At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

T&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Ken Liu

Pamela A M Bogdan

Irwin Gerszberg

Farhad Barzegar

Donald J Barnickel

Robert Bennett

Paul Shala Henry

Thomas M Willis, Iii

George Blandino

Tracy Van Brakle

Leon Lubranski

David Michael Britz

Eric Myburgh

James Gordon Beattie, Jr

Brandon Pimm

Dorothy Zarsky

Harold Lee Rappaport

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a surveying system operable to receive a plurality of electromagnetic waves via a guided wave transceiver that include environmental data collected via a plurality of sensors at a plurality of remote sites. Weather pattern data is generated based on the environmental data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for surveying remote sites via guided wave communications

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a guided wave launcher includes an array of antennas that generates first near field signals. A dielectric lens is configured to guide the first near field signals to a surface of a transmission medium, the first near field signals inducing a first guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by the surface of the transmission medium and propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

Guided wave launcher with lens and methods for use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a utilities management system operable to receive via a guided wave transceiver a plurality of utility status signals from a plurality of utility sensors located at a plurality of supervised sites. Utility control data is generated based on the plurality of utility status signals. At least one control signal is generated for transmission via the guided wave transceiver to at least one of the plurality of supervised sites, and the at least one control signal includes at least one utility deployment instruction based on the utility control data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for utilities management via guided wave communication

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, by an unmanned aircraft including a processor, a control signal that causes the unmanned aircraft to fly in proximity to a transmission medium, where the unmanned aircraft includes a carrying system that releasably carries a communication device, and where a positioning of the communication device in proximity to the transmission medium enables the communication device to be physically connected on the transmission medium and enables the communication device to provide communications. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for deploying equipment of a communication system

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a target position of a particular physical location, accessing an image system that provides a number of images based on physical locations including the particular physical location, and obtaining a target image from the image system based on the particular physical location. The target image includes imaged features based on physical features of the particular physical location. Image processing is applied to the target image, and a particular physical feature is identified as a candidate deployment site based on the applying of the image processing, wherein the candidate deployment site is configured to accommodate equipment of a distributed communication network that facilitates transmission of electromagnetic waves along a surface of a transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Machine assisted development of deployment site inventory

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining power, by a communication device, from a current passing through a transmission medium via an inductive coupling between the communication device and the transmission medium where the communication device is physically connected with the transmission medium and providing communications, by the communication device, by electromagnetic waves that propagate without utilizing an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by one of the transmission medium or a dielectric core of a cable coupled to a feed point of a dielectric antenna. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for providing power using an inductive coupling

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a broadcast communication system that is operable to detect a first power outage. A first plurality of electromagnetic waves is generated for transmission to a plurality of user devices of the broadcast communication system via a guided wave transceiver, where the first plurality of electromagnetic waves includes an outage status signal generated in response to detecting the first power outage, and where the first plurality of electromagnetic waves is guided by at least one transmission medium and propagates without utilizing an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for broadcast communication via guided waves

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, wirelessly receiving test signals when an unmanned aircraft is at different positions in proximity to a transmission medium where the first group of test signals is transmitted from different locations, determining RF parameters associated with each of the test signals, and generating placement information indicative of a target location for a communication device to be positioned, where the placement information is generated based on the RF parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for collecting data associated with wireless communications

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a surveillance system operable to generate surveillance data based on a sensor input to at least one sensor device. A plurality of electromagnetic waves is generated for transmission to an administrator system of the surveillance system via a guided wave transceiver, where the plurality of electromagnetic waves includes a surveillance data signal generated based on the surveillance data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for surveillance via guided wave communication

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for use in a waveguide system that includes: receiving a wireless authentication request from a communication device, the wireless authentication request including a fiber authentication key; comparing, by the waveguide system, the fiber authentication key to fiber authentication data of the waveguide system to determine when the fiber authentication key is authenticated, wherein the fiber authentication data corresponds to a microwave fiber of the waveguide system; and when the fiber authentication key is authenticated, enabling communications with the communication device, wherein the communications include generating, by the waveguide system and in response to first wireless signals received from the communication device, first electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a frequency within a microwave frequency range.

Waveguide system with device-based authentication and methods for use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting an issue associated with data communications between a first node and a second node of a distributed communications system, wherein the issue is related to a change in a condition between the first node and the second node. Locations of the first and second nodes are determined. An intermediary node is identified, based on the locations of the first and second nodes and the detecting of the issue, wherein equipment of the intermediary node is operable to engage in wireless communications with the first and second nodes, and a redirection of data communications is facilitated between the first and second nodes responsive to the detecting of the issue. The redirection of the data communications places the equipment of the intermediary node in communications between the first node and the second node. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Edison, NJ, United States of America

Ken Liu