Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a signal, and launching, according to the signal, an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, where the electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the electromagnetic wave has a phase delay profile that is dependent on an azimuth angle about an axis of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a signal, and launching, according to the signal, an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, where the electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the electromagnetic wave has a phase delay profile that is dependent on an azimuth angle about an axis of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

According to one embodiment, an active cable assembly may include a cable end, a data receiver, a controller characteristic circuit, and a controller. The data receiver, operable to receive a DC-balanced data signal, can be electrically coupled to a conductive input data line of the cable end. The controller characteristic circuit can be electrically coupled to the conductive input data line. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the data receiver. The controller may include a configurable communication port electrically coupled to the controller characteristic circuit, and memory for storing a boot loader. The controller can execute the boot loader to set the configurable communication port as an output for controller data signals and as an input for the controller data signals.

According to one embodiment, an active cable assembly may include a cable end, a data receiver, a controller characteristic circuit, and a controller. The data receiver, operable to receive a DC-balanced data signal, can be electrically coupled to a conductive input data line of the cable end. The controller characteristic circuit can be electrically coupled to the conductive input data line. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the data receiver. The controller may include a configurable communication port electrically coupled to the controller characteristic circuit, and memory for storing a boot loader. The controller can execute the boot loader to set the configurable communication port as an output for controller data signals and as an input for the controller data signals.

A method is provided for transmitting signals on a multi-conductor cable (12) formed from a plurality of conductors (1-7) surrounded by an armor (10), the plurality of conductors having a central conductor (7) surrounded by a first peripheral layer of conductors (1-6) with an even number of conductors symmetrically arranged around the central conductor. The two following transmission modes are carried out simultaneously: a common mode (TX1) that uses the central conductor (7) with a return on the armor (10), for transmitting a first signal (s.sub.1); and a differential mode (TX2) between a first path comprising all odd rank conductors (1,3,5) of the peripheral layer and a second path comprising all even rank conductors (2,4,6) of the peripheral layer, for transmitting a second signal (s.sub.2).

A method is provided for transmitting signals on a multi-conductor cable (12) formed from a plurality of conductors (1-7) surrounded by an armor (10), the plurality of conductors having a central conductor (7) surrounded by a first peripheral layer of conductors (1-6) with an even number of conductors symmetrically arranged around the central conductor. The two following transmission modes are carried out simultaneously: a common mode (TX1) that uses the central conductor (7) with a return on the armor (10), for transmitting a first signal (s.sub.1); and a differential mode (TX2) between a first path comprising all odd rank conductors (1,3,5) of the peripheral layer and a second path comprising all even rank conductors (2,4,6) of the peripheral layer, for transmitting a second signal (s.sub.2).

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a signal, and launching, according to the signal, an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, where the electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the electromagnetic wave has a phase delay profile that is dependent on an azimuth angle about an axis of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a signal, and launching, according to the signal, an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, where the electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the electromagnetic wave has a phase delay profile that is dependent on an azimuth angle about an axis of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

According to one embodiment, an active cable assembly may include a cable end, a data receiver, a controller characteristic circuit, and a controller. The data receiver, operable to receive a DC-balanced data signal, can be electrically coupled to a conductive input data line of the cable end. The controller characteristic circuit can be electrically coupled to the conductive input data line. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the data receiver. The controller may include a configurable communication port electrically coupled to the controller characteristic circuit, and memory for storing a boot loader. The controller can execute the boot loader to set the configurable communication port as an output for controller data signals and as an input for the controller data signals.

According to one embodiment, an active cable assembly may include a cable end, a data receiver, a controller characteristic circuit, and a controller. The data receiver, operable to receive a DC-balanced data signal, can be electrically coupled to a conductive input data line of the cable end. The controller characteristic circuit can be electrically coupled to the conductive input data line. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the data receiver. The controller may include a configurable communication port electrically coupled to the controller characteristic circuit, and memory for storing a boot loader. The controller can execute the boot loader to set the configurable communication port as an output for controller data signals and as an input for the controller data signals.