Transmission medium and communication interfaces and methods for use therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016164571-A1
Application number	US-201514734063-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving first electromagnetic waves via a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and inducing second electromagnetic waves at an interface of the transmission medium without the electrical return path. In an embodiment, the first and second electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range. Other embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a circuit, first electromagnetic waves guided by an inner portion of a cable without utilizing an electrical return path, wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a first non-optical frequency range; converting, by the circuit, the first electromagnetic waves to first electrical signals supplied to a first digital subscriber line (DSL) device; receiving, by the circuit, second electrical signals from the first DSL device; converting, by the circuit, the second electrical signals to second electromagnetic waves; and sending, by the circuit, the second electromagnetic waves to an interface of the cable for guiding propagation of the second electromagnetic waves via the inner portion of the cable without utilizing the electrical return path, wherein the second electromagnetic waves are directed to a second DSL device, and wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a second non-optical frequency range.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a plurality of cores, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves are bound to a first core of the plurality of cores, and wherein the second electromagnetic waves are bound to a second core of the plurality of cores.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the core comprises a dielectric material.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the core comprises an insulated conductor.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the core comprises an uninsulated conductor.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the cable further comprises a shell disposed at least in part on an outer surface of the core, wherein the core has a first dielectric constant, wherein the shell has a second dielectric constant, wherein the first dielectric constant is greater than the second dielectric constant, and wherein the cable further comprises a jacket disposed on the shell to further reduce exposure to an adverse environment.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the core is opaque and resistant to propagation of light waves.

8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the core has a non-circular cross section.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cross section is asymmetric.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cross section is symmetric.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cable supplies power to the circuit.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a plurality of cores, wherein a first core of the plurality of cores guides propagation of the first electromagnetic waves, and wherein a second core of the plurality of cores guides propagation of the second electromagnetic waves.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first DSL device and the second DSL device comprise a DSL modem or a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM).

14 . A first network element, comprising:
a circuit that facilitates performance of operations, comprising: receiving first electromagnetic waves generated by a second network element, the first electromagnetic waves being guided by an inner portion of a cable without utilizing an electrical return path, and the first electromagnetic waves having a first non-optical frequency range; and inducing second electromagnetic waves via an interface of the cable, the second electromagnetic waves directed to the second network element, the second electromagnetic waves being guided by the inner portion of the cable without utilizing the electrical return path, and the second electromagnetic waves having a second non-optical frequency range.

15 . The first network element of claim 14 , wherein the first network element provides uplink and downlink communication services to the second network element.

16 . The first network element of claim 14 , wherein the cable comprises a core that is resistant to a propagation of light waves, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves are bound to the core.

17 . The first network element of claim 16 , wherein the core comprises a dielectric material.

18 . The first network element of claim 16 , wherein the core comprises an insulated conductor.

19 . The first network element of claim 16 , wherein the core comprises an uninsulated conductor.

20 . The first network element of claim 16 , wherein the cable further comprises a shell disposed at least in part on an outer surface of the core, and wherein the shell reduces exposure of the first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves to an adverse environment.

21 . The first network element of claim 20 , wherein the core has a first dielectric constant, wherein the shell has a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant is greater than the second dielectric constant.

22 . A communication device, comprising:
a circuit that facilitates performance of operations, comprising: receiving first electromagnetic waves without utilizing an electrical return path via at least one core of a transmission medium, the first electromagnetic waves having a first non-optical frequency range; and inducing second electromagnetic waves at an interface of the at least one core for propagation of the second electromagnetic waves without utilizing the electrical return path, the second electromagnetic waves having a second non-optical frequency range.

23 . The communication device of claim 22 , wherein the transmission medium comprises a dielectric core surrounded at least in part by a shell, and wherein the dielectric core has a high propagation loss for light waves.

24 . The communication device of claim 22 , wherein the at least one core comprises a first core and a second core, the first core guiding propagation of the first electromagnetic waves, and the second core guiding propagation of the second electromagnetic waves.

25 . The communication device of claim 22 , wherein the transmission medium further comprises at least one conductor to supply power to the communication device via an electrical return path that operates independently of the propagation of the first and second electromagnetic waves.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02J13/1313

  using pulsed signals · CPC title

• H01P3/10

  Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor · CPC title

• H02J13/00

  Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network · CPC title

• H04B3/56

  Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals · CPC title

• H04B2203/5483

  using coupling circuits · CPC title