31/58

  Testing of lines, cables or conductors (testing of electric windings G01R31/72) · CPC title

• H02J13/1323

  using optical fibres · CPC title

• 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

• H04B3/54

  Systems for transmission via power distribution lines · CPC title