An image reading apparatus includes an image reader, an image controller, and an FFC configured to connect the image controller and the image reader to each other. The FFC includes a first signal line, a second signal line, and a third signal line. The image reader includes a loop back portion configured to return a signal transmitted from the image controller through the first signal line back to the image controller through the second signal line. The third signal line forms a feedback portion configured to return a signal output from the image controller back to the image controller before the signal is received by the image reader. The image controller is configured to detect an abnormality in a cable, the image reader, and the image controller based on diagnosis results obtained with use of the loop back portion and the feedback portion.

A power outlet for controlling power to an external device and transmitting data to the external device, the power outlet including: a housing containing at least one alternating-current power input connection; a power output connection; a data connector; a sensor module; a wireless communication module, including an antenna; a processing unit configured to receive data and control an electrically connected device through the power output connection and/or data connector based on the received data.

An electronic communication device comprises a first transceiver capable of a bi-directional communication session on a first communication medium; a second transceiver capable of a bi-directional communication session on a second communication medium; and a control logic coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver and capable of implementing a convergence layer, wherein the control logic is configured to receive, from the first transceiver, a first signal; and cause, in response to the first signal, data received and transmitted by the first transceiver on the first communication medium as part of a communication session to be received and transmitted instead by the second transceiver on the second communication medium.

There is provided a system for assigning power to a plurality of smart appliances. The system includes a plurality of smart outlet assemblies. Each of the smart outlet assemblies is paired to and in electrical communication with a respective one of the smart appliances. The system includes at least one smart breaker assembly in electrical communication with the smart outlet assemblies. The system includes a master server in communication with the smart breaker assembly. The system includes distributed databases used to exchange data among the smart outlet assemblies, the smart breaker assembly, and the master server. The master server selectively assign power to respective ones of the smart appliances via the smart breaker assembly based on the data. If the master server is unreachable, the smart breaker assembly is configured to selectively assign power to the smart appliances based on the data records.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for determining from one or more conditions a range of energy that can be obtained from a transmission medium to power the first waveguide system, selecting according to the range of energy a group of components of a plurality of selectable components of the first waveguide system, and enabling the group of components and powering down a remainder of the plurality of selectable components, wherein the group of components facilitates an exchange of electromagnetic waves between the first waveguide system and a second waveguide system via the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for determining from one or more conditions for a retransmission of electromagnetic waves received by the waveguide system via a transmission medium, a duty cycle for retransmitting the electromagnetic waves, retransmitting the electromagnetic waves utilizing a first repeater type of the waveguide system during a first portion of the duty cycle, and retransmitting the electromagnetic waves utilizing a second repeater type of the waveguide system during a second portion of the duty cycle. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna structure that includes a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric feedline having a feed point, and a collar that facilitates aligning a port of a waveguide system to the feed point of the dielectric feedline for facilitating transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves exchanged between the port and the feed point of the dielectric feedline, the electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric feedline without an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a communication system that facilitates monitoring communications associated with a second particular device, where a group of devices operate in a premises, where a first subset of the group of devices communicate directly with a monitoring device located at the premises via a local area network of the premises, where a second subset of the group of devices do not communicate directly with the monitoring device, where the first subset of the group of devices includes the first particular device, and where the second subset of the group of devices includes the second particular device. The communications can be analyzed to detect an anomaly associated with the second particular device. A plurality of messages can be transmitted, via the local area network, to the monitoring device over a time period indicating the anomaly. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Disclosed is a device for selectively receiving data broadcast in a network. The device includes first unit for receiving configuration data transmitted in point-to-point mode, second unit for receiving data broadcast by at least one transmitter, by radio and/or by power-line communication, a digital processing sub-assembly, at least one memory for storing at least one datum determining the selectivity of the broadcast, a low-voltage power supply sub-assembly supplied by an energy source and at least one program for determining whether data received by the second unit should be used or ignored by the device, as a function of previously stored data. Also disclosed is a system for allowing devices to selectively receive data broadcast in a network. Additionally disclosed is a method for allowing a device to selectively receive data broadcast in a network.

Provided are methods and systems for terrestrial data transmission between aircrafts and external networks, such as airline and/or airport computer systems. When an aircraft is parked at the gate, the aircraft is connected to and powered by an electrical cable, such as a stinger cable. This cable may be also be used for wired data transmission between the aircraft and the gate using broadband over power line (BPL) technology. The gate and the aircraft are each equipped with a BPL module. The aircraft may include other communication modules, such as a Wi-Fi module, a cellular module, and/or an Ethernet module. These other modules can be also used for data transmission in addition to or instead of communication through the BPL module. A communication link manager may be used to select one or more communication modules depending on availability of communication links, costs, speed, and other parameters.