Guided Wave Communication System for Small Cell Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for higher bandwidth in wireless infrastructure due to widespread smartphone and portable device usage is not adequately met by existing macrocell base station devices, necessitating the deployment of small cells like microcells and picocells, while also requiring efficient methods for managing communication network deployments.

Innovation Solution

A guided wave communication system that uses electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium, such as wires, to transmit data without the need for an electrical return path, allowing for efficient propagation of signals along the surface of transmission media like coaxial cables or bare wires, and employs coupling devices to launch and extract these waves at millimeter-wave frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If small cell deployment is pursued to provide additional mobile bandwidth, then bandwidth capability is improved, but deployment complexity and management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth capabilityVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental transmission parameter from wireless radio frequency to guided electromagnetic waves on transmission media. This allows leveraging existing infrastructure (power lines, communication cables) for both power and data transmission, thereby improving bandwidth capability while reducing deployment complexity by eliminating the need for separate electrical return paths and simplifying network architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables transmission media to serve multiple functions simultaneously - carrying both electrical power and electromagnetic wave signals for data transmission. This multi-functionality allows existing infrastructure to support both power delivery and high-speed communication, reducing the need for additional dedicated infrastructure and simplifying small cell deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If traditional electromagnetic wave transmission is used, then data transmission is achieved, but propagation loss increases over distance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidpropagation loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transmission medium (wire, cable, or power line) as an intermediary carrier for electromagnetic waves. This intermediary guides the waves along a defined path, confining them and reducing energy dissipation into the surrounding environment. The guided waves experience lower propagation loss compared to unguided wireless transmission, enabling efficient data transmission over longer distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional wireless electromagnetic radiation with guided electromagnetic wave propagation along transmission media. This substitution fundamentally changes the transmission mechanism from free-space propagation (which suffers from spherical spreading loss) to guided propagation (which maintains energy confinement), thereby reducing propagation loss and improving transmission efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances data transmission efficiency by reducing propagation loss and enabling longer distances with lower signal degradation, while also simplifying deployment by eliminating the need for separate electrical return paths, thus supporting the increased bandwidth demands and facilitating the expansion of communication networks.

Implementation Method 1

A guided wave communication system that uses electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium, such as wires, to transmit data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20180294839A1Machine assisted development of deployment site inventory

Publication Date: 2018.10.11 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

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.