Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include a generator that facilitates generation of an electromagnetic wave, a core, and a waveguide that facilitates guiding the electromagnetic wave towards the core to induce a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along the core. The core and/or the waveguide can be configured to reduce radiation loss of the second electromagnetic wave, propagation loss of the second electromagnetic wave, or a combination thereof. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having a plurality of transmitters for launching, according to a signal, instances of first electromagnetic waves having different phases to induce propagation of a second electromagnetic wave at an interface of a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency, wherein the plurality of transmitters has a corresponding plurality of antennas. A reflective plate is spaced a distance behind the plurality of antennas relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system configured for generating a signal, and inducing, by a coupler, an electromagnetic wave that propagates along a physical transmission medium. The coupler can be configured to convert the signal into a plurality of wave modes that combine to form the electromagnetic wave having an electromagnetic field configuration that reduces leakage of the electromagnetic wave as the electromagnetic wave propagates along the physical transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates receiving a first electromagnetic wave propagating along a transmission medium, detecting, according to the first electromagnetic wave, an obstruction on a first portion of an outer surface of the transmission medium, responsive to the detecting the obstruction, configuring a material to have similar properties to the obstruction, the material being positioned along a second portion of the outer surface of the transmission medium, and generating a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along the transmission medium without relying on an electrical return path to facilitate propagation of the second electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium, the material facilitating propagation of the second electromagnetic wave from the second portion of the outer surface of the transmission medium to the first portion of the transmission medium affected by the obstruction. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a first waveguide system that receives first electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium where the transmission medium comprises an external surface where the first electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the first electromagnetic waves convey data. The first waveguide system can generate, according to the first electromagnetic waves, first signals, where the first signals convey the data. The first waveguide system can provide the first signals to a switching device that facilitates generating and providing, according to the first signals and routing information conveyed by the first signals, second signals to a second waveguide system selected from among a group of waveguide systems communicatively coupled to the switching device, where the second signals convey at least a first portion of the data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates detecting first electromagnetic waves propagating along a transmission medium are experiencing a first propagation loss, inducing second electromagnetic waves along the transmission medium to mitigate the first propagation loss, detecting that the second electromagnetic waves are experiencing a second propagation loss and inducing third electromagnetic waves along the transmission medium to mitigate the second propagation loss. To reduce radiation losses when transitioning from the first electromagnetic waves to second electromagnetic waves and transitioning from the second electromagnetic waves to the third electromagnetic waves, the system can be further adapted to use differing criteria for each transition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates transmitting a plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves that propagates along a surface of a first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves conveys a plurality of communication signals, detecting an attenuation in the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves that affects a propagation of the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves along the first surface of the first transmission medium, and responsive to the detecting, redirecting at least a portion of the plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves to an interface of a second transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a surface wave launcher is configured to transmit and receive guided electromagnetic waves via the aperture that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. The surface wave launcher includes a coaxial port having an inner conductor and an outer conductor. A conductive tray is coupled to the inner conductor and is configured to surround, at least in part, a portion of the transmission medium. A dielectric layer surrounds, at least in part, a portion of the conductive tray. A conductive cone, is coupled to the outer conductor at a feed-point of the conductive cone, and coaxially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the conductive cone is adjacent to the dielectric layer at the feed-point and forms an aperture.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a device having a cylindrical coupler having a metallic shell that surrounds a transmission medium, wherein the cylindrical coupler launches a radio frequency signal from an aperture of the metallic shell as a guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring any electrical return path. An impedance matching element has a conductive trough within the metallic shell, wherein the impedance matching element couples the radio frequency signal to the cylindrical coupler via a coaxial feed point within the conductive trough, and wherein the conductive trough includes a first end forming a short circuit with the metallic shell and further includes a second end forming an open circuit within the metallic shell.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include a planar antenna configured to transmit first signals as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the planar antenna includes an array of patch antennas that generates first near field signals in response to the first signals and a plurality of directors configured to guide a portion of the first near field signals from the array of patch antennas to the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the portion of the first near field signals combines to induce the first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to the surface of the transmission medium.

Abstract: A transmission device includes a coupler configured to convert a transmit signal to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, the coupler further configured to convert to a receive signal, received guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A housing is configured to provide environmental protection to the coupler. The housing includes an aperture section configured to pass the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves from the coupler through an aperture side of the housing, the aperture section further configured to pass the received guided electromagnetic waves to the coupler through the aperture side of the housing. The housing also includes a non-aperture section configured to absorb radio frequency (RF) signals in a frequency range of the transmit signal and a frequency range the receive signal.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a guided wave launcher includes an array of antennas configured to generate near field signals. A controller is configured to: select, in response to a first control signal, at least one of a plurality of guided wave modes; and adjust beam steering parameters of the array of antennas according to the selected one(s) of the plurality of guided wave modes. The near field signals combine to induce a guided electromagnetic wave having the selected one(s) of the plurality of guided wave modes, wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave is guided by the transmission medium and propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a waveguide system includes a transmission device configured to send and receive guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a power line without requiring an electrical return path. The waveguide system further includes a magnetic core that surrounds the power line, a first winding around the magnetic core that generates a supply current in response a transmission current flowing through the power line and a power supply that converts the supply current to a supply voltage that powers the transmission device. The power supply automatically stabilizes power consumption by the transmission device in response to variations in the supply current caused by variations in the transmission current flowing through the power line.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a transmission device operates by: generating a transmit signal conveying transmit data in accordance with an HARQ protocol; converting the transmit signal to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium; converting to a receive signal received guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium; generating, based on the receive signal, corona discharge data that indicates a corona discharge in proximity to the transmission medium during a first time period; identifying, responsive to the corona discharge data, a first packet of the transmit signal that was converted to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves during the first time period; and regenerating the transmit signal to include the first packet for retransmission via the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves, without waiting for a repeat request to be received from the remote device indicating the first packet.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a plurality of communication signals, and generating, according to the plurality of communication signals, signals that induce a plurality of electromagnetic waves bound at least in part to a dielectric material. Each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveys at least one communication signal of the plurality of communication signals, and the plurality of electromagnetic waves has a multiplexing configuration that reduces an interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include a generator that facilitates generation of an electromagnetic wave, a core, and a waveguide that facilitates guiding the electromagnetic wave towards the core to induce a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along the core. The core and/or the waveguide can be configured to reduce radiation loss of the second electromagnetic wave, propagation loss of the second electromagnetic wave, or a combination thereof. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having a plurality of transmitters for launching, according to a signal, instances of first electromagnetic waves having different phases to induce propagation of a second electromagnetic wave at an interface of a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency, wherein the plurality of transmitters has a corresponding plurality of antennas. A reflective plate is spaced a distance behind the plurality of antennas relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates directing a first electromagnetic wave to a device positioned along a transmission medium, the device facilitating a perturbation of the first electromagnetic wave, and the first electromagnetic wave having a first field intensity near an outer surface of the transmission medium, and generating, by the device, a second electromagnetic wave having a second field intensity near the outer surface of the transmission medium that is lower than the first field intensity of the first electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A transmission device includes a coupler configured to convert a transmit signal to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, the coupler further configured to convert to a receive signal, received guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A housing is configured to provide environmental protection to the coupler. The housing includes an aperture section configured to pass the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves from the coupler through an aperture side of the housing, the aperture section further configured to pass the received guided electromagnetic waves to the coupler through the aperture side of the housing. The housing also includes a non-aperture section configured to absorb radio frequency (RF) signals in a frequency range of the transmit signal and a frequency range the receive signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates receiving electromagnetic waves having polarized modes propagating along a transmission medium, detecting according to an analysis of the electromagnetic waves that the transmission medium is birefringent thereby causing a differential delay between the polarized modes, and adjusting a configuration of a receiver receiving the electromagnetic waves to mitigate the differential delay between the polarized modes. Other embodiments are disclosed.