In accordance with the present disclosure, a communication network includes a surface wave transceiver, mounted on a medium voltage power line, configured to bidirectionally communicate wireless network data via guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of the medium voltage power line. A plurality of analog surface wave repeater pairs, a plurality of digital surface wave regenerator pairs, are mounted on the medium voltage power line. A plurality of access points, supported by corresponding ones of a plurality of utility poles that also support the medium voltage power line, is configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless network data to a plurality of client devices in accordance with a wireless network protocol and to wirelessly receive client data from the plurality of client devices in accordance with the wireless network protocol. A plurality of surface wave add/drop multiplexer pairs, is also mounted on the medium voltage power line.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication network includes a surface wave transceiver, mounted on a coaxial cable of a broadband cable network, configured to bidirectionally communicate wireless network data via guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of the coaxial cable. A plurality of analog surface wave repeater pairs, and a plurality of digital surface wave regenerator pairs, are also mounted on the coaxial cable. A plurality of access points, supported by corresponding ones of a plurality of utility poles that also support the coaxial cable, is configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless network data to a plurality of client devices in accordance with a wireless network protocol and to wirelessly receive client data from the plurality of client devices in accordance with the wireless network protocol. A plurality of surface wave add/drop multiplexer pairs, is also mounted on the coaxial cable.

A method for implementing a convergence layer. Data is received on a first communication medium by a first transceiver. Data is transmitted on the first communication medium by the first transceiver. A signal is received. Causing, through the convergence layer, by a control logic in response to the signal, the data received and transmitted on the first communication medium as part of a communication session to be received and transmitted instead by a second transceiver on a second communication medium, wherein the convergence layer is configured to conceal from a routing layer at least one of: information related to the first signal, and information related to the data being received and transmitted on the second communication medium.

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.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates receiving a plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves that propagates along a surface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves conveys a plurality of communication signals, obtaining, from the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves, at least one communication signal from the plurality of communication signals, and distributing the at least one communication signal to at least one communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a transmission device includes a receiver configured to receive an interfering signal via an antenna. A controller is configured to select a subset of a plurality of guided electromagnetic wave resource blocks, based on the interfering signal, to mitigate an interference with a distributed antenna system. A transmitter is configured to generate electromagnetic signals conveying data, in accordance with the subset of the plurality of guided electromagnetic wave resource blocks. A coupler is configured to generate guided electromagnetic waves in response to the electromagnetic signals, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate, without requiring an electrical return path, along a surface of a transmission medium of a distributed antenna system.

A system determines Wi-Fi coverage of the Wi-Fi extender located at a current location and at candidate locations in a home network; determines coverage of a power-line extender located at a power-line current location and at a power-line extender candidate location in the home network; and repositions the power-line extender to the power-line extender candidate location when the coverage exceeds coverage at the power-line current location.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for initiating, at a first start time, transmissions of first electromagnetic waves, ceasing transmission of the first electromagnetic waves after a first duration period that is less than a one-way travel time for signals to propagate between the first waveguide system and a second waveguide system via a physical transmission medium, and initiating, after the ceasing, reception of second electromagnetic waves from the second waveguide system that are initiated at a second start time and transmitted for a second duration period that is less than the one-way travel time. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An air conditioner connection system includes an air conditioner having a first device connected via a power line in a communication-capable manner, and a second device capable of performing radio communication with the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an authentication process control unit that controls the first device to perform an authentication process when a starting request of the authentication process for performing power carrier communication is received from the second device, the first device includes an authentication process unit that performs the authentication process under the control of the air conditioner, and the second device includes an authentication start process unit that transmits the starting request of the authentication process to the air conditioner.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a communication device with a group of radio devices connected with a support structure, where the support structure is positioned in and passes through housing openings in each radio device to provide a stacked arrangement. One or more radio device is rotatable with respect to the support structure to enable adjusting a first orientation of a directional antenna therein. Other embodiments are disclosed.