Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a processing system that analyses, without user intervention, content of a first message directed from equipment of a sending user to equipment of a receiving user, to identify a task. The processing system determines that the receiving user is unable to perform the task according to biometric data of the receiving user. The biometric data is selected from one of heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and combinations thereof. According to the content of the first message and the biometric data obtained from the receiving user, the processing system determines that the task should be delegated to another user, and responsive thereto, provides a second message associated with the task to equipment of the other user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a broadcast communication system that is operable to detect a first power outage. A first plurality of electromagnetic waves is generated for transmission to a plurality of user devices of the broadcast communication system via a guided wave transceiver, where the first plurality of electromagnetic waves includes an outage status signal generated in response to detecting the first power outage, and where the first plurality of electromagnetic waves is guided by at least one transmission medium and propagates without utilizing an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to form inquiries and commands, receive an alarm at an Operational Support System (OSS), automatically capture a state of a failure of the network element as close as possible to a time of the failure in response to the alarm, and automatically lookup and run a command or a set of commands in response to the alarm for real time analysis of network element fault management data and network element performance data within the OSS for a network. Other embodiments are disclosed.