Abstract: In the presence of a network fault condition preventing communication between a communication device and a network device of a first network, a method includes receiving a heartbeat request from the communication device requesting permission for the communication device to perform a device operation. The method further includes obtaining device state data associated with the communication device and determining whether the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation based on the device state data associated with the communication device. When the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation, the method also includes transmitting a heartbeat confirmation signal to the communication device. The heartbeat confirmation signal permits the communication device to perform the device operation.

Abstract: A method may include (1) coating a segment of fiber optic cable with an adhesive substance, (2) forming a coil of the segment of fiber optic cable, (3) deforming the coil into a noncircular shape defining a slot external to the coil while obeying a minimum bend radius requirement for the segment of fiber optic cable, and (4) activating the adhesive substance to stabilize the noncircular shape of the coil. Various other methods and apparatuses, such as those for performing the deforming operation, are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the presence of a network fault condition preventing communication between a communication device and a network device of a first network, a method includes receiving a heartbeat request from the communication device requesting permission for the communication device to perform a device operation. The method further includes obtaining device state data associated with the communication device and determining whether the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation based on the device state data associated with the communication device. When the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation, the method also includes transmitting a heartbeat confirmation signal to the communication device. The heartbeat confirmation signal permits the communication device to perform the device operation.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for a surface wave based wireless connection to an electronic device are disclosed. One apparatus includes a surface wave guide that supports propagation of electro-magnetic waves over a two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide, wherein the two-dimensional conductive surface is treated to increase a surface reactance of the two-dimensional conductive surface over a frequency range of the electro-magnetic waves, while maintaining an insertion loss of the surface waveguide below a threshold. A first mode converter operates to couple electro-magnetic waves of a first mode to the two-dimensional conductive surface having a second mode, wherein the electro-magnetic waves of the second mode propagate across the two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide. At least a portion of the electro-magnetic waves of the two-dimensional conductive surface is coupled to an electronic device through a second mode converter of the electronic device.

Abstract: The disclosed fiber optic cable splice case may include (1) an outer enclosure with a plurality of cable funnels defining paths from an exterior to an interior of the outer enclosure, (2) a clamp connected to the exterior of the outer enclosure, where the clamp attaches the outer enclosure to a powerline conductor, and (3) an inner enclosure positioned at least partially within, and rotatably coupled to, the outer enclosure, where the inner enclosure defines (a) a splice cavity within the inner enclosure, where the cavity is configured to store an optical fiber splice tray for coupling corresponding optical fibers of each of a pair of fiber optic cable segments and (b) a cable channel about an exterior of the inner enclosure, where the cable channel carries a portion of each of the pair of segments between the funnels and the cavity. Various other components and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Systems and methods for determining where to place and how to configure nodes in an optically connected network across a geographic region are provided. Various factors concerning the region may be collected, including, e.g., building locations and height, building types, population densities, backbone connection locations, recurring weather factors, geographic elevation, etc. The algorithm may iteratively place nodes based upon the accessible range of a preceding contemplated node position.

Abstract: An environmental frequency sensing device, includes logic that performs signal strength (SS) level separation on a received band of frequencies to produce SS level separated frequencies. The logic performs frequency grouping on the SS level separated frequencies for each signal strength level to produce magnitude information for each grouping. The logic generates peak data by detecting peaks of the produced magnitude information. The logic generates an edge event indicating a signal edge based on arrival or departure of a given peak and compares, on a frequency basis, generated edges to stored fingerprint data of a signal of interest. Based on the comparison, the logic provides detected signal data indicating current use of a range of frequencies in an environment.

Abstract: Object-sensing systems including a light transmitter subsystem and a light receiver subsystem. The light transmitter subsystem main be configured to generate a collimated linear beam of light at a predetermined wavelength and having a length of at least 3 inches. The light receiver subsystem may include a linear sensor array having a length of at least 3 inches. The linear sensor array may be positioned to receive the collimated linear beam of light and to detect shadows caused by objects blocking at least a portion of the collimated linear beam of light. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the presence of a network fault condition preventing communication between a communication device and a network device of a first network, a method includes receiving a heartbeat request from the communication device requesting permission for the communication device to perform a device operation. The method further includes obtaining device state data associated with the communication device and determining whether the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation based on the device state data associated with the communication device. When the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation, the method also includes transmitting a heartbeat confirmation signal to the communication device. The heartbeat confirmation signal permits the communication device to perform the device operation.

Abstract: An environmental frequency sensing device, includes logic that performs signal strength (SS) level separation on a received band of frequencies to produce SS level separated frequencies. The logic performs frequency grouping on the SS level separated frequencies for each signal strength level to produce magnitude information for each grouping. The logic generates peak data by detecting peaks of the produced magnitude information. The logic generates an edge event indicating a signal edge based on arrival or departure of a given peak and compares, on a frequency basis, generated edges to stored fingerprint data of a signal of interest. Based on the comparison, the logic provides detected signal data indicating current use of a range of frequencies in an environment.

Abstract: In the presence of a network fault condition (130) preventing communication between a communication device (106) and a network device (200) of a first network (102), a method (400) includes receiving a heartbeat request (128) from the communication device requesting permission for the communication device to perform a device operation. The method further includes obtaining device state data (110) associated with the communication device and determining whether the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation based on the device state data associated with the communication device. When the communication device is permitted to perform the device operation, the method also includes transmitting a heartbeat confirmation signal (126) to the communication device. The heartbeat confirmation signal permits the communication device to perform the device operation.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for a surface wave based wireless connection to an electronic device are disclosed. One apparatus includes a surface wave guide that supports propagation of electro-magnetic waves over a two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide, wherein the two-dimensional conductive surface is treated to increase a surface reactance of the two-dimensional conductive surface over a frequency range of the electro-magnetic waves, while maintaining an insertion loss of the surface waveguide below a threshold. A first mode converter operates to couple electro-magnetic waves of a first mode to the two-dimensional conductive surface having a second mode, wherein the electro-magnetic waves of the second mode propagate across the two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide. At least a portion of the electro-magnetic waves of the two-dimensional conductive surface is coupled to an electronic device through a second mode converter of the electronic device.

Abstract: The clamping device may include (1) a monitoring device for a powerline conductor, where the monitoring device includes (a) at least one detection component that detects at least one physical characteristic at a location of the monitoring device, (b) a transmitter that wirelessly transmits data indicating the at least one physical characteristic, and (c) a receiver that wirelessly receives data indicating the at least one physical characteristic from at least one other monitoring device, where the transmitter retransmits the data indicating the at least one physical characteristic from the at least one other monitoring device, and (2) a container that retains the monitoring device such that one or more of the at least one detection component is maintained proximate the powerline conductor. The clamping device clamps a fiber optic cable to the powerline conductor to restrict movement of the fiber optic cable relative to the powerline conductor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an association request from a nearby electronic device via a local wireless network connection, transmitting a position coordinate associated with a first node via the local wireless network connection to the nearby electronic device, receiving location information of one or more peer nodes from the nearby electronic device, adding the location information of the one or more peer nodes into a log included in the first node, and determining that at least two nodes are within Line-of-Sight (LOS) communication range of the first node based on the log, wherein the at least two nodes are included in the one or more peer nodes.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for a surface wave based wireless connection to an electronic device are disclosed. One apparatus includes a surface wave guide that supports propagation of electro-magnetic waves over a two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide, wherein the two-dimensional conductive surface is treated to increase a surface reactance of the two-dimensional conductive surface over a frequency range of the electro-magnetic waves, while maintaining an insertion loss of the surface waveguide below a threshold. A first mode converter operates to couple electro-magnetic waves of a first mode to the two-dimensional conductive surface having a second mode, wherein the electro-magnetic waves of the second mode propagate across the two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide. At least a portion of the electro-magnetic waves of the two-dimensional conductive surface is coupled to an electronic device through a second mode converter of the electronic device.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable splice case may include (1) an outer enclosure with a plurality of cable funnels defining paths from an exterior to an interior of the outer enclosure, (2) a clamp connected to the exterior of the outer enclosure, where the clamp attaches the outer enclosure to a powerline conductor, and (3) an inner enclosure positioned at least partially within, and rotatably coupled to, the outer enclosure, where the inner enclosure defines (a) a splice cavity within the inner enclosure, where the cavity is configured to store an optical fiber splice tray for coupling corresponding optical fibers of each of a pair of fiber optic cable segments and (b) a cable channel about an exterior of the inner enclosure, where the cable channel carries a portion of each of the pair of segments between the funnels and the cavity. Various other components and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method may include (1) coating a segment of fiber optic cable with an adhesive substance, (2) forming a coil of the segment of fiber optic cable, (3) deforming the coil into a noncircular shape defining a slot external to the coil while obeying a minimum bend radius requirement for the segment of fiber optic cable, and (4) activating the adhesive substance to stabilize the noncircular shape of the coil. Various other methods and apparatuses, such as those for performing the deforming operation, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The clamping device may include (1) a monitoring device for a powerline conductor, where the monitoring device includes (a) at least one detection component that detects at least one physical characteristic at a location of the monitoring device, (b) a transmitter that wirelessly transmits data indicating the at least one physical characteristic, and (c) a receiver that wirelessly receives data indicating the at least one physical characteristic from at least one other monitoring device, where the transmitter retransmits the data indicating the at least one physical characteristic from the at least one other monitoring device, and (2) a container that retains the monitoring device such that one or more of the at least one detection component is maintained proximate the powerline conductor. The clamping device clamps a fiber optic cable to the powerline conductor to restrict movement of the fiber optic cable relative to the powerline conductor.

Abstract: An electrical or electrochemical cell, c a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer is disclosed. The cathode layer includes a first material providing a cathodic electric transport, charge storage or redox function. The electrolyte layer includes a polymer, a first electrolyte salt, and/or an ionic liquid. The anode layer includes a second material providing an anodic electric transport, charge storage or redox function. At least one of the cathode and anode layers includes the ionic liquid, a second electrolyte salt, and/or a transport-enhancing additive.

Abstract: A method may include (1) coating a segment of fiber optic cable with an adhesive substance, (2) forming a coil of the segment of fiber optic cable, (3) deforming the coil into a noncircular shape defining a slot external to the coil while obeying a minimum bend radius requirement for the segment of fiber optic cable, and (4) activating the adhesive substance to stabilize the noncircular shape of the coil. Various other methods and apparatuses, such as those for performing the deforming operation, are also disclosed.