Method and procedure for generating reputation scores for IoT devices based on distributed analysis

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including obtaining a first set of votes from devices that are registered and enabled by a registration system to form a first network communicating with a processing system. The first set of votes relate to performance of a target device and indicate conformance to performance criteria for the first network. The processing system receives a reputation score for the target device from the registration system, and receives a second set of votes regarding target device performance from voting systems over a second network comprising a peer network including the processing system and the voting systems. The first and second sets of votes and the reputation score are aggregated to generate an updated reputation score for the target device. The registration system disables the target device when the reputation score falls below a threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to machine-to-machine communication devices in the Internet of Things (IoT), and more particularly to a method and procedure for generating reputation scores for those devices.

BACKGROUND

The Internet of Things (IoT) is based on cloud computing and generally comprises networks of low-cost data-enabled sensors. A network-enabled residence can include multiple IoT devices and a gateway that facilitates an exchange of network traffic between remote entities and one or more devices at, near or otherwise associated with the residence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a residence with IoT devices that are enabled and verified, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system functioning within the communication network of FIG. 1, including a network of IoT devices communicating with a network of voting managers for generating device reputation scores, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system functioning within the communication network of FIG. 1, in which a distributed network of voting managers analyzes votes regarding performance of public and private IoT devices, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2D is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method in which a registration gateway enables and disables IoT devices, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2E is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method in which IoT devices submit votes regarding performance of a target IoT device, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2F is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method in which a distributed network of voting managers analyze device performance votes to generate a device reputation score, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2G is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method in which a registration gateway re-enables an IoT device, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2H is a sequence diagram showing procedures for granting network access to an IoT device, collecting votes indicating malicious behavior of the device, and revoking network access of the device, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2I is a sequence diagram showing procedures for obtaining voting manager consensus regarding IoT devices, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a mobile network platform in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a guided-wave communications system in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a transmission device in accordance with various aspects described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments of a system and method for validating registration of IoT devices by generating reputation scores for those devices. Other embodiments are described in the subject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method comprising obtaining, by a processing system including a processor, a first set of votes from a plurality of devices; the devices are registered at and enabled by a registration system to form a first network communicating with the processing system. The first set of votes are with regard to performance of a target device and indicate a degree of conformance of the target device to performance criteria for the first network. The method also comprises receiving a reputation score for the target device from the registration system, and receiving a second set of votes regarding performance of the target device from a plurality of voting systems over a second network; the second network comprises a peer network including the processing system and the plurality of voting systems. The method further comprises aggregating the first set of votes, the reputation score, and the second set of votes to generate an updated reputation score for the target device. The method also comprises transmitting the updated reputation score for the target device to the registration system; the registration system disables the target device responsive to the updated reputation score being below a predetermined threshold.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a device comprising a processing system including a processor, and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations. The operations comprise obtaining a first set of votes from a plurality of devices; the plurality of devices are registered at and enabled by a registration system to form a first network communicating with the processing system. The first set of votes are with regard to performance of a target device and indicate a degree of conformance of the target device to performance criteria for the first network. The operations also comprise receiving a reputation score for the target device from the registration system, and receiving a second set of votes regarding performance of the target device from a plurality of voting systems over a second network; the second network comprises a peer network including the processing system and the plurality of voting systems, and the processing system is uniquely associated with the target device. The operations further comprise aggregating the first set of votes, the reputation score, and the second set of votes to generate an updated reputation score for the target device, and transmitting the updated reputation score for the target device to the registration system. The registration system disables the target device responsive to the updated reputation score being below a predetermined threshold; subsequent to disabling the target device, the registration system re-enables the target device according to a reputation score aging procedure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations. The operations comprise obtaining a first set of votes from a plurality of devices registered at and enabled by a registration system to form a first network communicating with the processing system. The first set of votes are with regard to performance of a target device and indicate a degree of conformance of the target device to performance criteria for the first network, and the first set of votes is obtained via a multicast message. The operations also comprise receiving a reputation score for the target device from the registration system, and receiving a second set of votes regarding performance of the target device from a plurality of voting systems over a second network. The second network comprises a peer network including the processing system and the plurality of voting systems, and the processing system is uniquely associated with the target device. The operations further comprise aggregating the first set of votes, the reputation score, and the second set of votes to generate an updated reputation score for the target device, and transmitting the updated reputation score for the target device to the registration system. The registration system disables the target device responsive to the updated reputation score being below a predetermined threshold.

In accordance with the embodiments described below, the subject disclosure provides a protocol to ensure that registration and enabling of a new IoT device also involves device monitoring and validation. In these embodiments, an IoT device is allowed to connect to a network, but has a neutral reputation until its behavior on the network is determined to conform to a predetermined standard, profile or baseline. The protocol is implemented using a distributed voting scheme. This is accomplished through interactions with other IoT devices on the same network and with network routing and switching elements. A new device's behavior over time establishes its reputation, which is expressed as a reputation score; the reputation score is thus an indicator of trustworthiness of the device.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network 100 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Network 100 can include processing systems for registering, enabling and monitoring IoT devices, and generating reputation scores for those devices, as detailed below.

In particular, a communications network 125 provides broadband access 110 to a plurality of data terminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access 120 to a plurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via base station or access point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality of telephony devices 134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140 to a plurality of audio/video display devices 144 via media terminal 142. In addition, communication network 125 is coupled to one or more content sources 175 of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media. While broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 and media access 140 are shown separately, one or more of these forms of access can be combined to provide multiple access services to a single client device (e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content via media terminal 142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access via switching device 132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements (NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or the distribution of content from content sources 175. The communications network 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP) network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G, or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network, UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless access network, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communications network.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem termination system (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal. The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers, netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interface specification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modem such as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/or other access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can include a 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point that operates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or other wireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobile phones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or other mobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a private branch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIP gateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. The telephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with or without a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephony devices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cable head-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or other media terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions with or without a set top box, personal computers and/or other display devices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcast television and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streaming video and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks, data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or other sources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can include wired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transfer points, service control points, network gateways, media distribution hubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and other network nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic over wired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and other public networks as well as one or more private networks, for managing subscriber access, for billing and network management and for supporting other network functions.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment 201 of a system functioning within the communication network of FIG. 1 and in accordance with various aspects described herein. As shown in FIG. 2A, a residence 212 has installed therein a group 210 of network-accessible devices (IoT devices). An IoT device 211 can be any one or more of a home security system (for example, including one or more of cameras, motion sensors, entry detectors, smoke and/or CO₂ detectors); smart home sensors and/or controllers (for example, smart thermostats, lighting controls, door entry controls); and user devices (for example, computers, tablet devices, VoIP telephones, mobile phones, remote controllers, game consoles, media processors, smart televisions, or personal digital assistants). It is understood that IoT devices, as referred to herein, can include virtually any network accessible device, such as a home appliance, a utility appliance, such as a utility meter, a vehicle, and/or any other device that participates in M2M communications.

In this embodiment, the group 210 of devices can be understood as a local area network (LAN) which can communicate with other networks via a registration gateway 213. Furthermore, the device network 210 communicates with a network 215 of voting managers; the voting managers collect and analyze votes regarding performance of the IoT devices and generate reputation scores for the devices, as detailed below. The registration gateway 213 and voting manager network 215 retrieve device reputation information from, and send updated reputation information to, reputation database 217.

In general, the performance of a given device on network 210 can be evaluated by comparing event data regarding the device (for example, traffic volume to or from another network device) with predetermined performance criteria. In various embodiments, a performance criterion regarding traffic volume can be expressed as a traffic threshold. A device associated with traffic exceeding the threshold can thus be voted on negatively by other devices. Other non-limiting examples of performance criteria include a set of IP addresses that can properly be accessed by a device and a set of actions that can properly be performed or requested by a device. If a device contacts an improper address or otherwise performs improperly (“bad behavior”), negative votes regarding the device will be directed by the other network devices to the voting manager network 215. The reputation score for the device will accordingly be reduced. In various embodiments, a device with a reputation score falling below a threshold can be removed from the network (“rogue” or “malicious” device).

In this embodiment, registration gateway 213 serves as device manager for the devices of network 210, and is responsible for authenticating the IoT devices. Registration gateway 213 can also receive data from an external reputation data feed 216 (that is, a source of reputation data other than votes gathered by the voting manager network 215).

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates an example, non-limiting embodiment 202 of a system functioning within the communication network of FIG. 1 in which public and private IoT devices communicate with a network of voting managers.

The voting manager network 215 is hosted in the cloud and includes voting manager components 225. The voting manager network aggregates votes from the devices of network 210 regarding performance of those devices; in general, for a network 210 having N devices, the voting manager network 215 continually receives votes regarding each device from the other N−1 devices. (A particular device whose performance is being monitored and voted on will be referred to herein as the target device.) As shown in FIG. 2B, voting is not centralized because all devices sending data to a single point of failure could degrade performance. In this embodiment, a decentralized voting algorithm is used in which the voting manager components 225 arrive at a consensus similar to a voting result that would be obtained with a centralized voting manager. For each target device under review, one voting manager component is designated as the root component; the root component leads the vote pertaining to that target device, as explained in detail below.

In various embodiments, IoT devices can include private and public devices based on their scope of use. A device attached to a single household (for example, a device belonging to local network 210) would be a private device, while a device attached to a public or common area such as a traffic sensor or a surveillance camera would be a public device (for example, device 222 attached to street sign 221). The registration gateway 213 can be adapted to have a hierarchical structure for registering public and private devices at different levels of trust. In general, public devices have a higher level of trust than private devices; public and private devices therefore can be assigned different weights by the voting algorithm.

In this embodiment, each IoT device (either a public device or a private device on a local residential network) maintains certain basic information:

• • (a) A list of valid IP addresses: These are endpoints that the IoT device should interact with for normal functionality
  • (b) A list of allowed services
  • (c) A set of thresholds for traffic for each allowed service
  • (d) A multicast address for the voting managers
  • (e) The address of the registration gatewayEach IoT device collects data regarding network traffic that it experiences. When a threshold is crossed, the IoT device transmits a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet via multicast to the voting manager network 215; the packet corresponds to a vote indicating that aberrant network behavior is occurring.

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates an example, non-limiting embodiment 203 of a system functioning within the communication network of FIG. 1, in which a network of voting managers 215 collects and analyzes votes from IoT devices operating on multiple local networks 210. For each device on the network, registration gateway 213 provides an initial or baseline reputation score to the voting manager network when the device is enabled.

An external reputation information source, shown in FIG. 2C as a server 231, can transmit a reputation score to the registration gateway. In an embodiment, the external information source can transmit information to the voting manager network regarding threats to the network.

Each target IoT device (for example, device 211) is associated with one voting manager component (for example, component 235), referred to herein as the root voting manager component for that device. In this embodiment, each IoT device has a universal unique identifier (UUID) and each voting manager component has a distinct identifier; these two identifiers are concatenated to form a unique tag, which is then hashed using a hashing algorithm (for example, Message Digest algorithm MD6). A hash tag value is thus generated for each voting manager component. The voting manager component having the lowest hash tag value is designated the root for the target device.

In this embodiment, each IoT device converts its network traffic information into a timeline of positive and negative event scores (votes) that are sent to the voting manager network via multicast. It will be appreciated that multiple voting manager components may thus receive votes from a particular device; this reduces the risk of a vote being lost. All votes from a given device are forwarded to the root voting manager associated with the device. In this embodiment, each vote contains a unique identifier to prevent it being counted multiple times.

In an IoT device network having a large number of sites (endpoints) monitoring traffic and submitting votes regarding a suspect event, a single event may trigger a correspondingly large number of votes. In an embodiment, reputation scores are scaled according to the number of voting devices so that a single event is interpreted appropriately (for example, so that the event is not judged by the voting managers as more severe than it actually is).

Each IoT device can monitor traffic at a variety of IP addresses, and generate a negative vote if traffic from a particular IP address exceeds a threshold. In this embodiment, each IoT device can also track connections or traffic at invalid locations or involving invalid services; flag traffic from invalid locations; or flag requests from addresses not recognized by the network. Any of these events can result in a multicast message to the voting manager network. In an embodiment, the message can include details of the suspect event (for example, the amount of traffic that exceeded the threshold level, or an identifier of an improperly accessed IP address).

A vote can be binary (that is, represented by a binary digit 1 or 0) indicating whether or not a device is meeting minimum performance criteria. Alternatively, a vote can have a numeric value over a range (for example, 1 to 10 or −100 to +100).

Each voting manager component collects event data received directly from the IoT devices or via a voting proxy. In an embodiment, the voting devices communicate with the registration gateway, which serves as a voting proxy. The voting manager components also receive reputation scores from the registration gateway for the devices being monitored.

The votes from the IoT devices, pertaining to a given target device, are routed to the root voting manager component associated with that device. In this embodiment, the votes from the IoT devices are weighted, with votes from devices having good reputations counting for more than votes from devices having poor reputations.

According to the voting algorithm in this embodiment, the voting manager components communicate with each other to determine the reputation score for a target device. Each voting manager component sends the root voting manager its estimate of the reputation score for the target device. The root voting manager aggregates the inputs from the other voting manager components with the existing reputation score for the device, and sends a new reputation score to the registration gateway.

In this embodiment, the registration gateway queries the external reputation information source (reputation data feed) for any additional information regarding the target device. The registration gateway then revises the new reputation score if necessary, and stores the reputation score in database 217.

The registration gateway can apply a reputation score threshold, and information from the reputation data feed, to determine whether the target device should be removed from the network. For example, if the score is slightly negative (but not below the threshold) and the target device has a flag in the reputation feed, or if the score is strongly negative (below the threshold), the registration gateway can drop the device from the network. In an embodiment, the registration gateway maintains a roster of enabled devices, and removes the suspect device from the roster.

In an embodiment, the above-described voting process repeats continually, with a new reputation score being determined on a timed basis. For example, when a new device joins the network its reputation score can be determined frequently, but over time as its score remains stable and positive, the reputation score can be determined less frequently until event data triggers a threshold and/or a timer is reset to reconsider the device as new and possibly suspect.

FIG. 2D is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method 204 performed by the registration gateway, in accordance with various aspects described herein. In step 2411, the registration gateway registers a new IoT device with a network (for example, a local network 210 having devices within, proximate to, or otherwise associated with a residence 212). If an external reputation data feed can provide data regarding a reputation score for the new device (step 2412), the initial reputation score is computed based on that information (step 2413); if not, the reputation score is set to a default value, e.g. zero (step 2414).

The registration gateway then enables the IoT device (step 2415), so that the device has access to other devices on the network and to the voting manager network. At this point, the IoT device is enabled with its initial (or default) reputation score. In this embodiment, the reputation score for a recently enabled device will be computed and updated more frequently than those of other devices.

In step 2416, the registration gateway provides the current reputation score for the device to the voting manager network. The voting manager network then proceeds to collect votes (step 2417); in an embodiment, the registration gateway plays the role of proxy by delivering the votes to the voting manager network. Alternatively, another device on the network such as a router can forward votes to the voting manager network.

The registration gateway receives the updated reputation score (step 2418); in this embodiment, the reputation score is received from the root voting manager component associated with the target device. The registration gateway then applies any additional data regarding device reputation obtained from the external reputation feed (step 2419) to determine the new reputation score.

If (step 2420) the score does not meet minimum network criteria (for example, the score is below a predetermined threshold or the external reputation feed has flagged some event involving the target device), the registration gateway proceeds to disable the target device (step 2421). Otherwise, the registration gateway provides the new score to the voting manager network and the voting process continues.

FIG. 2E is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method 205 performed by IoT devices in the local network, in accordance with various aspects described herein. After being registered and enabled by the registration gateway (step 2511), each device monitors traffic and connections at other devices (step 2512). In this embodiment, a device collects event data (step 2513) relating to traffic volume at other devices, connections to invalid ports or for invalid services, and/or traffic from invalid locations. Each device then converts the event data into a vote pertaining to another device (step 2514). In this embodiment, the vote is a numeric value that can be positive or negative. The IoT devices then send their votes to the voting manager network via multicast (step 2515).

FIG. 2F is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method 206 performed by voting managers, in accordance with various aspects described herein. In step 2611, a root voting manager is determined for an IoT device; as explained above, this can be done by combining identifier numbers for the target device and for each voting manager component, using a hash algorithm to generate a hash value for each voting manager component with respect to the target device, and selecting the voting manager component with the lowest hash value.

The voting manager network then receives a current reputation score for the target device from the registration gateway (step 2612), and receives votes from the various IoT devices via multicast (step 2613). Votes can be weighted according to the reputation score of the voting device, and/or whether the device is public or private.

The root voting manager interacts with other voting manager components to decide on a reputation score for the target device. Each of the other voting manager components sends the root its vote regarding a new reputation score for the target device (step 2614). Since the voting process is ongoing, these votes are continually updated. If the timer determines that a new score should be computed for the target device (step 2615), the root combines the votes and the existing reputation score (step 2616), and sends a combined/aggregated score to the registration gateway (step 2617).

FIG. 2G is a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method 207 performed by the registration gateway to re-enable a device, in accordance with various aspects described herein. In step 2711, the registration gateway determines an elapsed time since a device was disabled. The registration gateway then applies an aging factor to the reputation score (step 2712). In an embodiment, the device reputation score may be assigned a half-life time period, so that at after one such time period a score of −100 becomes −50, after a second time period the score becomes −25, and so on until a threshold is reached (for example, −5) for restoration to the network. If the reputation score has been restored to meet this threshold (step 2713), the registration gateway proceeds to re-enable the device. Alternatively, the registration gateway can re-enable a device on receiving a message (an event flag) that a remedial action (a patch) has been applied to the device to mitigate its previous bad behavior. In another embodiment, manual input by a system user is required to re-enable the device after the reputation score has been restored.

FIG. 2H is a sequence diagram 208 depicting an illustrative embodiment of procedures performed in accordance with various aspects described herein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2H, an IoT registration and reputation scoring system performs procedures 2801-2804:

Initial registration procedure 2801 includes enablement of IoT devices and granting of conditional access by the registration gateway. The registration gateway also sends a baseline reputation score to the voting manager (which can be a distributed network as described above). A third-party reputation information source 2815 sends the voting manager and registration gateway information feeds 2816, 2817 including known threats to the network.

Voting procedure 2802 includes detection of improper activity 2821 by an IoT device 2810. Another IoT device sends a report 2822 to the registration gateway. In this embodiment, the registration gateway collects votes 2825 from other devices; all these reports and votes are sent to the voting manager via multicast 2827. The voting manager can also receive votes 2828 from sources outside the network.

Device exclusion procedure 2803 includes revocation by the registration gateway of network access for device 2810, in response to a decision 2831 by the voting manager that device 2810 has performed improperly. In this embodiment, the voting manager can also send a message 2832 to the third-party information source 2815 that includes attributes of device 2810.

Device restoration procedure 2804 includes a notification 2841 from the excluded device to the registration gateway that the device has been patched, and should therefore be re-admitted to the network. In response to this notification, the registration gateway again grants device 2810 conditional access to the network.

FIG. 2I is a sequence diagram 209 depicting an illustrative embodiment of procedures performed in accordance with various aspects described herein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2I, the voting manager components interact with each other and with IoT devices by performing procedures 2901-2903:

In IoT site registration procedure 2901, IoT devices at endpoints (sites) 2911, 2912 of a network are respectively associated with voting managers 2913, 2914 of the voting manager network. As explained above, one voting manager of the voting manager network can be designated as the root voting manager for a device.

In voting manager consensus procedure 2902, all of the voting manager components of the network exchange messages according to a root protocol, to arrive at a consensus reputation score for each of the IoT devices.

In root identification procedure 2903, the designated root voting managers 2913, 2914 send their identifiers to their respective IoT devices 2911, 2912, and receive messages from those devices acknowledging that the devices are assigned to those root voting managers.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIGS. 2D-2G and are shown in a particular order in FIGS. 2H-2I, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not so limited, as some processes may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other processes from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks or processes may be required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram is shown illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication network 300 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Network 300 includes virtual elements that can perform the above-described operations of obtaining content, generating and storing versions of content, configuring presentation of content versions, and providing alternate presentation versions based on audience reactions. In particular, virtualized communication network 300 can be used to implement some or all of the subsystems and functions of communication network 100, the subsystems and functions of systems 201-204, and method 205 presented in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leverages cloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via a transport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or one or more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, this cloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leverages application programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity from services and operations; supports more nimble business models; and rapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirements including traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity of performance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typically integrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communication network employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330, 332, 334, etc. that perform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. For example, the network architecture can provide a substrate of networking capability, often called Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that is capable of being directed with software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocols to perform a broad variety of network functions and services. This infrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most typical type of substrate being servers that support Network Function Virtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding capabilities based on generic computing resources, with specialized network technologies brought to bear when general purpose processors or general purpose integrated circuit devices offered by merchants (referred to herein as merchant silicon) are not appropriate. In this case, communication services can be implemented as cloud-centric workloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 1), such as an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330 composed of NFV software modules, merchant silicon, and associated controllers. The software can be written so that increasing workload consumes incremental resources from a common resource pool, and moreover so that it is elastic: the resources are only consumed when needed. In a similar fashion, other network elements such as other routers, switches, edge caches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the common resource pool. Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planning and growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wired and/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces to provide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distribution of content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, in some cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place, and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times, the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannot be abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code and analog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementation as VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included in transport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transport layer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide specific NFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325 leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to support networking workloads. The VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-one mapping of traditional network element function or alternately some combination of network functions designed for cloud computing. For example, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain name system (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility management entity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers for IP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers and other network elements. Because these elements don't typically need to forward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributed across a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of the capability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higher availability than its former monolithic version. These VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. can be instantiated and managed using an orchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualized network function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilities of the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expanded capabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. In particular, network workloads may have applications distributed across the virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computing environment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrate workloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these third party locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram of a computing environment 400 in which various aspects of the subject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computing environment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point 122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented via computer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers, and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer system configurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors as well as other application specific circuits such as an application specific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine, programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals or data and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. It should be noted that while any functions and features described herein in association with the operation of a processor could likewise be performed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be also practiced in distributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which can comprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media, which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows. Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media that can be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implemented in connection with any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured data or unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices or other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to store desired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or “non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory or computer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude only propagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquish rights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructured data in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any information delivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media comprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can comprise a computer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, a system memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couples system components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406 to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as the processing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that can further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of commercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406 comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can be stored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer 402, such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette 418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or, to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as the DVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can be connected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, a magnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428, respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external drive implementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies are within contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media provide nonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executable instructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storage media accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format. Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refers to a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of storage media which are readable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the example operating environment, and further, that any such storage media can contain computer-executable instructions for performing the methods described herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412, comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs 432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions of the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also be cached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can be implemented utilizing various commercially available operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 through one or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and a pointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown) can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through an input device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408, but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected to the system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. It will also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444 can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display, a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving display information associated with computer 402 via any communication means, including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to the monitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remote computer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, a personal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainment appliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typically comprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer 402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprise wired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/or larger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WAN networking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, and facilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all of which can connect to a global communications network, e.g., the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can be connected to the local network 452 through a wired and/or wireless communication network interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise a wireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the wireless adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprise a modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN 454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal or external and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the system bus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are example and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers can be used.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wireless devices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable data assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or location associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, the communication can be a predefined structure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bed in a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wired networks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with products that contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can provide real-world performance similar to the basic 10 BaseT wired Ethernet networks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform 510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. In one or more embodiments, the mobile network platform 510 can generate and receive signals transmitted and received by base stations or access points such as base station or access point 122. Generally, mobile network platform 510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation for networked wireless telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, mobile network platform 510 can be included in telecommunications carrier networks, and can be considered carrier-side components as discussed elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 510 comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which can interface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephony network(s) 540 (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 can authorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, or roaming, data generated through SS7 network 560; for instance, mobility data stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside in memory 530. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PS gateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gateway node(s) 512 can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PS gateway node(s) 518, and serving node(s) 516, is provided and dictated by radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 510 for telecommunication over a radio access network 520 with other devices such as radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic and signaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticate PS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions can comprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to the mobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550, enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can be embodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced with mobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to be noted that WAN 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at least in part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Based on radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) of radio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packet data protocol contexts when a data session is established; other data structures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can be generated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 can comprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in 3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetized communication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Fi networks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises serving node(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) within technology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey the various packetized flows of data streams received through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that rely primarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s) can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRS support node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s) 514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applications that can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows, and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Such application(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (for example, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided by mobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that are part of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gateway node(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a data session, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. In addition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utility server(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, an operations and maintenance server, a security server that can implement at least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as other security mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s) secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 to ensure network's operation and data integrity in addition to authorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512 and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s) can provision services from external network(s) like networks operated by a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or Global Positioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s) can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobile network platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same service provider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown in FIG. 1(s) that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more network coverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processors configured to confer at least in part the functionality of macro wireless network platform 510. To that end, the one or more processor can execute code instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It is should be appreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, which operates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related to operation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational information can comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served through mobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; application intelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rate programs, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistent with telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, or wireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also store information from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7 network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 can be, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as a remotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosed subject matter, FIG. 5, and the following discussion, are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in which the various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented. While the subject matter has been described above in the general context of computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination with other program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a communication device 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as an illustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobile devices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devices for communication via either communications network 125.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, a power supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, an orientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operations thereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth® and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device 600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device 600 or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display 610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In an embodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 with navigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a user interface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, the communication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interface having graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can be used to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the user interface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housing assembly of the communication device 600 or an independent device communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard in proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI 604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device 600 to facilitate long-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or in combination, the charging system can utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port or other suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used for facilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618 can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motion of the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. The orientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device 600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wireless access points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits, and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executing computer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by the aforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communication device 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifying subscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so on.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in the claims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only and doesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “a first determination,” “a second determination,” and “a third determination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determination is to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “data store,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile and nonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further, nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can comprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can be practiced with other computer system configurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tablet computers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network; however, some if not all aspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more features described herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection with automatically identifying acquired cell sites that provide a maximum value/benefit after addition to an existing communication network) can employ various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodiments thereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a ranking or priority of each cell site of the acquired network. A classifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, . . . , xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is, f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysis utilities and costs) to determine or infer an action that a user desires to be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is an example of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates by finding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which the hypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from the non-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classification correct for testing data that is near, but not identical to training data. Other directed and undirected model classification approaches comprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification models providing different patterns of independence can be employed. Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments can employ classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generic training data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UE behavior, operator preferences, historical information, receiving extrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via a learning or training phase within a classifier constructor and feature selection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automatically learn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited to determining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquired cell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which of the acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existing communication network coverage, etc.

In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can be generated including services being accessed, media consumption history, user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained by various methods including user input, detecting types of communications (e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams, sampling, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring of this information can be responsive to an authorization provided by the user. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject to authorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in, an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selective authorization based on types of data, and so forth.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, the terms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, or comprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. As an example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration and not limitation, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts, the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to execute software or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality of the electronic components. While various components have been illustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiple components can be implemented as a single component, or a single component can be implemented as multiple components, without departing from example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method, apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communications media. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications can be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to mean serving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,” subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobile device” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to a wireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wireless communication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with reference to the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” and the like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless context warrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should be appreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automated components supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacity to make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms), which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components or computer-readable storage media described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory.

In various embodiments, network communications can be facilitated using a guided wave communications system, as described below.

In an embodiment, a guided wave communication system is presented for sending and receiving communication signals such as data or other signaling via guided electromagnetic waves. The guided electromagnetic waves include, for example, surface waves or other electromagnetic waves that are bound to or guided by a transmission medium as described herein. It will be appreciated that a variety of transmission media can be utilized with guided wave communications without departing from example embodiments. Examples of such transmission media can include one or more of the following, either alone or in one or more combinations: wires, whether insulated or not, and whether single-stranded or multi-stranded; conductors of other shapes or configurations including unshielded twisted pair cables including single twisted pairs, Category 5e and other twisted pair cable bundles, other wire bundles, cables, rods, rails, pipes; non-conductors such as dielectric pipes, rods, rails, or other dielectric members; combinations of conductors and dielectric materials such as coaxial cables; or other guided wave transmission media.

The inducement of guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium can be independent of any electrical potential, charge or current that is injected or otherwise transmitted through the transmission medium as part of an electrical circuit. For example, in the case where the transmission medium is a wire, it is to be appreciated that while a small current in the wire may be formed in response to the propagation of the electromagnetic waves guided along the wire, this can be due to the propagation of the electromagnetic wave along the wire surface, and is not formed in response to electrical potential, charge or current that is injected into the wire as part of an electrical circuit. The electromagnetic waves traveling along the wire therefore do not require an electrical circuit (i.e., ground or other electrical return path) to propagate along the wire surface. The wire therefore is a single wire transmission line that is not part of an electrical circuit. For example, electromagnetic waves can propagate along a wire configured as an electrical open circuit. Also, in some embodiments, a wire is not necessary, and the electromagnetic waves can propagate along a single line transmission medium that is not a wire including a single line transmission medium that is conductorless. Accordingly, electromagnetic waves can propagate along a physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

More generally, “guided electromagnetic waves” or “guided waves” as described by the subject disclosure are affected by the presence of a physical object that is at least a part of the transmission medium (e.g., a bare wire or other conductor, a dielectric including a dielectric core without a conductive shield and/or without an inner conductor, an insulated wire, a conduit or other hollow element whether conductive or not, a bundle of insulated wires that is coated, covered or surrounded by a dielectric or insulator or other wire bundle, or another form of solid, liquid or otherwise non-gaseous transmission medium) so as to be at least partially bound to or guided by the physical object and so as to propagate along a transmission path of the physical object. Such a physical object can operate as at least a part of a transmission medium that guides, by way of one or more interfaces of the transmission medium (e.g., an outer surface, inner surface, an interior portion between the outer and the inner surfaces or other boundary between elements of the transmission medium). In this fashion, a transmission medium may support multiple transmission paths over different surfaces of the transmission medium. For example, a stranded cable or wire bundle may support electromagnetic waves that are guided by the outer surface of the stranded cable or wire bundle, as well as electromagnetic waves that are guided by inner cable surfaces between two, three or more individual strands or wires within the stranded cable or wire bundle. For example, electromagnetic waves can be guided within interstitial areas of a stranded cable, insulated twisted pair wires, or a wire bundle. The guided electromagnetic waves of the subject disclosure are launched from a sending (transmitting) device and propagate along the transmission medium for reception by at least one receiving device. The propagation of guided electromagnetic waves, can carry energy, data and/or other signals along the transmission path from the sending device to the receiving device.

As used herein the term “conductor” (based on a definition of the term “conductor” from IEEE 100, the Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms, 7^th Edition, 2000) means a substance or body that allows a current of electricity to pass continuously along it. The terms “insulator”, “conductorless” or “nonconductor” (based on a definition of the term “insulator” from IEEE 100, the Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms, 7^th Edition, 2000) means a device or material in which electrons or ions cannot be moved easily. It is possible for an insulator, or a conductorless or nonconductive material to be intermixed intentionally (e.g., doped) or unintentionally into a resulting substance with a small amount of another material having the properties of a conductor. However, the resulting substance may remain substantially resistant to a flow of a continuous electrical current along the resulting substance. Furthermore, a conductorless member such as a dielectric rod or other conductorless core lacks an inner conductor and a conductive shield. As used herein, the term “eddy current” (based on a definition of the term “conductor” from IEEE 100, the Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms, 7^th Edition, 2000) means a current that circulates in a metallic material as a result of electromotive forces induced by a variation of magnetic flux. Although it may be possible for an insulator, conductorless or nonconductive material in the foregoing embodiments to allow eddy currents that circulate within the doped or intermixed conductor and/or a very small continuous flow of an electrical current along the extent of the insulator, conductorless or nonconductive material, any such continuous flow of electrical current along such an insulator, conductorless or nonconductive material is de minimis compared to the flow of an electrical current along a conductor. Accordingly, in the subject disclosure an insulator, and a conductorless or nonconductor material are not considered to be a conductor. The term “dielectric” means an insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not continuously flow through the material as they do in a conductor, but only slightly shift from their average equilibrium positions causing dielectric polarization. The terms “conductorless transmission medium or non-conductor transmission medium” can mean a transmission medium consisting of any material (or combination of materials) that may or may not contain one or more conductive elements but lacks a continuous conductor between the sending and receiving devices along the conductorless transmission medium or non-conductor transmission medium—similar or identical to the aforementioned properties of an insulator, conductorless or nonconductive material.

Unlike free space propagation of wireless signals such as unguided (or unbounded) electromagnetic waves that decrease in intensity inversely by the square of the distance traveled by the unguided electromagnetic waves, guided electromagnetic waves can propagate along a transmission medium with less loss in magnitude per unit distance than experienced by unguided electromagnetic waves.

Unlike electrical signals, guided electromagnetic waves can propagate along different types of transmission media from a sending device to a receiving device without requiring a separate electrical return path between the sending device and the receiving device. As a consequence, guided electromagnetic waves can propagate from a sending device to a receiving device along a conductorless transmission medium including a transmission medium having no conductive components (e.g., a dielectric strip, rod, or pipe), or via a transmission medium having no more than a single conductor (e.g., a single bare wire or insulated wire configured in an open electrical circuit). Even if a transmission medium includes one or more conductive components and the guided electromagnetic waves propagating along the transmission medium generate currents that flow in the one or more conductive components in a direction of the guided electromagnetic waves, such guided electromagnetic waves can propagate along the transmission medium from a sending device to a receiving device without requiring a flow of opposing currents on an electrical return path between the sending device and the receiving device (i.e., in an electrical open circuit configuration).

In a non-limiting illustration, consider electrical systems that transmit and receive electrical signals between sending and receiving devices by way of conductive media. Such systems generally rely on an electrical forward path and an electrical return path. For instance, consider a coaxial cable having a center conductor and a ground shield that are separated by an insulator. Typically, in an electrical system a first terminal of a sending (or receiving) device can be connected to the center conductor, and a second terminal of the sending (or receiving) device can be connected to the ground shield or other second conductor. If the sending device injects an electrical signal in the center conductor via the first terminal, the electrical signal will propagate along the center conductor causing forward currents in the center conductor, and return currents in the ground shield or other second conductor. The same conditions apply for a two terminal receiving device.

In contrast, consider a guided wave communication system such as described in the subject disclosure, which can utilize different embodiments of a transmission medium (including among others a coaxial cable) for transmitting and receiving guided electromagnetic waves without requiring an electrical return path. In one embodiment, for example, the guided wave communication system of the subject disclosure can be configured to induce guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of a coaxial cable. Although the guided electromagnetic waves can cause forward currents on the ground shield, the guided electromagnetic waves do not require return currents on, for example, the center conductor to enable the guided electromagnetic waves to propagate along the outer surface of the coaxial cable. The same can be said of other transmission media used by a guided wave communication system for the transmission and reception of guided electromagnetic waves. For example, guided electromagnetic waves induced by the guided wave communication system on a bare wire, an insulated wire, or a dielectric transmission medium (e.g., a dielectric core with no conductive materials), can propagate along the bare wire, the insulated bare wire, or the dielectric transmission medium without requiring return currents on an electrical return path.

Consequently, electrical systems that require forward and return conductors for carrying corresponding forward and reverse currents on conductors to enable the propagation of electrical signals injected by a sending device are distinct from guided wave systems that induce guided electromagnetic waves on an interface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path to enable the propagation of the guided electromagnetic waves along the interface of the transmission medium. It is also noted that a transmission medium having an electrical return path (e.g., ground) for purposes of conducting currents (e.g., a power line) can be used to contemporaneously propagate electromagnetic waves along the transmission medium. However, the propagation of the electromagnetic waves is not dependent on the electrical currents flowing through the transmission medium. For example, if the electrical currents flowing through the transmission medium stop flowing for any reason (e.g., a power outage), electromagnetic waves propagating along the transmission medium can continue to propagate without interruption.

It is further noted that guided electromagnetic waves as described in the subject disclosure can have an electromagnetic field structure that lies primarily or substantially on an outer surface of a transmission medium so as to be bound to or guided by the outer surface of the transmission medium and so as to propagate non-trivial distances on or along the outer surface of the transmission medium. In other embodiments, guided electromagnetic waves can have an electromagnetic field structure that substantially lies above an outer surface of a transmission medium, but is nonetheless bound to or guided by the transmission medium and so as to propagate non-trivial distances on or along the transmission medium. In other embodiments, guided electromagnetic waves can have an electromagnetic field structure that has a field strength that is de minimis at the outer surface, below the outer surface, and/or in proximity to the outer surface of a transmission medium, but is nonetheless bound to or guided by the transmission medium and so as to propagate non-trivial distances along the transmission medium. In other embodiments, guided electromagnetic waves can have an electromagnetic field structure that lies primarily or substantially below an outer surface of a transmission medium so as to be bound to or guided by an inner material of the transmission medium (e.g., dielectric material) and so as to propagate non-trivial distances within the inner material of the transmission medium. In other embodiments, guided electromagnetic waves can have an electromagnetic field structure that lies within a region that is partially below and partially above an outer surface of a transmission medium so as to be bound to or guided by this region of the transmission medium and so as to propagate non-trivial distances along this region of the transmission medium. It will be appreciated that electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium or are otherwise guided by a transmission medium (i.e., guided electromagnetic waves) can have an electric field structure such as described in one or more of the foregoing embodiments. The desired electromagnetic field structure in an embodiment may vary based upon a variety of factors, including the desired transmission distance, the characteristics of the transmission medium itself, environmental conditions/characteristics outside of the transmission medium (e.g., presence of rain, fog, atmospheric conditions, etc.), and characteristics of an electromagnetic wave that are configurable by a launcher as will be described below (e.g., configurable wave mode, configurable electromagnetic field structure, configurable polarity, configurable wavelength, configurable bandwidth, and so on).

Various embodiments described herein relate to coupling devices, that can be referred to as “waveguide coupling devices”, “waveguide couplers” or more simply as “couplers”, “coupling devices” or “launchers” for launching and/or receiving/extracting guided electromagnetic waves to and from a transmission medium, wherein a wavelength of the guided electromagnetic waves can be small compared to one or more dimensions of the coupling device and/or the transmission medium such as the circumference of a wire or other cross sectional dimension. Such electromagnetic waves can operate at millimeter wave frequencies (e.g., 30 to 300 GHz), or lower than microwave frequencies such as 300 MHz to 30 GHz. Electromagnetic waves can be induced to propagate along a transmission medium by a coupling device, such as: a strip, arc or other length of dielectric material; a millimeter wave integrated circuit (MMIC), a horn, monopole, dipole, rod, slot, patch, planar or other antenna; an array of antennas; a magnetic resonant cavity or other resonant coupler; a coil, a strip line, a coaxial waveguide, a hollow waveguide, or other waveguide and/or other coupling device. In operation, the coupling device receives an electromagnetic wave from a transmitter or transmission medium. The electromagnetic field structure of the electromagnetic wave can be carried below an outer surface of the coupling device, substantially on the outer surface of the coupling device, within a hollow cavity of the coupling device, can be radiated from a coupling device or a combination thereof. When the coupling device is in close proximity to a transmission medium, at least a portion of an electromagnetic wave couples to or is bound to the transmission medium, and continues to propagate as guided electromagnetic waves along the transmission medium. In a reciprocal fashion, a coupling device can receive or extract at least a portion of the guided electromagnetic waves from a transmission medium and transfer these electromagnetic waves to a receiver. The guided electromagnetic waves launched and/or received by the coupling device propagate along the transmission medium from a sending device to a receiving device without requiring an electrical return path between the sending device and the receiving device. In this circumstance, the transmission medium acts as a waveguide to support the propagation of the guided electromagnetic waves from the sending device to the receiving device.

According to an example embodiment, a surface wave is a type of guided wave that is guided by a surface of a transmission medium, such as an exterior or outer surface or an interior or inner surface including an interstitial surface of the transmission medium such as the interstitial area between wires in a multi-stranded cable, insulated twisted pair wires, or wire bundle, and/or another surface of the transmission medium that is adjacent to or exposed to another type of medium having different properties (e.g., dielectric properties). Indeed, in an example embodiment, a surface of the transmission medium that guides a surface wave can represent a transitional surface between two different types of media. For example, in the case of a bare wire or uninsulated wire, the surface of the wire can be the outer or exterior conductive surface of the bare wire or uninsulated wire that is exposed to air or free space. As another example, in the case of insulated wire, the surface of the wire can be the conductive portion of the wire that meets an inner surface of the insulator portion of the wire. A surface of the transmission medium can be any one of an inner surface of an insulator surface of a wire or a conductive surface of the wire that is separated by a gap composed of, for example, air or free space. A surface of a transmission medium can otherwise be any material region of the transmission medium. For example, the surface of the transmission medium can be an inner portion of an insulator disposed on a conductive portion of the wire that meets the insulator portion of the wire. The surface that guides an electromagnetic wave can depend upon the relative differences in the properties (e.g., dielectric properties) of the insulator, air, and/or the conductor and further dependent on the frequency and propagation mode or modes of the guided wave.

According to an example embodiment, the term “about” a wire or other transmission medium used in conjunction with a guided wave can include fundamental guided wave propagation modes such as a guided wave having a circular or substantially circular field pattern/distribution, a symmetrical electromagnetic field pattern/distribution (e.g., electric field or magnetic field) or other fundamental mode pattern at least partially around a wire or other transmission medium. Unlike Zenneck waves that propagate along a single planar surface of a planar transmission medium, the guided electromagnetic waves of the subject disclosure that are bound to a transmission medium can have electromagnetic field patterns that surround or circumscribe, at least in part, a non-planar surface of the transmission medium with electromagnetic energy in all directions, or in all but a finite number of azimuthal null directions characterized by field strengths that approach zero field strength for infinitesimally small azimuthal widths.

For example, such non-circular field distributions can be unilateral or multi-lateral with one or more axial lobes characterized by relatively higher field strength and/or one or more nulls directions of zero field strength or substantially zero-field strength or null regions characterized by relatively low-field strength, zero-field strength and/or substantially zero-field strength. Further, the field distribution can otherwise vary as a function of azimuthal orientation around a transmission medium such that one or more angular regions around the transmission medium have an electric or magnetic field strength (or combination thereof) that is higher than one or more other angular regions of azimuthal orientation, according to an example embodiment. It will be appreciated that the relative orientations or positions of the guided wave higher order modes, particularly asymmetrical modes, can vary as the guided wave travels along the wire.

In addition, when a guided wave propagates “about” a wire or other type of transmission medium, it can do so according to a guided wave propagation mode that includes not only the fundamental wave propagation modes (e.g., zero order modes), but additionally or alternatively, non-fundamental wave propagation modes such as higher-order guided wave modes (e.g., 1^st order modes, 2^nd order modes, etc.). Higher-order modes include symmetrical modes that have a circular or substantially circular electric or magnetic field distribution and/or a symmetrical electric or magnetic field distribution, or asymmetrical modes and/or other guided (e.g., surface) waves that have non-circular and/or asymmetrical field distributions around the wire or other transmission medium. For example, the guided electromagnetic waves of the subject disclosure can propagate along a transmission medium from the sending device to the receiving device or along a coupling device via one or more guided wave modes such as a fundamental transverse magnetic (TM) TM00 mode (or Goubau mode), a fundamental hybrid mode (EH or HE) “EH00” mode or “HE00” mode, a transverse electromagnetic “TEMnm” mode, a total internal reflection (TIR) mode or any other mode such as EHnm, HEnm or TMnm, where n and/or m have integer values greater than or equal to 0, and other fundamental, hybrid and non-fundamental wave modes.

As used herein, the term “guided wave mode” refers to a guided wave propagation mode of a transmission medium, coupling device or other system component of a guided wave communication system that propagates for non-trivial distances along the length of the transmission medium, coupling device or other system component.

As used herein, the term “millimeter-wave” can refer to electromagnetic waves/signals that fall within the “millimeter-wave frequency band” of 30 GHz to 300 GHz. The term “microwave” can refer to electromagnetic waves/signals that fall within a “microwave frequency band” of 300 MHz to 300 GHz. The term “radio frequency” or “RF” can refer to electromagnetic waves/signals that fall within the “radio frequency band” of 10 kHz to 1 THz. It is appreciated that wireless signals, electrical signals, and guided electromagnetic waves as described in the subject disclosure can be configured to operate at any desirable frequency range, such as, for example, at frequencies within, above or below millimeter-wave and/or microwave frequency bands. In particular, when a coupling device or transmission medium includes a conductive element, the frequency of the guided electromagnetic waves that are carried by the coupling device and/or propagate along the transmission medium can be below the mean collision frequency of the electrons in the conductive element. Further, the frequency of the guided electromagnetic waves that are carried by the coupling device and/or propagate along the transmission medium can be a non-optical frequency, e.g., a radio frequency below the range of optical frequencies that begins at 1 THz.

It is further appreciated that a transmission medium as described in the subject disclosure can be configured to be opaque or otherwise resistant to (or at least substantially reduce) a propagation of electromagnetic waves operating at optical frequencies (e.g., greater than 1 THz).

As used herein, the term “antenna” can refer to a device that is part of a transmitting or receiving system to transmit/radiate or receive free space wireless signals.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a block diagram 700 illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a guided wave communications system is shown. In operation, a transmission device 701 receives one or more communication signals 710 from a communication network or other communications device that includes data and generates guided waves 720 to convey the data via the transmission medium 725 to the transmission device 702. The transmission device 702 receives the guided waves 720 and converts them to communication signals 712 that include the data for transmission to a communications network or other communications device. The guided waves 720 can be modulated to convey data via a modulation technique such as phase shift keying, frequency shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, amplitude modulation, multi-carrier modulation such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and via multiple access techniques such as frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing, multiplexing via differing wave propagation modes and via other modulation and access strategies.

The communication network or networks can include a wireless communication network such as a mobile data network, a cellular voice and data network, a wireless local area network (e.g., WiFi or an IEEE 802.xx network), a satellite communications network, a personal area network or other wireless network. The communication network or networks can also include a wired communication network such as a telephone network, an Ethernet network, a local area network, a wide area network such as the Internet, a broadband access network, a cable network, a fiber optic network, or other wired network. The communication devices can include a network edge device, bridge device or home gateway, a set-top box, broadband modem, telephone adapter, access point, base station, or other fixed communication device, a mobile communication device such as an automotive gateway or automobile, laptop computer, tablet, smartphone, cellular telephone, or other communication device.

In an example embodiment, the guided wave communication system 700 can operate in a bi-directional fashion where transmission device 702 receives one or more communication signals 712 from a communication network or device that includes other data and generates guided waves 722 to convey the other data via the transmission medium 725 to the transmission device 701. In this mode of operation, the transmission device 701 receives the guided waves 722 and converts them to communication signals 710 that include the other data for transmission to a communications network or device. The guided waves 722 can be modulated to convey data via a modulation technique such as phase shift keying, frequency shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, amplitude modulation, multi-carrier modulation such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and via multiple access techniques such as frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing, multiplexing via differing wave propagation modes and via other modulation and access strategies.

The transmission medium 725 can include a cable having at least one inner portion surrounded by a dielectric material such as an insulator or other dielectric cover, coating or other dielectric material, the dielectric material having an outer surface and a corresponding circumference. In an example embodiment, the transmission medium 725 operates as a single-wire transmission line to guide the transmission of an electromagnetic wave. When the transmission medium 725 is implemented as a single wire transmission system, it can include a wire. The wire can be insulated or uninsulated, and single-stranded or multi-stranded (e.g., braided). In other embodiments, the transmission medium 725 can contain conductors of other shapes or configurations including wire bundles, cables, rods, rails, pipes. In addition, the transmission medium 725 can include non-conductors such as dielectric pipes, rods, rails, or other dielectric members; combinations of conductors and dielectric materials, conductors without dielectric materials or other guided wave transmission media and/or consist essentially of non-conductors such as dielectric pipes, rods, rails, or other dielectric members that operate without a continuous conductor such as an inner conductor or a conductive shield. It should be noted that the transmission medium 725 can otherwise include any of the transmission media previously discussed.

Further, as previously discussed, the guided waves 720 and 722 can be contrasted with radio transmissions over free space/air or conventional propagation of electrical power or signals through the conductor of a wire via an electrical circuit. In addition to the propagation of guided waves 720 and 722, the transmission medium 725 may optionally contain one or more wires that propagate electrical power or other communication signals in a conventional manner as a part of one or more electrical circuits.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a block diagram 800 illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a transmission device is shown. The transmission device 701 or 702 includes a communications interface (I/F) 805, a transceiver 810 and a coupler 820.

In an example of operation, the communications interface 805 receives a communication signal 710 or 712 that includes data. In various embodiments, the communications interface 805 can include a wireless interface for receiving a wireless communication signal in accordance with a wireless standard protocol such as LTE or other cellular voice and data protocol, WiFi or an 802.11 protocol, WIMAX protocol, Ultra Wideband protocol, Bluetooth® protocol, Zigbee® protocol, a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) or other satellite communication protocol or other wireless protocol. In addition or in the alternative, the communications interface 805 includes a wired interface that operates in accordance with an Ethernet protocol, universal serial bus (USB) protocol, a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a digital subscriber line (DSL) protocol, a Firewire (IEEE 1394) protocol, or other wired protocol. In additional to standards-based protocols, the communications interface 805 can operate in conjunction with other wired or wireless protocol. In addition, the communications interface 805 can optionally operate in conjunction with a protocol stack that includes multiple protocol layers including a MAC protocol, transport protocol, application protocol, etc.

In an example of operation, the transceiver 810 generates an electromagnetic wave based on the communication signal 710 or 712 to convey the data. The electromagnetic wave has at least one carrier frequency and at least one corresponding wavelength. The carrier frequency can be within a millimeter-wave frequency band of 30 GHz-300 GHz, such as 60 GHz or a carrier frequency in the range of 30-40 GHz or a lower frequency band of 300 MHz-30 GHz in the microwave frequency range such as 26-30 GHz, 11 GHz, or 3-6 GHz, but it will be appreciated that other carrier frequencies are possible in other embodiments. In one mode of operation, the transceiver 810 merely upconverts the communications signal or signals 710 or 712 for transmission of the electromagnetic signal in the microwave or millimeter-wave band as a guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by or bound to the transmission medium 725. In another mode of operation, the communications interface 805 either converts the communication signal 710 or 712 to a baseband or near baseband signal or extracts the data from the communication signal 710 or 712 and the transceiver 810 modulates a high-frequency carrier with the data, the baseband or near baseband signal for transmission. It should be appreciated that the transceiver 810 can modulate the data received via the communication signal 710 or 712 to preserve one or more data communication protocols of the communication signal 710 or 712 either by encapsulation in the payload of a different protocol or by simple frequency shifting. In the alternative, the transceiver 810 can otherwise translate the data received via the communication signal 710 or 712 to a protocol that is different from the data communication protocol or protocols of the communication signal 710 or 712.

In an example of operation, the coupler 820 couples the electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium 725 as a guided electromagnetic wave to convey the communications signal or signals 710 or 712. While the prior description has focused on the operation of the transceiver 810 as a transmitter, the transceiver 810 can also operate to receive electromagnetic waves that convey other data from the single wire transmission medium via the coupler 820 and to generate communications signals 710 or 712, via communications interface 805 that includes the other data. Consider embodiments where an additional guided electromagnetic wave conveys other data that also propagates along the transmission medium 725. The coupler 820 can also couple this additional electromagnetic wave from the transmission medium 725 to the transceiver 810 for reception.

The transmission device 701 or 702 includes an optional training controller 830. In an example embodiment, the training controller 830 is implemented by a standalone processor or a processor that is shared with one or more other components of the transmission device 701 or 702. The training controller 830 selects the carrier frequencies, modulation schemes and/or guided wave modes for the guided electromagnetic waves based on testing of the transmission medium 725, environmental conditions and/or feedback data received by the transceiver 810 from at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the guided electromagnetic wave.

In an example embodiment, a guided electromagnetic wave transmitted by a remote transmission device 701 or 702 conveys data that also propagates along the transmission medium 725. The data from the remote transmission device 701 or 702 can be generated to include the feedback data. In operation, the coupler 820 also couples the guided electromagnetic wave from the transmission medium 725 and the transceiver receives the electromagnetic wave and processes the electromagnetic wave to extract the feedback data.

In an example embodiment, the training controller 830 operates based on the feedback data to evaluate a plurality of candidate frequencies, modulation schemes and/or transmission modes to select a carrier frequency, modulation scheme and/or transmission mode to enhance performance, such as throughput, signal strength, reduce propagation loss, etc.

Consider the following example: a transmission device 701 begins operation under control of the training controller 830 by sending a plurality of guided waves as test signals such as pilot waves or other test signals at a corresponding plurality of candidate frequencies and/or candidate modes directed to a remote transmission device 702 coupled to the transmission medium 725. The guided waves can include, in addition or in the alternative, test data. The test data can indicate the particular candidate frequency and/or guide-wave mode of the signal. In an embodiment, the training controller 830 at the remote transmission device 702 receives the test signals and/or test data from any of the guided waves that were properly received and determines the best candidate frequency and/or guided wave mode, a set of acceptable candidate frequencies and/or guided wave modes, or a rank ordering of candidate frequencies and/or guided wave modes. This selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided-mode(s) are generated by the training controller 830 based on one or more optimizing criteria such as received signal strength, bit error rate, packet error rate, signal to noise ratio, propagation loss, etc. The training controller 830 generates feedback data that indicates the selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided wave mode(s) and sends the feedback data to the transceiver 810 for transmission to the transmission device 701. The transmission device 701 and 702 can then communicate data with one another based on the selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided wave mode(s).

In other embodiments, the guided electromagnetic waves that contain the test signals and/or test data are reflected back, repeated back or otherwise looped back by the remote transmission device 702 to the transmission device 701 for reception and analysis by the training controller 830 of the transmission device 701 that initiated these waves. For example, the transmission device 701 can send a signal to the remote transmission device 702 to initiate a test mode where a physical reflector is switched on the line, a termination impedance is changed to cause reflections, a loop back mode is switched on to couple electromagnetic waves back to the source transmission device 702, and/or a repeater mode is enabled to amplify and retransmit the electromagnetic waves back to the source transmission device 702. The training controller 830 at the source transmission device 702 receives the test signals and/or test data from any of the guided waves that were properly received and determines selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided wave mode(s).

While the procedure above has been described in a start-up or initialization mode of operation, each transmission device 701 or 702 can send test signals, evaluate candidate frequencies or guided wave modes via non-test conditions such as normal transmissions or otherwise evaluate candidate frequencies or guided wave modes at other times or continuously as well. In an example embodiment, the communication protocol between the transmission devices 701 and 702 can include an on-request or periodic test mode where either full testing or more limited testing of a subset of candidate frequencies and guided wave modes are tested and evaluated. In other modes of operation, the re-entry into such a test mode can be triggered by a degradation of performance due to a disturbance, weather conditions, etc. In an example embodiment, the receiver bandwidth of the transceiver 810 is either sufficiently wide or swept to receive all candidate frequencies or can be selectively adjusted by the training controller 830 to a training mode where the receiver bandwidth of the transceiver 810 is sufficiently wide or swept to receive all candidate frequencies.

What has been described above includes mere examples of various embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/or claimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue” indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used in conjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that the principles of causality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Such items and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions, communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functional blocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signal conveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one or more intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format of information in a signal, while one or more elements of the information in the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can be recognized by the second item. In a further example of indirect coupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the second item, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more intervening items.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments described or shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure. For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can be combined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. In one or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can also be negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or without replacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure can be performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions of the subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from other steps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further, more than or less than all of the features described with respect to an embodiment can also be utilized.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a processing system including a processor, a first set of votes from a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices registered at and enabled by a registration system to form a first network communicating with the processing system, the first set of votes regarding performance of a target device and indicating a degree of conformance of the target device to performance criteria for the first network;receiving, by the processing system, a reputation score for the target device from the registration system;receiving, by the processing system, a second set of votes regarding performance of the target device from a plurality of voting systems over a second network, the second network comprising a peer network including the processing system and the plurality of voting systems;aggregating, by the processing system, the first set of votes, the reputation score, and the second set of votes to generate an updated reputation score for the target device; andtransmitting, by the processing system, the updated reputation score for the target device to the registration system, wherein the registration system disables the target device responsive to the updated reputation score being below a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of votes from the plurality of devices are weighted according to respective reputation scores of the plurality of devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein subsequent to disabling the target device, the registration system re-enables the target device according to a reputation score aging procedure based on an elapsed time since the disabling.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reputation score aging procedure applies a half-life value to determine a new reputation score for the target device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein subsequent to disabling the target device, the registration system re-enables the target device responsive to receiving a notification that a remedial action has been performed for the target device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises one of the plurality of voting systems, and wherein the processing system is uniquely associated with the target device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing system is uniquely associated with the target device in accordance with a hashing procedure using a first identifier of the target device and a second identifier for the processing system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of votes is obtained via a multicast message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of votes is obtained via a voting proxy.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the voting proxy comprises the registration system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating to generate the updated reputation score for the target device is in accordance with votes received from a source external to the first network and the second network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the reputation score received from the registration system is based at least in part on information regarding the target device provided to the registration system by a source external to the first network and the second network.

13. A device comprising: a processing system including a processor; anda memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising:obtaining a first set of votes from a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices registered at and enabled by a registration system to form a first network communicating with the processing system, the first set of votes regarding performance of a target device and indicating a degree of conformance of the target device to performance criteria for the first network;receiving a reputation score for the target device from the registration system;receiving a second set of votes regarding performance of the target device from a plurality of voting systems over a second network, the second network comprising a peer network including the processing system and the plurality of voting systems, the processing system being uniquely associated with the target device;aggregating the first set of votes, the reputation score, and the second set of votes to generate an updated reputation score for the target device; andtransmitting the updated reputation score for the target device to the registration system, wherein the registration system disables the target device responsive to the updated reputation score being below a predetermined threshold, and wherein subsequent to disabling the target device, the registration system re-enables the target device according to a reputation score aging procedure.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first set of votes from the plurality of devices are weighted according to respective reputation scores of the plurality of devices.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the registration system re-enables the target device responsive to receiving a notification that a remedial action has been performed for the target device.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the first set of votes is obtained via a multicast message.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the aggregating to generate the updated reputation score for the target device is in accordance with votes received from a source external to the first network and the second network.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising: obtaining a first set of votes from a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices registered at and enabled by a registration system to form a first network communicating with the processing system, the first set of votes regarding performance of a target device and indicating a degree of conformance of the target device to performance criteria for the first network, wherein the first set of votes is obtained via a multicast message;receiving a reputation score for the target device from the registration system;receiving a second set of votes regarding performance of the target device from a plurality of voting systems over a second network, the second network comprising a peer network including the processing system and the plurality of voting systems, the processing system being uniquely associated with the target device;aggregating the first set of votes, the reputation score, and the second set of votes to generate an updated reputation score for the target device; andtransmitting the updated reputation score for the target device to the registration system, wherein the registration system disables the target device responsive to the updated reputation score being below a predetermined threshold.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first set of votes from the plurality of devices are weighted according to respective reputation scores of the plurality of devices.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the processing system is uniquely associated with the target device in accordance with a hashing procedure using a first identifier of the target device and a second identifier for the processing system.