Disclosed is a device communicably coupled to a power transmission line and capable of launching transverse electromagnetic waves onto the transmission line. The waves propagate data received from a data source connected to the device through a center conductor surrounded by a shield conductor. The device may include a reflector and a coupler adjacent to each other, the reflector electrically connected to the shield conductor and the coupler electrically connected to the center conductor at an unshielded connection point, wherein time-varying E-fields between the reflector and coupler are caused by the data received from the data source, and induce a transverse magnetic wave that propagates longitudinally along the surface of the transmission line.

Disclosed is a signal conductor formed as a metal oxide varistor (MOV), the MOV having a first MOV and a second MOV separated by an insulator. In some embodiments, the disclosed signal conductor may be used in a system communicably coupled to a power transmission distribution network, the system capable of launching transverse electromagnetic waves onto a transmission line, where the electromagnetic waves propagating a data signal conveyed to the system by the MOV.

Disclosed are one or more preferred geometric configurations for a device communicably coupled to a power transmission line and capable of launching transverse electromagnetic waves onto the transmission line. The waves propagate data received from a data source and may include a reflector and a coupler adjacent to each other through a transverse magnetic wave that propagates longitudinally along the surface of the transmission line.

A hybrid active tap may be provided. The hybrid active tap may comprise a first branch and a second branch. The first branch may be disposed between a first diplexer and a second diplexer. The first branch may correspond to a first frequency spectrum. The second branch may be disposed between the first diplexer and the second diplexer. The second branch may correspond to a second frequency spectrum. The hybrid active tap may further comprise a third branch, a fourth branch, a splitter, and an amplification device. The third branch may be disposed between a first coupler and a third diplexer. The first coupler may be coupled to the first branch. The fourth branch may be disposed between a second coupler and the third diplexer. The second coupler may be coupled to the second branch. The splitter may be connected to the third diplexer and the amplification device may be disposed in the first branch.

A framework for virtual network element of optical access networking has been designed to provide a cloud-residing core system (i.e. Mobile core controller or SDN controller) for running higher layers without requiring dedicated hardware at the edge of the network. In this framework, a service operator can create multiple optical access network connections for serving a single or multiple types of wired or wireless subscriber by programming (via software) optical ports of a Virtual Optical Edge Device to perform the desired MAC and/or PHY layer of a selected optical protocol. The Virtual Optical Edge Device in turn performs the desired PHY function or MAC and PHY function of selected protocol per each southbound port. The Virtual Optical Edge Device performs data abstraction function on all data associated with southbound ports and presents the core network a unified API via its northbound ports.

A hybrid active tap may be provided. The hybrid active tap may comprise a first branch and a second branch. The first branch may be disposed between a first diplexer and a second diplexer. The first branch may correspond to a first frequency spectrum. The second branch may be disposed between the first diplexer and the second diplexer. The second branch may correspond to a second frequency spectrum. The hybrid active tap may further comprise a third branch, a fourth branch, a splitter, and an amplification device. The third branch may be disposed between a first coupler and a third diplexer. The first coupler may be coupled to the first branch. The fourth branch may be disposed between a second coupler and the third diplexer. The second coupler may be coupled to the second branch. The splitter may be connected to the third diplexer and the amplification device may be disposed in the first branch.

An electromagnetic signal transport and distribution system simultaneously transports over one single mode fiber various programming specifically requested by multiple users in multiple locations while simultaneously offering bidirectional communications with a public network.

Methods and systems for modulating an amplifier power supply to efficiently attain amplified RF output power with much lower power dissipation than existing amplifiers. In a cable television (CATV) network, a processor receives a signal to be amplified by an amplifier at a location remote from the processor. A bias point of the amplifier may be variably modulated based on peaks of an input signal to reduce amplifier dissipation.

Directional wireless drop systems are provided. These systems include a tap unit that is connected to a communications line of the broadband network; a cable modem unit connected to the tap unit; a plurality of wireless routers connected to the cable modem unit; and a directional antenna unit that is connected to at least a first of the wireless routers. Each wireless router is associated with a respective one of a plurality of subscriber premises that are served by the directional wireless drop system and is configured to communicate with at least one device that is located at the respective one of plurality of subscriber premises.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a system an method for detecting impairments in a network. The network may be a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network. The system may include a node evaluation unit for evaluating the operation of one or more nodes in the network to determine whether the nodes are operating as desired, or whether service is required.