Patent Publication Number: US-11032819-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for use with a radio distributed antenna system having a control channel reference signal

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for managing utilization of wireless resources. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As smart phones and other portable devices increasingly become ubiquitous, and data usage increases, macrocell base station devices and existing wireless infrastructure in turn require higher bandwidth capability in order to address the increased demand. To provide additional mobile bandwidth, small cell deployment is being pursued, with microcells and picocells providing coverage for much smaller areas than traditional macrocells. 
     In addition, most homes and businesses have grown to rely on broadband data access for services such as voice, video and Internet browsing, etc. Broadband access networks include satellite, 4G or 5G wireless, power line communication, fiber, cable, and telephone networks. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a guided-wave communications system in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a transmission device in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 3  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic field distribution in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic field distribution in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 5A  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency response in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 5B  is a graphical diagram illustrating example, non-limiting embodiments of a longitudinal cross-section of an insulated wire depicting fields of guided electromagnetic waves at various operating frequencies in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 6  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic field distribution in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an arc coupler in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an arc coupler in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 9A  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a stub coupler in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 9B  is a diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic distribution in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are block diagrams illustrating example, non-limiting embodiments of couplers and transceivers in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a dual stub coupler in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a repeater system in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a bidirectional repeater in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 14  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a waveguide system in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 15  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a guided-wave communications system in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are block diagrams illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system for managing a communication system in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 17A  illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method for detecting and mitigating disturbances occurring in a communication network of the system of  FIGS. 16A and 16B . 
         FIG. 17B  illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method for detecting and mitigating disturbances occurring in a communication network of the system of  FIGS. 16A and 16B . 
         FIG. 18A  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication system in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 18B  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a portion of the communication system of  FIG. 18A  in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIGS. 18C-18D  are block diagrams illustrating example, non-limiting embodiments of a communication node of the communication system of  FIG. 18A  in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19A  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of downlink and uplink communication techniques for enabling a base station to communicate with communication nodes in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19B  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication node in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19C  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication node in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19D  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19E  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19F  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19G  is a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19H  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a transmitter in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 19I  is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a receiver in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 20A  illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 20B  illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication system in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 20C  illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 21  is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 22  is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a mobile network platform in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 23  is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication device in accordance with various aspects described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It is evident, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without these details (and without applying to any particular networked environment or standard). 
     In an embodiment, a guided wave communication system is presented for sending and receiving communication signals such as data or other signaling via guided electromagnetic waves. The guided electromagnetic waves include, for example, surface waves or other electromagnetic waves that are bound to or guided by a transmission medium. It will be appreciated that a variety of transmission media can be utilized with guided wave communications without departing from example embodiments. Examples of such transmission media can include one or more of the following, either alone or in one or more combinations: wires, whether insulated or not, and whether single-stranded or multi-stranded; conductors of other shapes or configurations including wire bundles, cables, rods, rails, pipes; non-conductors such as dielectric pipes, rods, rails, or other dielectric members; combinations of conductors and dielectric materials; or other guided wave transmission media. 
     The inducement of guided electromagnetic waves on a transmission medium can be independent of any electrical potential, charge or current that is injected or otherwise transmitted through the transmission medium as part of an electrical circuit. For example, in the case where the transmission medium is a wire, it is to be appreciated that while a small current in the wire may be formed in response to the propagation of the guided waves along the wire, this can be due to the propagation of the electromagnetic wave along the wire surface, and is not formed in response to electrical potential, charge or current that is injected into the wire as part of an electrical circuit. The electromagnetic waves traveling on the wire therefore do not require a circuit to propagate along the wire surface. The wire therefore is a single wire transmission line that is not part of a circuit. Also, in some embodiments, a wire is not necessary, and the electromagnetic waves can propagate along a single line transmission medium that is not a wire. 
     More generally, “guided electromagnetic waves” or “guided waves” as described by the subject disclosure are affected by the presence of a physical object that is at least a part of the transmission medium (e.g., a bare wire or other conductor, a dielectric, an insulated wire, a conduit or other hollow element, a bundle of insulated wires that is coated, covered or surrounded by a dielectric or insulator or other wire bundle, or another form of solid, liquid or otherwise non-gaseous transmission medium) so as to be at least partially bound to or guided by the physical object and so as to propagate along a transmission path of the physical object. Such a physical object can operate as at least a part of a transmission medium that guides, by way of an interface of the transmission medium (e.g., an outer surface, inner surface, an interior portion between the outer and the inner surfaces or other boundary between elements of the transmission medium), the propagation of guided electromagnetic waves, which in turn can carry energy, data and/or other signals along the transmission path from a sending device to a receiving device. 
     Unlike free space propagation of wireless signals such as unguided (or unbounded) electromagnetic waves that decrease in intensity inversely by the square of the distance traveled by the unguided electromagnetic waves, guided electromagnetic waves can propagate along a transmission medium with less loss in magnitude per unit distance than experienced by unguided electromagnetic waves. 
     Unlike electrical signals, guided electromagnetic waves can propagate from a sending device to a receiving device without requiring a separate electrical return path between the sending device and the receiving device. As a consequence, guided electromagnetic waves can propagate from a sending device to a receiving device along a transmission medium having no conductive components (e.g., a dielectric strip), or via a transmission medium having no more than a single conductor (e.g., a single bare wire or insulated wire). Even if a transmission medium includes one or more conductive components and the guided electromagnetic waves propagating along the transmission medium generate currents that flow in the one or more conductive components in a direction of the guided electromagnetic waves, such guided electromagnetic waves can propagate along the transmission medium from a sending device to a receiving device without requiring a flow of opposing currents on an electrical return path between the sending device and the receiving device. 
     In a non-limiting illustration, consider electrical systems that transmit and receive electrical signals between sending and receiving devices by way of conductive media. Such systems generally rely on electrically separate forward and return paths. For instance, consider a coaxial cable having a center conductor and a ground shield that are separated by an insulator. Typically, in an electrical system a first terminal of a sending (or receiving) device can be connected to the center conductor, and a second terminal of the sending (or receiving) device can be connected to the ground shield. If the sending device injects an electrical signal in the center conductor via the first terminal, the electrical signal will propagate along the center conductor causing forward currents in the center conductor, and return currents in the ground shield. The same conditions apply for a two terminal receiving device. 
     In contrast, consider a guided wave communication system such as described in the subject disclosure, which can utilize different embodiments of a transmission medium (including among others a coaxial cable) for transmitting and receiving guided electromagnetic waves without an electrical return path. In one embodiment, for example, the guided wave communication system of the subject disclosure can be configured to induce guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of a coaxial cable. Although the guided electromagnetic waves will cause forward currents on the ground shield, the guided electromagnetic waves do not require return currents to enable the guided electromagnetic waves to propagate along the outer surface of the coaxial cable. The same can be said of other transmission media used by a guided wave communication system for the transmission and reception of guided electromagnetic waves. For example, guided electromagnetic waves induced by the guided wave communication system on an outer surface of a bare wire, or an insulated wire can propagate along the bare wire or the insulated bare wire without an electrical return path. 
     Consequently, electrical systems that require two or more conductors for carrying forward and reverse currents on separate conductors to enable the propagation of electrical signals injected by a sending device are distinct from guided wave systems that induce guided electromagnetic waves on an interface of a transmission medium without the need of an electrical return path to enable the propagation of the guided electromagnetic waves along the interface of the transmission medium. 
     It is further noted that guided electromagnetic waves as described in the subject disclosure can have an electromagnetic field structure that lies primarily or substantially outside of a transmission medium so as to be bound to or guided by the transmission medium and so as to propagate non-trivial distances on or along an outer surface of the transmission medium. In other embodiments, guided electromagnetic waves can have an electromagnetic field structure that lies primarily or substantially inside a transmission medium so as to be bound to or guided by the transmission medium and so as to propagate non-trivial distances within the transmission medium. In other embodiments, guided electromagnetic waves can have an electromagnetic field structure that lies partially inside and partially outside a transmission medium so as to be bound to or guided by the transmission medium and so as to propagate non-trivial distances along the transmission medium. The desired electronic field structure in an embodiment may vary based upon a variety of factors, including the desired transmission distance, the characteristics of the transmission medium itself, and environmental conditions/characteristics outside of the transmission medium (e.g., presence of rain, fog, atmospheric conditions, etc.). 
     It is further noted that guided wave systems as described in the subject disclosure also differ from fiber optical systems. Guided wave systems of the subject disclosure can induce guided electromagnetic waves on an interface of a transmission medium constructed of an opaque material (e.g., a dielectric cable made of polyethylene) or a material that is otherwise resistive to the transmission of light waves (e.g., a bare conductive wire or an insulated conductive wire) enabling propagation of the guided electromagnetic waves along the interface of the transmission medium over non-trivial distances. Fiber optic systems in contrast cannot function with a transmission medium that is opaque or other resistive to the transmission of light waves. 
     Various embodiments described herein relate to coupling devices, that can be referred to as “waveguide coupling devices”, “waveguide couplers” or more simply as “couplers”, “coupling devices” or “launchers” for launching and/or extracting guided electromagnetic waves to and from a transmission medium at millimeter-wave frequencies (e.g., 30 to 300 GHz), wherein the wavelength can be small compared to one or more dimensions of the coupling device and/or the transmission medium such as the circumference of a wire or other cross sectional dimension, or lower microwave frequencies such as 300 MHz to 30 GHz. Transmissions can be generated to propagate as waves guided by a coupling device, such as: a strip, arc or other length of dielectric material; a horn, monopole, rod, slot or other antenna; an array of antennas; a magnetic resonant cavity, or other resonant coupler; a coil, a strip line, a waveguide or other coupling device. In operation, the coupling device receives an electromagnetic wave from a transmitter or transmission medium. The electromagnetic field structure of the electromagnetic wave can be carried inside the coupling device, outside the coupling device or some combination thereof. When the coupling device is in close proximity to a transmission medium, at least a portion of an electromagnetic wave couples to or is bound to the transmission medium, and continues to propagate as guided electromagnetic waves. In a reciprocal fashion, a coupling device can extract guided waves from a transmission medium and transfer these electromagnetic waves to a receiver. 
     According to an example embodiment, a surface wave is a type of guided wave that is guided by a surface of a transmission medium, such as an exterior or outer surface of the wire, or another surface of the wire that is adjacent to or exposed to another type of medium having different properties (e.g., dielectric properties). Indeed, in an example embodiment, a surface of the wire that guides a surface wave can represent a transitional surface between two different types of media. For example, in the case of a bare or uninsulated wire, the surface of the wire can be the outer or exterior conductive surface of the bare or uninsulated wire that is exposed to air or free space. As another example, in the case of insulated wire, the surface of the wire can be the conductive portion of the wire that meets the insulator portion of the wire, or can otherwise be the insulator surface of the wire that is exposed to air or free space, or can otherwise be any material region between the insulator surface of the wire and the conductive portion of the wire that meets the insulator portion of the wire, depending upon the relative differences in the properties (e.g., dielectric properties) of the insulator, air, and/or the conductor and further dependent on the frequency and propagation mode or modes of the guided wave. 
     According to an example embodiment, the term “about” a wire or other transmission medium used in conjunction with a guided wave can include fundamental guided wave propagation modes such as a guided waves having a circular or substantially circular field distribution, a symmetrical electromagnetic field distribution (e.g., electric field, magnetic field, electromagnetic field, etc.) or other fundamental mode pattern at least partially around a wire or other transmission medium. In addition, when a guided wave propagates “about” a wire or other transmission medium, it can do so according to a guided wave propagation mode that includes not only the fundamental wave propagation modes (e.g., zero order modes), but additionally or alternatively non-fundamental wave propagation modes such as higher-order guided wave modes (e.g., 1 st  order modes, 2 nd  order modes, etc.), asymmetrical modes and/or other guided (e.g., surface) waves that have non-circular field distributions around a wire or other transmission medium. As used herein, the term “guided wave mode” refers to a guided wave propagation mode of a transmission medium, coupling device or other system component of a guided wave communication system. 
     For example, such non-circular field distributions can be unilateral or multi-lateral with one or more axial lobes characterized by relatively higher field strength and/or one or more nulls or null regions characterized by relatively low-field strength, zero-field strength or substantially zero-field strength. Further, the field distribution can otherwise vary as a function of azimuthal orientation around the wire such that one or more angular regions around the wire have an electric or magnetic field strength (or combination thereof) that is higher than one or more other angular regions of azimuthal orientation, according to an example embodiment. It will be appreciated that the relative orientations or positions of the guided wave higher order modes or asymmetrical modes can vary as the guided wave travels along the wire. 
     As used herein, the term “millimeter-wave” can refer to electromagnetic waves/signals that fall within the “millimeter-wave frequency band” of 30 GHz to 300 GHz. The term “microwave” can refer to electromagnetic waves/signals that fall within a “microwave frequency band” of 300 MHz to 300 GHz. The term “radio frequency” or “RF” can refer to electromagnetic waves/signals that fall within the “radio frequency band” of 10 kHz to 1 THz. It is appreciated that wireless signals, electrical signals, and guided electromagnetic waves as described in the subject disclosure can be configured to operate at any desirable frequency range, such as, for example, at frequencies within, above or below millimeter-wave and/or microwave frequency bands. In particular, when a coupling device or transmission medium includes a conductive element, the frequency of the guided electromagnetic waves that are carried by the coupling device and/or propagate along the transmission medium can be below the mean collision frequency of the electrons in the conductive element. Further, the frequency of the guided electromagnetic waves that are carried by the coupling device and/or propagate along the transmission medium can be a non-optical frequency, e.g., a radio frequency below the range of optical frequencies that begins at 1 THz. 
     As used herein, the term “antenna” can refer to a device that is part of a transmitting or receiving system to transmit/radiate or receive wireless signals. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method can include receiving, by a system of a first network element of a distributed antenna system including signal processing circuitry, a modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to a mobile communication device, wherein the modulated signal conforms to a wireless signaling protocol; converting, by the system, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment based on a signal processing of the modulated signal and without modifying the wireless signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the second spectral segment is outside the first spectral segment; generating, by the system, fault mitigation messaging in a control channel; and transmitting, by the system, the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the control channel to a second network element of the distributed antenna system. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, a network device of a distributed antenna system can include a base station interface configured to receive a modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to a mobile communication device, wherein the modulated signal conforms to a wireless signaling protocol. A transceiver can be configured to: convert the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment based on a signal processing of the modulated signal and without modifying the wireless signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the second spectral segment is outside the first spectral segment; generate fault mitigation messaging in a control channel; and transmit the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the control channel to another network device of the distributed antenna system. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, a network device of a distributed antenna system can include base station interface means for receiving a modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to a mobile communication device, wherein the modulated signal conforms to a wireless signaling protocol. A transceiver means can also be included for: converting the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment based on a signal processing of the modulated signal and without modifying the wireless signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the second spectral segment is outside the first spectral segment; generating fault mitigation messaging in a control channel; and transmitting the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the control channel to another network device of the distributed antenna system. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram  100  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a guided wave communications system is shown. In operation, a transmission device  101  receives one or more communication signals  110  from a communication network or other communications device that includes data and generates guided waves  120  to convey the data via the transmission medium  125  to the transmission device  102 . The transmission device  102  receives the guided waves  120  and converts them to communication signals  112  that include the data for transmission to a communications network or other communications device. The guided waves  120  can be modulated to convey data via a modulation technique such as phase shift keying, frequency shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, amplitude modulation, multi-carrier modulation such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and via multiple access techniques such as frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing, multiplexing via differing wave propagation modes and via other modulation and access strategies. 
     The communication network or networks can include a wireless communication network such as a mobile data network, a cellular voice and data network, a wireless local area network (e.g., WiFi or an 802.xx network), a satellite communications network, a personal area network or other wireless network. The communication network or networks can also include a wired communication network such as a telephone network, an Ethernet network, a local area network, a wide area network such as the Internet, a broadband access network, a cable network, a fiber optic network, or other wired network. The communication devices can include a network edge device, bridge device or home gateway, a set-top box, broadband modem, telephone adapter, access point, base station, or other fixed communication device, a mobile communication device such as an automotive gateway or automobile, laptop computer, tablet, smartphone, cellular telephone, or other communication device. 
     In an example embodiment, the guided wave communication system  100  can operate in a bi-directional fashion where transmission device  102  receives one or more communication signals  112  from a communication network or device that includes other data and generates guided waves  122  to convey the other data via the transmission medium  125  to the transmission device  101 . In this mode of operation, the transmission device  101  receives the guided waves  122  and converts them to communication signals  110  that include the other data for transmission to a communications network or device. The guided waves  122  can be modulated to convey data via a modulation technique such as phase shift keying, frequency shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, amplitude modulation, multi-carrier modulation such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and via multiple access techniques such as frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing, multiplexing via differing wave propagation modes and via other modulation and access strategies. 
     The transmission medium  125  can include a cable having at least one inner portion surrounded by a dielectric material such as an insulator or other dielectric cover, coating or other dielectric material, the dielectric material having an outer surface and a corresponding circumference. In an example embodiment, the transmission medium  125  operates as a single-wire transmission line to guide the transmission of an electromagnetic wave. When the transmission medium  125  is implemented as a single wire transmission system, it can include a wire. The wire can be insulated or uninsulated, and single-stranded or multi-stranded (e.g., braided). In other embodiments, the transmission medium  125  can contain conductors of other shapes or configurations including wire bundles, cables, rods, rails, pipes. In addition, the transmission medium  125  can include non-conductors such as dielectric pipes, rods, rails, or other dielectric members; combinations of conductors and dielectric materials, conductors without dielectric materials or other guided wave transmission media. It should be noted that the transmission medium  125  can otherwise include any of the transmission media previously discussed. 
     Further, as previously discussed, the guided waves  120  and  122  can be contrasted with radio transmissions over free space/air or conventional propagation of electrical power or signals through the conductor of a wire via an electrical circuit. In addition to the propagation of guided waves  120  and  122 , the transmission medium  125  may optionally contain one or more wires that propagate electrical power or other communication signals in a conventional manner as a part of one or more electrical circuits. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram  200  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a transmission device is shown. The transmission device  101  or  102  includes a communications interface (I/F)  205 , a transceiver  210  and a coupler  220 . 
     In an example of operation, the communications interface  205  receives a communication signal  110  or  112  that includes data. In various embodiments, the communications interface  205  can include a wireless interface for receiving a wireless communication signal in accordance with a wireless standard protocol such as LTE or other cellular voice and data protocol, WiFi or an 802.11 protocol, WIMAX protocol, Ultra Wideband protocol, Bluetooth protocol, Zigbee protocol, a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) or other satellite communication protocol or other wireless protocol. In addition or in the alternative, the communications interface  205  includes a wired interface that operates in accordance with an Ethernet protocol, universal serial bus (USB) protocol, a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a digital subscriber line (DSL) protocol, a Firewire (IEEE 1394) protocol, or other wired protocol. In additional to standards-based protocols, the communications interface  205  can operate in conjunction with other wired or wireless protocol. In addition, the communications interface  205  can optionally operate in conjunction with a protocol stack that includes multiple protocol layers including a MAC protocol, transport protocol, application protocol, etc. 
     In an example of operation, the transceiver  210  generates an electromagnetic wave based on the communication signal  110  or  112  to convey the data. The electromagnetic wave has at least one carrier frequency and at least one corresponding wavelength. The carrier frequency can be within a millimeter-wave frequency band of 30 GHz-300 GHz, such as 60 GHz or a carrier frequency in the range of 30-40 GHz or a lower frequency band of 300 MHz-30 GHz in the microwave frequency range such as 26-30 GHz, 11 GHz, 6 GHz or 3 GHz, but it will be appreciated that other carrier frequencies are possible in other embodiments. In one mode of operation, the transceiver  210  merely upconverts the communications signal or signals  110  or  112  for transmission of the electromagnetic signal in the microwave or millimeter-wave band as a guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by or bound to the transmission medium  125 . In another mode of operation, the communications interface  205  either converts the communication signal  110  or  112  to a baseband or near baseband signal or extracts the data from the communication signal  110  or  112  and the transceiver  210  modulates a high-frequency carrier with the data, the baseband or near baseband signal for transmission. It should be appreciated that the transceiver  210  can modulate the data received via the communication signal  110  or  112  to preserve one or more data communication protocols of the communication signal  110  or  112  either by encapsulation in the payload of a different protocol or by simple frequency shifting. In the alternative, the transceiver  210  can otherwise translate the data received via the communication signal  110  or  112  to a protocol that is different from the data communication protocol or protocols of the communication signal  110  or  112 . 
     In an example of operation, the coupler  220  couples the electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium  125  as a guided electromagnetic wave to convey the communications signal or signals  110  or  112 . While the prior description has focused on the operation of the transceiver  210  as a transmitter, the transceiver  210  can also operate to receive electromagnetic waves that convey other data from the single wire transmission medium via the coupler  220  and to generate communications signals  110  or  112 , via communications interface  205  that includes the other data. Consider embodiments where an additional guided electromagnetic wave conveys other data that also propagates along the transmission medium  125 . The coupler  220  can also couple this additional electromagnetic wave from the transmission medium  125  to the transceiver  210  for reception. 
     The transmission device  101  or  102  includes an optional training controller  230 . In an example embodiment, the training controller  230  is implemented by a standalone processor or a processor that is shared with one or more other components of the transmission device  101  or  102 . The training controller  230  selects the carrier frequencies, modulation schemes and/or guided wave modes for the guided electromagnetic waves based on feedback data received by the transceiver  210  from at least one remote transmission device coupled to receive the guided electromagnetic wave. 
     In an example embodiment, a guided electromagnetic wave transmitted by a remote transmission device  101  or  102  conveys data that also propagates along the transmission medium  125 . The data from the remote transmission device  101  or  102  can be generated to include the feedback data. In operation, the coupler  220  also couples the guided electromagnetic wave from the transmission medium  125  and the transceiver receives the electromagnetic wave and processes the electromagnetic wave to extract the feedback data. 
     In an example embodiment, the training controller  230  operates based on the feedback data to evaluate a plurality of candidate frequencies, modulation schemes and/or transmission modes to select a carrier frequency, modulation scheme and/or transmission mode to enhance performance, such as throughput, signal strength, reduce propagation loss, etc. 
     Consider the following example: a transmission device  101  begins operation under control of the training controller  230  by sending a plurality of guided waves as test signals such as pilot waves or other test signals at a corresponding plurality of candidate frequencies and/or candidate modes directed to a remote transmission device  102  coupled to the transmission medium  125 . The guided waves can include, in addition or in the alternative, test data. The test data can indicate the particular candidate frequency and/or guide-wave mode of the signal. In an embodiment, the training controller  230  at the remote transmission device  102  receives the test signals and/or test data from any of the guided waves that were properly received and determines the best candidate frequency and/or guided wave mode, a set of acceptable candidate frequencies and/or guided wave modes, or a rank ordering of candidate frequencies and/or guided wave modes. This selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided-mode(s) are generated by the training controller  230  based on one or more optimizing criteria such as received signal strength, bit error rate, packet error rate, signal to noise ratio, propagation loss, etc. The training controller  230  generates feedback data that indicates the selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided wave mode(s) and sends the feedback data to the transceiver  210  for transmission to the transmission device  101 . The transmission device  101  and  102  can then communicate data with one another based on the selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided wave mode(s). 
     In other embodiments, the guided electromagnetic waves that contain the test signals and/or test data are reflected back, repeated back or otherwise looped back by the remote transmission device  102  to the transmission device  101  for reception and analysis by the training controller  230  of the transmission device  101  that initiated these waves. For example, the transmission device  101  can send a signal to the remote transmission device  102  to initiate a test mode where a physical reflector is switched on the line, a termination impedance is changed to cause reflections, a loop back mode is switched on to couple electromagnetic waves back to the source transmission device  102 , and/or a repeater mode is enabled to amplify and retransmit the electromagnetic waves back to the source transmission device  102 . The training controller  230  at the source transmission device  102  receives the test signals and/or test data from any of the guided waves that were properly received and determines selection of candidate frequenc(ies) or/and guided wave mode(s). 
     While the procedure above has been described in a start-up or initialization mode of operation, each transmission device  101  or  102  can send test signals, evaluate candidate frequencies or guided wave modes via non-test such as normal transmissions or otherwise evaluate candidate frequencies or guided wave modes at other times or continuously as well. In an example embodiment, the communication protocol between the transmission devices  101  and  102  can include an on-request or periodic test mode where either full testing or more limited testing of a subset of candidate frequencies and guided wave modes are tested and evaluated. In other modes of operation, the re-entry into such a test mode can be triggered by a degradation of performance due to a disturbance, weather conditions, etc. In an example embodiment, the receiver bandwidth of the transceiver  210  is either sufficiently wide or swept to receive all candidate frequencies or can be selectively adjusted by the training controller  230  to a training mode where the receiver bandwidth of the transceiver  210  is sufficiently wide or swept to receive all candidate frequencies. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a graphical diagram  300  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic field distribution is shown. In this embodiment, a transmission medium  125  in air includes an inner conductor  301  and an insulating jacket  302  of dielectric material, as shown in cross section. The diagram  300  includes different gray-scales that represent differing electromagnetic field strengths generated by the propagation of the guided wave having an asymmetrical and non-fundamental guided wave mode. 
     In particular, the electromagnetic field distribution corresponds to a modal “sweet spot” that enhances guided electromagnetic wave propagation along an insulated transmission medium and reduces end-to-end transmission loss. In this particular mode, electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium  125  to propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium—in this case, the outer surface of the insulating jacket  302 . Electromagnetic waves are partially embedded in the insulator and partially radiating on the outer surface of the insulator. In this fashion, electromagnetic waves are “lightly” coupled to the insulator so as to enable electromagnetic wave propagation at long distances with low propagation loss. 
     As shown, the guided wave has a field structure that lies primarily or substantially outside of the transmission medium  125  that serves to guide the electromagnetic waves. The regions inside the conductor  301  have little or no field. Likewise regions inside the insulating jacket  302  have low field strength. The majority of the electromagnetic field strength is distributed in the lobes  304  at the outer surface of the insulating jacket  302  and in close proximity thereof. The presence of an asymmetric guided wave mode is shown by the high electromagnetic field strengths at the top and bottom of the outer surface of the insulating jacket  302  (in the orientation of the diagram)—as opposed to very small field strengths on the other sides of the insulating jacket  302 . 
     The example shown corresponds to a 38 GHz electromagnetic wave guided by a wire with a diameter of 1.1 cm and a dielectric insulation of thickness of 0.36 cm. Because the electromagnetic wave is guided by the transmission medium  125  and the majority of the field strength is concentrated in the air outside of the insulating jacket  302  within a limited distance of the outer surface, the guided wave can propagate longitudinally down the transmission medium  125  with very low loss. In the example shown, this “limited distance” corresponds to a distance from the outer surface that is less than half the largest cross sectional dimension of the transmission medium  125 . In this case, the largest cross sectional dimension of the wire corresponds to the overall diameter of 1.82 cm, however, this value can vary with the size and shape of the transmission medium  125 . For example, should the transmission medium  125  be of a rectangular shape with a height of 0.3 cm and a width of 0.4 cm, the largest cross sectional dimension would be the diagonal of 0.5 cm and the corresponding limited distance would be 0.25 cm. The dimensions of the area containing the majority of the field strength also vary with the frequency, and in general, increase as carrier frequencies decrease. 
     It should also be noted that the components of a guided wave communication system, such as couplers and transmission media can have their own cut-off frequencies for each guided wave mode. The cut-off frequency generally sets forth the lowest frequency that a particular guided wave mode is designed to be supported by that particular component. In an example embodiment, the particular asymmetric mode of propagation shown is induced on the transmission medium  125  by an electromagnetic wave having a frequency that falls within a limited range (such as Fc to 2Fc) of the lower cut-off frequency Fc for this particular asymmetric mode. The lower cut-off frequency Fc is particular to the characteristics of transmission medium  125 . For embodiments as shown that include an inner conductor  301  surrounded by an insulating jacket  302 , this cutoff frequency can vary based on the dimensions and properties of the insulating jacket  302  and potentially the dimensions and properties of the inner conductor  301  and can be determined experimentally to have a desired mode pattern. It should be noted however, that similar effects can be found for a hollow dielectric or insulator without an inner conductor. In this case, the cutoff frequency can vary based on the dimensions and properties of the hollow dielectric or insulator. 
     At frequencies lower than the lower cut-off frequency, the asymmetric mode is difficult to induce in the transmission medium  125  and fails to propagate for all but trivial distances. As the frequency increases above the limited range of frequencies about the cut-off frequency, the asymmetric mode shifts more and more inward of the insulating jacket  302 . At frequencies much larger than the cut-off frequency, the field strength is no longer concentrated outside of the insulating jacket, but primarily inside of the insulating jacket  302 . While the transmission medium  125  provides strong guidance to the electromagnetic wave and propagation is still possible, ranges are more limited by increased losses due to propagation within the insulating jacket  302 —as opposed to the surrounding air. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a graphical diagram  400  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic field distribution is shown. In particular, a cross section diagram  400 , similar to  FIG. 3  is shown with common reference numerals used to refer to similar elements. The example shown corresponds to a 60 GHz wave guided by a wire with a diameter of 1.1 cm and a dielectric insulation of thickness of 0.36 cm. Because the frequency of the guided wave is above the limited range of the cut-off frequency of this particular asymmetric mode, much of the field strength has shifted inward of the insulating jacket  302 . In particular, the field strength is concentrated primarily inside of the insulating jacket  302 . While the transmission medium  125  provides strong guidance to the electromagnetic wave and propagation is still possible, ranges are more limited when compared with the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , by increased losses due to propagation within the insulating jacket  302 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5A , a graphical diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency response is shown. In particular, diagram  500  presents a graph of end-to-end loss (in dB) as a function of frequency, overlaid with electromagnetic field distributions  510 ,  520  and  530  at three points for a 200 cm insulated medium voltage wire. The boundary between the insulator and the surrounding air is represented by reference numeral  525  in each electromagnetic field distribution. 
     As discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , an example of a desired asymmetric mode of propagation shown is induced on the transmission medium  125  by an electromagnetic wave having a frequency that falls within a limited range (such as Fc to 2Fc) of the lower cut-off frequency Fc of the transmission medium for this particular asymmetric mode. In particular, the electromagnetic field distribution  520  at 6 GHz falls within this modal “sweet spot” that enhances electromagnetic wave propagation along an insulated transmission medium and reduces end-to-end transmission loss. In this particular mode, guided waves are partially embedded in the insulator and partially radiating on the outer surface of the insulator. In this fashion, the electromagnetic waves are “lightly” coupled to the insulator so as to enable guided electromagnetic wave propagation at long distances with low propagation loss. 
     At lower frequencies represented by the electromagnetic field distribution  510  at 3 GHz, the asymmetric mode radiates more heavily generating higher propagation losses. At higher frequencies represented by the electromagnetic field distribution  530  at 9 GHz, the asymmetric mode shifts more and more inward of the insulating jacket providing too much absorption, again generating higher propagation losses. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5B , a graphical diagram  550  illustrating example, non-limiting embodiments of a longitudinal cross-section of a transmission medium  125 , such as an insulated wire, depicting fields of guided electromagnetic waves at various operating frequencies is shown. As shown in diagram  556 , when the guided electromagnetic waves are at approximately the cutoff frequency (f c ) corresponding to the modal “sweet spot”, the guided electromagnetic waves are loosely coupled to the insulated wire so that absorption is reduced, and the fields of the guided electromagnetic waves are bound sufficiently to reduce the amount radiated into the environment (e.g., air). Because absorption and radiation of the fields of the guided electromagnetic waves is low, propagation losses are consequently low, enabling the guided electromagnetic waves to propagate for longer distances. 
     As shown in diagram  554 , propagation losses increase when an operating frequency of the guide electromagnetic waves increases above about two-times the cutoff frequency (f c )—or as referred to, above the range of the “sweet spot”. More of the field strength of the electromagnetic wave is driven inside the insulating layer, increasing propagation losses. At frequencies much higher than the cutoff frequency (f c ) the guided electromagnetic waves are strongly bound to the insulated wire as a result of the fields emitted by the guided electromagnetic waves being concentrated in the insulation layer of the wire, as shown in diagram  552 . This in turn raises propagation losses further due to absorption of the guided electromagnetic waves by the insulation layer. Similarly, propagation losses increase when the operating frequency of the guided electromagnetic waves is substantially below the cutoff frequency (f c ), as shown in diagram  558 . At frequencies much lower than the cutoff frequency (f c ) the guided electromagnetic waves are weakly (or nominally) bound to the insulated wire and thereby tend to radiate into the environment (e.g., air), which in turn, raises propagation losses due to radiation of the guided electromagnetic waves. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a graphical diagram  600  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic field distribution is shown. In this embodiment, a transmission medium  602  is a bare wire, as shown in cross section. The diagram  300  includes different gray-scales that represent differing electromagnetic field strengths generated by the propagation of a guided wave having a symmetrical and fundamental guided wave mode at a single carrier frequency. 
     In this particular mode, electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium  602  to propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium—in this case, the outer surface of the bare wire. Electromagnetic waves are “lightly” coupled to the wire so as to enable electromagnetic wave propagation at long distances with low propagation loss. As shown, the guided wave has a field structure that lies substantially outside of the transmission medium  602  that serves to guide the electromagnetic waves. The regions inside the conductor  602  have little or no field. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a block diagram  700  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an arc coupler is shown. In particular a coupling device is presented for use in a transmission device, such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . The coupling device includes an arc coupler  704  coupled to a transmitter circuit  712  and termination or damper  714 . The arc coupler  704  can be made of a dielectric material, or other low-loss insulator (e.g., Teflon, polyethylene, etc.), or made of a conducting (e.g., metallic, non-metallic, etc.) material, or any combination of the foregoing materials. As shown, the arc coupler  704  operates as a waveguide and has a wave  706  propagating as a guided wave about a waveguide surface of the arc coupler  704 . In the embodiment shown, at least a portion of the arc coupler  704  can be placed near a wire  702  or other transmission medium, (such as transmission medium  125 ), in order to facilitate coupling between the arc coupler  704  and the wire  702  or other transmission medium, as described herein to launch the guided wave  708  on the wire. The arc coupler  704  can be placed such that a portion of the curved arc coupler  704  is tangential to, and parallel or substantially parallel to the wire  702 . The portion of the arc coupler  704  that is parallel to the wire can be an apex of the curve, or any point where a tangent of the curve is parallel to the wire  702 . When the arc coupler  704  is positioned or placed thusly, the wave  706  travelling along the arc coupler  704  couples, at least in part, to the wire  702 , and propagates as guided wave  708  around or about the wire surface of the wire  702  and longitudinally along the wire  702 . The guided wave  708  can be characterized as a surface wave or other electromagnetic wave that is guided by or bound to the wire  702  or other transmission medium. 
     A portion of the wave  706  that does not couple to the wire  702  propagates as a wave  710  along the arc coupler  704 . It will be appreciated that the arc coupler  704  can be configured and arranged in a variety of positions in relation to the wire  702  to achieve a desired level of coupling or non-coupling of the wave  706  to the wire  702 . For example, the curvature and/or length of the arc coupler  704  that is parallel or substantially parallel, as well as its separation distance (which can include zero separation distance in an embodiment), to the wire  702  can be varied without departing from example embodiments. Likewise, the arrangement of arc coupler  704  in relation to the wire  702  may be varied based upon considerations of the respective intrinsic characteristics (e.g., thickness, composition, electromagnetic properties, etc.) of the wire  702  and the arc coupler  704 , as well as the characteristics (e.g., frequency, energy level, etc.) of the waves  706  and  708 . 
     The guided wave  708  stays parallel or substantially parallel to the wire  702 , even as the wire  702  bends and flexes. Bends in the wire  702  can increase transmission losses, which are also dependent on wire diameters, frequency, and materials. If the dimensions of the arc coupler  704  are chosen for efficient power transfer, most of the power in the wave  706  is transferred to the wire  702 , with little power remaining in wave  710 . It will be appreciated that the guided wave  708  can still be multi-modal in nature (discussed herein), including having modes that are non-fundamental or asymmetric, while traveling along a path that is parallel or substantially parallel to the wire  702 , with or without a fundamental transmission mode. In an embodiment, non-fundamental or asymmetric modes can be utilized to minimize transmission losses and/or obtain increased propagation distances. 
     It is noted that the term parallel is generally a geometric construct which often is not exactly achievable in real systems. Accordingly, the term parallel as utilized in the subject disclosure represents an approximation rather than an exact configuration when used to describe embodiments disclosed in the subject disclosure. In an embodiment, substantially parallel can include approximations that are within 30 degrees of true parallel in all dimensions. 
     In an embodiment, the wave  706  can exhibit one or more wave propagation modes. 
     The arc coupler modes can be dependent on the shape and/or design of the coupler  704 . The one or more arc coupler modes of wave  706  can generate, influence, or impact one or more wave propagation modes of the guided wave  708  propagating along wire  702 . It should be particularly noted however that the guided wave modes present in the guided wave  706  may be the same or different from the guided wave modes of the guided wave  708 . In this fashion, one or more guided wave modes of the guided wave  706  may not be transferred to the guided wave  708 , and further one or more guided wave modes of guided wave  708  may not have been present in guided wave  706 . It should also be noted that the cut-off frequency of the arc coupler  704  for a particular guided wave mode may be different than the cutoff frequency of the wire  702  or other transmission medium for that same mode. For example, while the wire  702  or other transmission medium may be operated slightly above its cutoff frequency for a particular guided wave mode, the arc coupler  704  may be operated well above its cut-off frequency for that same mode for low loss, slightly below its cut-off frequency for that same mode to, for example, induce greater coupling and power transfer, or some other point in relation to the arc coupler&#39;s cutoff frequency for that mode. 
     In an embodiment, the wave propagation modes on the wire  702  can be similar to the arc coupler modes since both waves  706  and  708  propagate about the outside of the arc coupler  704  and wire  702  respectively. In some embodiments, as the wave  706  couples to the wire  702 , the modes can change form, or new modes can be created or generated, due to the coupling between the arc coupler  704  and the wire  702 . For example, differences in size, material, and/or impedances of the arc coupler  704  and wire  702  may create additional modes not present in the arc coupler modes and/or suppress some of the arc coupler modes. The wave propagation modes can comprise the fundamental transverse electromagnetic mode (Quasi-TEM 00 ), where only small electric and/or magnetic fields extend in the direction of propagation, and the electric and magnetic fields extend radially outwards while the guided wave propagates along the wire. This guided wave mode can be donut shaped, where few of the electromagnetic fields exist within the arc coupler  704  or wire  702 . 
     Waves  706  and  708  can comprise a fundamental TEM mode where the fields extend radially outwards, and also comprise other, non-fundamental (e.g., asymmetric, higher-level, etc.) modes. While particular wave propagation modes are discussed above, other wave propagation modes are likewise possible such as transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, based on the frequencies employed, the design of the arc coupler  704 , the dimensions and composition of the wire  702 , as well as its surface characteristics, its insulation if present, the electromagnetic properties of the surrounding environment, etc. It should be noted that, depending on the frequency, the electrical and physical characteristics of the wire  702  and the particular wave propagation modes that are generated, guided wave  708  can travel along the conductive surface of an oxidized uninsulated wire, an unoxidized uninsulated wire, an insulated wire and/or along the insulating surface of an insulated wire. 
     In an embodiment, a diameter of the arc coupler  704  is smaller than the diameter of the wire  702 . For the millimeter-band wavelength being used, the arc coupler  704  supports a single waveguide mode that makes up wave  706 . This single waveguide mode can change as it couples to the wire  702  as guided wave  708 . If the arc coupler  704  were larger, more than one waveguide mode can be supported, but these additional waveguide modes may not couple to the wire  702  as efficiently, and higher coupling losses can result. However, in some alternative embodiments, the diameter of the arc coupler  704  can be equal to or larger than the diameter of the wire  702 , for example, where higher coupling losses are desirable or when used in conjunction with other techniques to otherwise reduce coupling losses (e.g., impedance matching with tapering, etc.). 
     In an embodiment, the wavelength of the waves  706  and  708  are comparable in size, or smaller than a circumference of the arc coupler  704  and the wire  702 . In an example, if the wire  702  has a diameter of 0.5 cm, and a corresponding circumference of around 1.5 cm, the wavelength of the transmission is around 1.5 cm or less, corresponding to a frequency of 70 GHz or greater. In another embodiment, a suitable frequency of the transmission and the carrier-wave signal is in the range of 30-100 GHz, perhaps around 30-60 GHz, and around 38 GHz in one example. In an embodiment, when the circumference of the arc coupler  704  and wire  702  is comparable in size to, or greater, than a wavelength of the transmission, the waves  706  and  708  can exhibit multiple wave propagation modes including fundamental and/or non-fundamental (symmetric and/or asymmetric) modes that propagate over sufficient distances to support various communication systems described herein. The waves  706  and  708  can therefore comprise more than one type of electric and magnetic field configuration. In an embodiment, as the guided wave  708  propagates down the wire  702 , the electrical and magnetic field configurations will remain the same from end to end of the wire  702 . In other embodiments, as the guided wave  708  encounters interference (distortion or obstructions) or loses energy due to transmission losses or scattering, the electric and magnetic field configurations can change as the guided wave  708  propagates down wire  702 . 
     In an embodiment, the arc coupler  704  can be composed of nylon, Teflon, polyethylene, a polyamide, or other plastics. In other embodiments, other dielectric materials are possible. The wire surface of wire  702  can be metallic with either a bare metallic surface, or can be insulated using plastic, dielectric, insulator or other coating, jacket or sheathing. In an embodiment, a dielectric or otherwise non-conducting/insulated waveguide can be paired with either a bare/metallic wire or insulated wire. In other embodiments, a metallic and/or conductive waveguide can be paired with a bare/metallic wire or insulated wire. In an embodiment, an oxidation layer on the bare metallic surface of the wire  702  (e.g., resulting from exposure of the bare metallic surface to oxygen/air) can also provide insulating or dielectric properties similar to those provided by some insulators or sheathings. 
     It is noted that the graphical representations of waves  706 ,  708  and  710  are presented merely to illustrate the principles that wave  706  induces or otherwise launches a guided wave  708  on a wire  702  that operates, for example, as a single wire transmission line. Wave  710  represents the portion of wave  706  that remains on the arc coupler  704  after the generation of guided wave  708 . The actual electric and magnetic fields generated as a result of such wave propagation may vary depending on the frequencies employed, the particular wave propagation mode or modes, the design of the arc coupler  704 , the dimensions and composition of the wire  702 , as well as its surface characteristics, its optional insulation, the electromagnetic properties of the surrounding environment, etc. 
     It is noted that arc coupler  704  can include a termination circuit or damper  714  at the end of the arc coupler  704  that can absorb leftover radiation or energy from wave  710 . The termination circuit or damper  714  can prevent and/or minimize the leftover radiation or energy from wave  710  reflecting back toward transmitter circuit  712 . In an embodiment, the termination circuit or damper  714  can include termination resistors, and/or other components that perform impedance matching to attenuate reflection. In some embodiments, if the coupling efficiencies are high enough, and/or wave  710  is sufficiently small, it may not be necessary to use a termination circuit or damper  714 . For the sake of simplicity, these transmitter  712  and termination circuits or dampers  714  may not be depicted in the other figures, but in those embodiments, transmitter and termination circuits or dampers may possibly be used. 
     Further, while a single arc coupler  704  is presented that generates a single guided wave  708 , multiple arc couplers  704  placed at different points along the wire  702  and/or at different azimuthal orientations about the wire can be employed to generate and receive multiple guided waves  708  at the same or different frequencies, at the same or different phases, at the same or different wave propagation modes. 
       FIG. 8 , a block diagram  800  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an arc coupler is shown. In the embodiment shown, at least a portion of the coupler  704  can be placed near a wire  702  or other transmission medium, (such as transmission medium  125 ), in order to facilitate coupling between the arc coupler  704  and the wire  702  or other transmission medium, to extract a portion of the guided wave  806  as a guided wave  808  as described herein. The arc coupler  704  can be placed such that a portion of the curved arc coupler  704  is tangential to, and parallel or substantially parallel to the wire  702 . The portion of the arc coupler  704  that is parallel to the wire can be an apex of the curve, or any point where a tangent of the curve is parallel to the wire  702 . When the arc coupler  704  is positioned or placed thusly, the wave  806  travelling along the wire  702  couples, at least in part, to the arc coupler  704 , and propagates as guided wave  808  along the arc coupler  704  to a receiving device (not expressly shown). A portion of the wave  806  that does not couple to the arc coupler propagates as wave  810  along the wire  702  or other transmission medium. 
     In an embodiment, the wave  806  can exhibit one or more wave propagation modes. The arc coupler modes can be dependent on the shape and/or design of the coupler  704 . The one or more modes of guided wave  806  can generate, influence, or impact one or more guide-wave modes of the guided wave  808  propagating along the arc coupler  704 . It should be particularly noted however that the guided wave modes present in the guided wave  806  may be the same or different from the guided wave modes of the guided wave  808 . In this fashion, one or more guided wave modes of the guided wave  806  may not be transferred to the guided wave  808 , and further one or more guided wave modes of guided wave  808  may not have been present in guided wave  806 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9A , a block diagram  900  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a stub coupler is shown. In particular a coupling device that includes stub coupler  904  is presented for use in a transmission device, such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . The stub coupler  904  can be made of a dielectric material, or other low-loss insulator (e.g., Teflon, polyethylene and etc.), or made of a conducting (e.g., metallic, non-metallic, etc.) material, or any combination of the foregoing materials. As shown, the stub coupler  904  operates as a waveguide and has a wave  906  propagating as a guided wave about a waveguide surface of the stub coupler  904 . In the embodiment shown, at least a portion of the stub coupler  904  can be placed near a wire  702  or other transmission medium, (such as transmission medium  125 ), in order to facilitate coupling between the stub coupler  904  and the wire  702  or other transmission medium, as described herein to launch the guided wave  908  on the wire. 
     In an embodiment, the stub coupler  904  is curved, and an end of the stub coupler  904  can be tied, fastened, or otherwise mechanically coupled to a wire  702 . When the end of the stub coupler  904  is fastened to the wire  702 , the end of the stub coupler  904  is parallel or substantially parallel to the wire  702 . Alternatively, another portion of the dielectric waveguide beyond an end can be fastened or coupled to wire  702  such that the fastened or coupled portion is parallel or substantially parallel to the wire  702 . The fastener  910  can be a nylon cable tie or other type of non-conducting/dielectric material that is either separate from the stub coupler  904  or constructed as an integrated component of the stub coupler  904 . The stub coupler  904  can be adjacent to the wire  702  without surrounding the wire  702 . 
     Like the arc coupler  704  described in conjunction with  FIG. 7 , when the stub coupler  904  is placed with the end parallel to the wire  702 , the guided wave  906  travelling along the stub coupler  904  couples to the wire  702 , and propagates as guided wave  908  about the wire surface of the wire  702 . In an example embodiment, the guided wave  908  can be characterized as a surface wave or other electromagnetic wave. 
     It is noted that the graphical representations of waves  906  and  908  are presented merely to illustrate the principles that wave  906  induces or otherwise launches a guided wave  908  on a wire  702  that operates, for example, as a single wire transmission line. The actual electric and magnetic fields generated as a result of such wave propagation may vary depending on one or more of the shape and/or design of the coupler, the relative position of the dielectric waveguide to the wire, the frequencies employed, the design of the stub coupler  904 , the dimensions and composition of the wire  702 , as well as its surface characteristics, its optional insulation, the electromagnetic properties of the surrounding environment, etc. 
     In an embodiment, an end of stub coupler  904  can taper towards the wire  702  in order to increase coupling efficiencies. Indeed, the tapering of the end of the stub coupler  904  can provide impedance matching to the wire  702  and reduce reflections, according to an example embodiment of the subject disclosure. For example, an end of the stub coupler  904  can be gradually tapered in order to obtain a desired level of coupling between waves  906  and  908  as illustrated in  FIG. 9A . 
     In an embodiment, the fastener  910  can be placed such that there is a short length of the stub coupler  904  between the fastener  910  and an end of the stub coupler  904 . Maximum coupling efficiencies are realized in this embodiment when the length of the end of the stub coupler  904  that is beyond the fastener  910  is at least several wavelengths long for whatever frequency is being transmitted. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 9B , a diagram  950  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an electromagnetic distribution in accordance with various aspects described herein is shown. In particular, an electromagnetic distribution is presented in two dimensions for a transmission device that includes coupler  952 , shown in an example stub coupler constructed of a dielectric material. The coupler  952  couples an electromagnetic wave for propagation as a guided wave along an outer surface of a wire  702  or other transmission medium. 
     The coupler  952  guides the electromagnetic wave to a junction at x 0  via a symmetrical guided wave mode. While some of the energy of the electromagnetic wave that propagates along the coupler  952  is outside of the coupler  952 , the majority of the energy of this electromagnetic wave is contained within the coupler  952 . The junction at x 0  couples the electromagnetic wave to the wire  702  or other transmission medium at an azimuthal angle corresponding to the bottom of the transmission medium. This coupling induces an electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the outer surface of the wire  702  or other transmission medium via at least one guided wave mode in direction  956 . The majority of the energy of the guided electromagnetic wave is outside or, but in close proximity to the outer surface of the wire  702  or other transmission medium. In the example shown, the junction at x 0  forms an electromagnetic wave that propagates via both a symmetrical mode and at least one asymmetrical surface mode, such as the first order mode presented in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , that skims the surface of the wire  702  or other transmission medium. 
     It is noted that the graphical representations of guided waves are presented merely to illustrate an example of guided wave coupling and propagation. The actual electric and magnetic fields generated as a result of such wave propagation may vary depending on the frequencies employed, the design and/or configuration of the coupler  952 , the dimensions and composition of the wire  702  or other transmission medium, as well as its surface characteristics, its insulation if present, the electromagnetic properties of the surrounding environment, etc. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 10A , illustrated is a block diagram  1000  of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a coupler and transceiver system in accordance with various aspects described herein. The system is an example of transmission device  101  or  102 . In particular, the communication interface  1008  is an example of communications interface  205 , the stub coupler  1002  is an example of coupler  220 , and the transmitter/receiver device  1006 , diplexer  1016 , power amplifier  1014 , low noise amplifier  1018 , frequency mixers  1010  and  1020  and local oscillator  1012  collectively form an example of transceiver  210 . 
     In operation, the transmitter/receiver device  1006  launches and receives waves (e.g., guided wave  1004  onto stub coupler  1002 ). The guided waves  1004  can be used to transport signals received from and sent to a host device, base station, mobile devices, a building or other device by way of a communications interface  1008 . The communications interface  1008  can be an integral part of system  1000 . Alternatively, the communications interface  1008  can be tethered to system  1000 . The communications interface  1008  can comprise a wireless interface for interfacing to the host device, base station, mobile devices, a building or other device utilizing any of various wireless signaling protocols (e.g., LTE, WiFi, WiMAX, IEEE 802.xx, etc.) including an infrared protocol such as an infrared data association (IrDA) protocol or other line of sight optical protocol. The communications interface  1008  can also comprise a wired interface such as a fiber optic line, coaxial cable, twisted pair, category 5 (CAT-5) cable or other suitable wired or optical mediums for communicating with the host device, base station, mobile devices, a building or other device via a protocol such as an Ethernet protocol, universal serial bus (USB) protocol, a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a digital subscriber line (DSL) protocol, a Firewire (IEEE 1394) protocol, or other wired or optical protocol. For embodiments where system  1000  functions as a repeater, the communications interface  1008  may not be necessary. 
     The output signals (e.g., Tx) of the communications interface  1008  can be combined with a carrier wave (e.g., millimeter-wave carrier wave) generated by a local oscillator  1012  at frequency mixer  1010 . Frequency mixer  1010  can use heterodyning techniques or other frequency shifting techniques to frequency shift the output signals from communications interface  1008 . For example, signals sent to and from the communications interface  1008  can be modulated signals such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals formatted in accordance with a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocol or other wireless 3G, 4G, 5G or higher voice and data protocol, a Zigbee, WIMAX, UltraWideband or IEEE 802.11 wireless protocol; a wired protocol such as an Ethernet protocol, universal serial bus (USB) protocol, a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a digital subscriber line (DSL) protocol, a Firewire (IEEE 1394) protocol or other wired or wireless protocol. In an example embodiment, this frequency conversion can be done in the analog domain, and as a result, the frequency shifting can be done without regard to the type of communications protocol used by a base station, mobile devices, or in-building devices. As new communications technologies are developed, the communications interface  1008  can be upgraded (e.g., updated with software, firmware, and/or hardware) or replaced and the frequency shifting and transmission apparatus can remain, simplifying upgrades. The carrier wave can then be sent to a power amplifier (“PA”)  1014  and can be transmitted via the transmitter receiver device  1006  via the diplexer  1016 . 
     Signals received from the transmitter/receiver device  1006  that are directed towards the communications interface  1008  can be separated from other signals via diplexer  1016 . The received signal can then be sent to low noise amplifier (“LNA”)  1018  for amplification. A frequency mixer  1020 , with help from local oscillator  1012  can downshift the received signal (which is in the millimeter-wave band or around 38 GHz in some embodiments) to the native frequency. The communications interface  1008  can then receive the transmission at an input port (Rx). 
     In an embodiment, transmitter/receiver device  1006  can include a cylindrical or non-cylindrical metal (which, for example, can be hollow in an embodiment, but not necessarily drawn to scale) or other conducting or non-conducting waveguide and an end of the stub coupler  1002  can be placed in or in proximity to the waveguide or the transmitter/receiver device  1006  such that when the transmitter/receiver device  1006  generates a transmission, the guided wave couples to stub coupler  1002  and propagates as a guided wave  1004  about the waveguide surface of the stub coupler  1002 . In some embodiments, the guided wave  1004  can propagate in part on the outer surface of the stub coupler  1002  and in part inside the stub coupler  1002 . In other embodiments, the guided wave  1004  can propagate substantially or completely on the outer surface of the stub coupler  1002 . In yet other embodiments, the guided wave  1004  can propagate substantially or completely inside the stub coupler  1002 . In this latter embodiment, the guided wave  1004  can radiate at an end of the stub coupler  1002  (such as the tapered end shown in  FIG. 4 ) for coupling to a transmission medium such as a wire  702  of  FIG. 7 . Similarly, if guided wave  1004  is incoming (coupled to the stub coupler  1002  from a wire  702 ), guided wave  1004  then enters the transmitter/receiver device  1006  and couples to the cylindrical waveguide or conducting waveguide. While transmitter/receiver device  1006  is shown to include a separate waveguide—an antenna, cavity resonator, klystron, magnetron, travelling wave tube, or other radiating element can be employed to induce a guided wave on the coupler  1002 , with or without the separate waveguide. 
     In an embodiment, stub coupler  1002  can be wholly constructed of a dielectric material (or another suitable insulating material), without any metallic or otherwise conducting materials therein. Stub coupler  1002  can be composed of nylon, Teflon, polyethylene, a polyamide, other plastics, or other materials that are non-conducting and suitable for facilitating transmission of electromagnetic waves at least in part on an outer surface of such materials. In another embodiment, stub coupler  1002  can include a core that is conducting/metallic, and have an exterior dielectric surface. Similarly, a transmission medium that couples to the stub coupler  1002  for propagating electromagnetic waves induced by the stub coupler  1002  or for supplying electromagnetic waves to the stub coupler  1002  can, in addition to being a bare or insulated wire, be wholly constructed of a dielectric material (or another suitable insulating material), without any metallic or otherwise conducting materials therein. 
     It is noted that although  FIG. 10A  shows that the opening of transmitter receiver device  1006  is much wider than the stub coupler  1002 , this is not to scale, and that in other embodiments the width of the stub coupler  1002  is comparable or slightly smaller than the opening of the hollow waveguide. It is also not shown, but in an embodiment, an end of the coupler  1002  that is inserted into the transmitter/receiver device  1006  tapers down in order to reduce reflection and increase coupling efficiencies. 
     Before coupling to the stub coupler  1002 , the one or more waveguide modes of the guided wave generated by the transmitter/receiver device  1006  can couple to the stub coupler  1002  to induce one or more wave propagation modes of the guided wave  1004 . The wave propagation modes of the guided wave  1004  can be different than the hollow metal waveguide modes due to the different characteristics of the hollow metal waveguide and the dielectric waveguide. For instance, wave propagation modes of the guided wave  1004  can comprise the fundamental transverse electromagnetic mode (Quasi-TEM 00 ), where only small electrical and/or magnetic fields extend in the direction of propagation, and the electric and magnetic fields extend radially outwards from the stub coupler  1002  while the guided waves propagate along the stub coupler  1002 . The fundamental transverse electromagnetic mode wave propagation mode may or may not exist inside a waveguide that is hollow. Therefore, the hollow metal waveguide modes that are used by transmitter/receiver device  1006  are waveguide modes that can couple effectively and efficiently to wave propagation modes of stub coupler  1002 . 
     It will be appreciated that other constructs or combinations of the transmitter/receiver device  1006  and stub coupler  1002  are possible. For example, a stub coupler  1002 ′ can be placed tangentially or in parallel (with or without a gap) with respect to an outer surface of the hollow metal waveguide of the transmitter/receiver device  1006 ′ (corresponding circuitry not shown) as depicted by reference  1000 ′ of  FIG. 10B . In another embodiment, not shown by reference  1000 ′, the stub coupler  1002 ′ can be placed inside the hollow metal waveguide of the transmitter/receiver device  1006 ′ without an axis of the stub coupler  1002 ′ being coaxially aligned with an axis of the hollow metal waveguide of the transmitter/receiver device  1006 ′. In either of these embodiments, the guided wave generated by the transmitter/receiver device  1006 ′ can couple to a surface of the stub coupler  1002 ′ to induce one or more wave propagation modes of the guided wave  1004 ′ on the stub coupler  1002 ′ including a fundamental mode (e.g., a symmetric mode) and/or a non-fundamental mode (e.g., asymmetric mode). 
     In one embodiment, the guided wave  1004 ′ can propagate in part on the outer surface of the stub coupler  1002 ′ and in part inside the stub coupler  1002 ′. In another embodiment, the guided wave  1004 ′ can propagate substantially or completely on the outer surface of the stub coupler  1002 ′. In yet other embodiments, the guided wave  1004 ′ can propagate substantially or completely inside the stub coupler  1002 ′. In this latter embodiment, the guided wave  1004 ′ can radiate at an end of the stub coupler  1002 ′ (such as the tapered end shown in  FIG. 9 ) for coupling to a transmission medium such as a wire  702  of  FIG. 9 . 
     It will be further appreciated that other constructs the transmitter/receiver device  1006  are possible. For example, a hollow metal waveguide of a transmitter/receiver device  1006 ″ (corresponding circuitry not shown), depicted in  FIG. 10B  as reference  1000 ″, can be placed tangentially or in parallel (with or without a gap) with respect to an outer surface of a transmission medium such as the wire  702  of  FIG. 4  without the use of the stub coupler  1002 . In this embodiment, the guided wave generated by the transmitter/receiver device  1006 ″ can couple to a surface of the wire  702  to induce one or more wave propagation modes of a guided wave  908  on the wire  702  including a fundamental mode (e.g., a symmetric mode) and/or a non-fundamental mode (e.g., asymmetric mode). In another embodiment, the wire  702  can be positioned inside a hollow metal waveguide of a transmitter/receiver device  1006 ′ (corresponding circuitry not shown) so that an axis of the wire  702  is coaxially (or not coaxially) aligned with an axis of the hollow metal waveguide without the use of the stub coupler  1002 —see  FIG. 10B  reference  1000 ′″. In this embodiment, the guided wave generated by the transmitter/receiver device  1006 ′″ can couple to a surface of the wire  702  to induce one or more wave propagation modes of a guided wave  908  on the wire including a fundamental mode (e.g., a symmetric mode) and/or a non-fundamental mode (e.g., asymmetric mode). 
     In the embodiments of  1000 ″ and  1000 ′″, for a wire  702  having an insulated outer surface, the guided wave  908  can propagate in part on the outer surface of the insulator and in part inside the insulator. In embodiments, the guided wave  908  can propagate substantially or completely on the outer surface of the insulator, or substantially or completely inside the insulator. In the embodiments of  1000 ″ and  1000 ′″, for a wire  702  that is a bare conductor, the guided wave  908  can propagate in part on the outer surface of the conductor and in part inside the conductor. In another embodiment, the guided wave  908  can propagate substantially or completely on the outer surface of the conductor. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a block diagram  1100  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a dual stub coupler is shown. In particular, a dual coupler design is presented for use in a transmission device, such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, two or more couplers (such as the stub couplers  1104  and  1106 ) can be positioned around a wire  1102  in order to receive guided wave  1108 . In an embodiment, one coupler is enough to receive the guided wave  1108 . In that case, guided wave  1108  couples to coupler  1104  and propagates as guided wave  1110 . If the field structure of the guided wave  1108  oscillates or undulates around the wire  1102  due to the particular guided wave mode(s) or various outside factors, then coupler  1106  can be placed such that guided wave  1108  couples to coupler  1106 . In some embodiments, four or more couplers can be placed around a portion of the wire  1102 , e.g., at 90 degrees or another spacing with respect to each other, in order to receive guided waves that may oscillate or rotate around the wire  1102 , that have been induced at different azimuthal orientations or that have non-fundamental or higher order modes that, for example, have lobes and/or nulls or other asymmetries that are orientation dependent. However, it will be appreciated that there may be less than or more than four couplers placed around a portion of the wire  1102  without departing from example embodiments. 
     It should be noted that while couplers  1106  and  1104  are illustrated as stub couplers, any other of the coupler designs described herein including arc couplers, antenna or horn couplers, magnetic couplers, etc., could likewise be used. It will also be appreciated that while some example embodiments have presented a plurality of couplers around at least a portion of a wire  1102 , this plurality of couplers can also be considered as part of a single coupler system having multiple coupler subcomponents. For example, two or more couplers can be manufactured as single system that can be installed around a wire in a single installation such that the couplers are either pre-positioned or adjustable relative to each other (either manually or automatically with a controllable mechanism such as a motor or other actuator) in accordance with the single system. 
     Receivers coupled to couplers  1106  and  1104  can use diversity combining to combine signals received from both couplers  1106  and  1104  in order to maximize the signal quality. In other embodiments, if one or the other of the couplers  1104  and  1106  receive a transmission that is above a predetermined threshold, receivers can use selection diversity when deciding which signal to use. Further, while reception by a plurality of couplers  1106  and  1104  is illustrated, transmission by couplers  1106  and  1104  in the same configuration can likewise take place. In particular, a wide range of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) transmission and reception techniques can be employed for transmissions where a transmission device, such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1  includes multiple transceivers and multiple couplers. 
     It is noted that the graphical representations of waves  1108  and  1110  are presented merely to illustrate the principles that guided wave  1108  induces or otherwise launches a wave  1110  on a coupler  1104 . The actual electric and magnetic fields generated as a result of such wave propagation may vary depending on the frequencies employed, the design of the coupler  1104 , the dimensions and composition of the wire  1102 , as well as its surface characteristics, its insulation if any, the electromagnetic properties of the surrounding environment, etc. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a block diagram  1200  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a repeater system is shown. In particular, a repeater device  1210  is presented for use in a transmission device, such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . In this system, two couplers  1204  and  1214  can be placed near a wire  1202  or other transmission medium such that guided waves  1205  propagating along the wire  1202  are extracted by coupler  1204  as wave  1206  (e.g. as a guided wave), and then are boosted or repeated by repeater device  1210  and launched as a wave  1216  (e.g. as a guided wave) onto coupler  1214 . The wave  1216  can then be launched on the wire  1202  and continue to propagate along the wire  1202  as a guided wave  1217 . In an embodiment, the repeater device  1210  can receive at least a portion of the power utilized for boosting or repeating through magnetic coupling with the wire  1202 , for example, when the wire  1202  is a power line or otherwise contains a power-carrying conductor. It should be noted that while couplers  1204  and  1214  are illustrated as stub couplers, any other of the coupler designs described herein including arc couplers, antenna or horn couplers, magnetic couplers, or the like, could likewise be used. 
     In some embodiments, repeater device  1210  can repeat the transmission associated with wave  1206 , and in other embodiments, repeater device  1210  can include a communications interface  205  that extracts data or other signals from the wave  1206  for supplying such data or signals to another network and/or one or more other devices as communication signals  110  or  112  and/or receiving communication signals  110  or  112  from another network and/or one or more other devices and launch guided wave  1216  having embedded therein the received communication signals  110  or  112 . In a repeater configuration, receiver waveguide  1208  can receive the wave  1206  from the coupler  1204  and transmitter waveguide  1212  can launch guided wave  1216  onto coupler  1214  as guided wave  1217 . Between receiver waveguide  1208  and transmitter waveguide  1212 , the signal embedded in guided wave  1206  and/or the guided wave  1216  itself can be amplified to correct for signal loss and other inefficiencies associated with guided wave communications or the signal can be received and processed to extract the data contained therein and regenerated for transmission. In an embodiment, the receiver waveguide  1208  can be configured to extract data from the signal, process the data to correct for data errors utilizing for example error correcting codes, and regenerate an updated signal with the corrected data. The transmitter waveguide  1212  can then transmit guided wave  1216  with the updated signal embedded therein. In an embodiment, a signal embedded in guided wave  1206  can be extracted from the transmission and processed for communication with another network and/or one or more other devices via communications interface  205  as communication signals  110  or  112 . Similarly, communication signals  110  or  112  received by the communications interface  205  can be inserted into a transmission of guided wave  1216  that is generated and launched onto coupler  1214  by transmitter waveguide  1212 . 
     It is noted that although  FIG. 12  shows guided wave transmissions  1206  and  1216  entering from the left and exiting to the right respectively, this is merely a simplification and is not intended to be limiting. In other embodiments, receiver waveguide  1208  and transmitter waveguide  1212  can also function as transmitters and receivers respectively, allowing the repeater device  1210  to be bi-directional. 
     In an embodiment, repeater device  1210  can be placed at locations where there are discontinuities or obstacles on the wire  1202  or other transmission medium. In the case where the wire  1202  is a power line, these obstacles can include transformers, connections, utility poles, and other such power line devices. The repeater device  1210  can help the guided (e.g., surface) waves jump over these obstacles on the line and boost the transmission power at the same time. In other embodiments, a coupler can be used to jump over the obstacle without the use of a repeater device. In that embodiment, both ends of the coupler can be tied or fastened to the wire, thus providing a path for the guided wave to travel without being blocked by the obstacle. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 13 , illustrated is a block diagram  1300  of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a bidirectional repeater in accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular, a bidirectional repeater device  1306  is presented for use in a transmission device, such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that while the couplers are illustrated as stub couplers, any other of the coupler designs described herein including arc couplers, antenna or horn couplers, magnetic couplers, or the like, could likewise be used. The bidirectional repeater  1306  can employ diversity paths in the case of when two or more wires or other transmission media are present. Since guided wave transmissions have different transmission efficiencies and coupling efficiencies for transmission medium of different types such as insulated wires, un-insulated wires or other types of transmission media and further, if exposed to the elements, can be affected by weather, and other atmospheric conditions, it can be advantageous to selectively transmit on different transmission media at certain times. In various embodiments, the various transmission media can be designated as a primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. whether or not such designation indicates a preference of one transmission medium over another. 
     In the embodiment shown, the transmission media include an insulated or uninsulated wire  1302  and an insulated or uninsulated wire  1304  (referred to herein as wires  1302  and  1304 , respectively). The repeater device  1306  uses a receiver coupler  1308  to receive a guided wave traveling along wire  1302  and repeats the transmission using transmitter waveguide  1310  as a guided wave along wire  1304 . In other embodiments, repeater device  1306  can switch from the wire  1304  to the wire  1302 , or can repeat the transmissions along the same paths. Repeater device  1306  can include sensors, or be in communication with sensors (or a network management system  1601  depicted in  FIG. 16A ) that indicate conditions that can affect the transmission. Based on the feedback received from the sensors, the repeater device  1306  can make the determination about whether to keep the transmission along the same wire, or transfer the transmission to the other wire. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 14 , illustrated is a block diagram  1400  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a bidirectional repeater system. In particular, a bidirectional repeater system is presented for use in a transmission device, such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . The bidirectional repeater system includes waveguide coupling devices  1402  and  1404  that receive and transmit transmissions from other coupling devices located in a distributed antenna system or backhaul system. 
     In various embodiments, waveguide coupling device  1402  can receive a transmission from another waveguide coupling device, wherein the transmission has a plurality of subcarriers. Diplexer  1406  can separate the transmission from other transmissions, and direct the transmission to low-noise amplifier (“LNA”)  1408 . A frequency mixer  1428 , with help from a local oscillator  1412 , can downshift the transmission (which is in the millimeter-wave band or around 38 GHz in some embodiments) to a lower frequency, such as a cellular band (˜1.9 GHz) for a distributed antenna system, a native frequency, or other frequency for a backhaul system. An extractor (or demultiplexer)  1432  can extract the signal on a subcarrier and direct the signal to an output component  1422  for optional amplification, buffering or isolation by power amplifier  1424  for coupling to communications interface  205 . The communications interface  205  can further process the signals received from the power amplifier  1424  or otherwise transmit such signals over a wireless or wired interface to other devices such as a base station, mobile devices, a building, etc. For the signals that are not being extracted at this location, extractor  1432  can redirect them to another frequency mixer  1436 , where the signals are used to modulate a carrier wave generated by local oscillator  1414 . The carrier wave, with its subcarriers, is directed to a power amplifier (“PA”)  1416  and is retransmitted by waveguide coupling device  1404  to another system, via diplexer  1420 . 
     An LNA  1426  can be used to amplify, buffer or isolate signals that are received by the communication interface  205  and then send the signal to a multiplexer  1434  which merges the signal with signals that have been received from waveguide coupling device  1404 . The signals received from coupling device  1404  have been split by diplexer  1420 , and then passed through LNA  1418 , and downshifted in frequency by frequency mixer  1438 . When the signals are combined by multiplexer  1434 , they are upshifted in frequency by frequency mixer  1430 , and then boosted by PA  1410 , and transmitted to another system by waveguide coupling device  1402 . In an embodiment bidirectional repeater system can be merely a repeater without the output device  1422 . In this embodiment, the multiplexer  1434  would not be utilized and signals from LNA  1418  would be directed to mixer  1430  as previously described. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the bidirectional repeater system could also be implemented using two distinct and separate unidirectional repeaters. In an alternative embodiment, a bidirectional repeater system could also be a booster or otherwise perform retransmissions without downshifting and upshifting. Indeed in example embodiment, the retransmissions can be based upon receiving a signal or guided wave and performing some signal or guided wave processing or reshaping, filtering, and/or amplification, prior to retransmission of the signal or guided wave. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , a block diagram  1500  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a guided wave communications system is shown. This diagram depicts an exemplary environment in which a guided wave communication system, such as the guided wave communication system presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , can be used. 
     To provide network connectivity to additional base station devices, a backhaul network that links the communication cells (e.g., macrocells and macrocells) to network devices of a core network correspondingly expands. Similarly, to provide network connectivity to a distributed antenna system, an extended communication system that links base station devices and their distributed antennas is desirable. A guided wave communication system  1500  such as shown in  FIG. 15  can be provided to enable alternative, increased or additional network connectivity and a waveguide coupling system can be provided to transmit and/or receive guided wave (e.g., surface wave) communications on a transmission medium such as a wire that operates as a single-wire transmission line (e.g., a utility line), and that can be used as a waveguide and/or that otherwise operates to guide the transmission of an electromagnetic wave. 
     The guided wave communication system  1500  can comprise a first instance of a distribution system  1550  that includes one or more base station devices (e.g., base station device  1504 ) that are communicably coupled to a central office  1501  and/or a macrocell site  1502 . Base station device  1504  can be connected by a wired (e.g., fiber and/or cable), or by a wireless (e.g., microwave wireless) connection to the macrocell site  1502  and the central office  1501 . A second instance of the distribution system  1560  can be used to provide wireless voice and data services to mobile device  1522  and to residential and/or commercial establishments  1542  (herein referred to as establishments  1542 ). System  1500  can have additional instances of the distribution systems  1550  and  1560  for providing voice and/or data services to mobile devices  1522 - 1524  and establishments  1542  as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     Macrocells such as macrocell site  1502  can have dedicated connections to a mobile network and base station device  1504  or can share and/or otherwise use another connection. Central office  1501  can be used to distribute media content and/or provide internet service provider (ISP) services to mobile devices  1522 - 1524  and establishments  1542 . The central office  1501  can receive media content from a constellation of satellites  1530  (one of which is shown in  FIG. 15 ) or other sources of content, and distribute such content to mobile devices  1522 - 1524  and establishments  1542  via the first and second instances of the distribution system  1550  and  1560 . The central office  1501  can also be communicatively coupled to the Internet  1503  for providing internet data services to mobile devices  1522 - 1524  and establishments  1542 . 
     Base station device  1504  can be mounted on, or attached to, utility pole  1516 . In other embodiments, base station device  1504  can be near transformers and/or other locations situated nearby a power line. Base station device  1504  can facilitate connectivity to a mobile network for mobile devices  1522  and  1524 . Antennas  1512  and  1514 , mounted on or near utility poles  1518  and  1520 , respectively, can receive signals from base station device  1504  and transmit those signals to mobile devices  1522  and  1524  over a much wider area than if the antennas  1512  and  1514  were located at or near base station device  1504 . 
     It is noted that  FIG. 15  displays three utility poles, in each instance of the distribution systems  1550  and  1560 , with one base station device, for purposes of simplicity. In other embodiments, utility pole  1516  can have more base station devices, and more utility poles with distributed antennas and/or tethered connections to establishments  1542 . 
     A transmission device  1506 , such as transmission device  101  or  102  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , can transmit a signal from base station device  1504  to antennas  1512  and  1514  via utility or power line(s) that connect the utility poles  1516 ,  1518 , and  1520 . To transmit the signal, radio source and/or transmission device  1506  upconverts the signal (e.g., via frequency mixing) from base station device  1504  or otherwise converts the signal from the base station device  1504  to a microwave band signal and the transmission device  1506  launches a microwave band wave that propagates as a guided wave traveling along the utility line or other wire as described in previous embodiments. At utility pole  1518 , another transmission device  1508  receives the guided wave (and optionally can amplify it as needed or desired or operate as a repeater to receive it and regenerate it) and sends it forward as a guided wave on the utility line or other wire. The transmission device  1508  can also extract a signal from the microwave band guided wave and shift it down in frequency or otherwise convert it to its original cellular band frequency (e.g., 1.9 GHz or other defined cellular frequency) or another cellular (or non-cellular) band frequency. An antenna  1512  can wireless transmit the downshifted signal to mobile device  1522 . The process can be repeated by transmission device  1510 , antenna  1514  and mobile device  1524 , as necessary or desirable. 
     Transmissions from mobile devices  1522  and  1524  can also be received by antennas  1512  and  1514  respectively. The transmission devices  1508  and  1510  can upshift or otherwise convert the cellular band signals to microwave band and transmit the signals as guided wave (e.g., surface wave or other electromagnetic wave) transmissions over the power line(s) to base station device  1504 . 
     Media content received by the central office  1501  can be supplied to the second instance of the distribution system  1560  via the base station device  1504  for distribution to mobile devices  1522  and establishments  1542 . The transmission device  1510  can be tethered to the establishments  1542  by one or more wired connections or a wireless interface. The one or more wired connections may include without limitation, a power line, a coaxial cable, a fiber cable, a twisted pair cable, a guided wave transmission medium or other suitable wired mediums for distribution of media content and/or for providing internet services. In an example embodiment, the wired connections from the transmission device  1510  can be communicatively coupled to one or more very high bit rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) modems located at one or more corresponding service area interfaces (SAIs—not shown) or pedestals, each SAI or pedestal providing services to a portion of the establishments  1542 . The VDSL modems can be used to selectively distribute media content and/or provide internet services to gateways (not shown) located in the establishments  1542 . The SAIs or pedestals can also be communicatively coupled to the establishments  1542  over a wired medium such as a power line, a coaxial cable, a fiber cable, a twisted pair cable, a guided wave transmission medium or other suitable wired mediums. In other example embodiments, the transmission device  1510  can be communicatively coupled directly to establishments  1542  without intermediate interfaces such as the SAIs or pedestals. 
     In another example embodiment, system  1500  can employ diversity paths, where two or more utility lines or other wires are strung between the utility poles  1516 ,  1518 , and  1520  (e.g., for example, two or more wires between poles  1516  and  1520 ) and redundant transmissions from base station/macrocell site  1502  are transmitted as guided waves down the surface of the utility lines or other wires. The utility lines or other wires can be either insulated or uninsulated, and depending on the environmental conditions that cause transmission losses, the coupling devices can selectively receive signals from the insulated or uninsulated utility lines or other wires. The selection can be based on measurements of the signal-to-noise ratio of the wires, or based on determined weather/environmental conditions (e.g., moisture detectors, weather forecasts, etc.). The use of diversity paths with system  1500  can enable alternate routing capabilities, load balancing, increased load handling, concurrent bi-directional or synchronous communications, spread spectrum communications, etc. 
     It is noted that the use of the transmission devices  1506 ,  1508 , and  1510  in  FIG. 15  are by way of example only, and that in other embodiments, other uses are possible. For instance, transmission devices can be used in a backhaul communication system, providing network connectivity to base station devices. Transmission devices  1506 ,  1508 , and  1510  can be used in many circumstances where it is desirable to transmit guided wave communications over a wire, whether insulated or not insulated. Transmission devices  1506 ,  1508 , and  1510  are improvements over other coupling devices due to no contact or limited physical and/or electrical contact with the wires that may carry high voltages. The transmission device can be located away from the wire (e.g., spaced apart from the wire) and/or located on the wire so long as it is not electrically in contact with the wire, as the dielectric acts as an insulator, allowing for cheap, easy, and/or less complex installation. However, as previously noted conducting or non-dielectric couplers can be employed, for example in configurations where the wires correspond to a telephone network, cable television network, broadband data service, fiber optic communications system or other network employing low voltages or having insulated transmission lines. 
     It is further noted, that while base station device  1504  and macrocell site  1502  are illustrated in an embodiment, other network configurations are likewise possible. For example, devices such as access points or other wireless gateways can be employed in a similar fashion to extend the reach of other networks such as a wireless local area network, a wireless personal area network or other wireless network that operates in accordance with a communication protocol such as a 802.11 protocol, WIMAX protocol, UltraWideband protocol, Bluetooth protocol, Zigbee protocol or other wireless protocol. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16A &amp; 16B , block diagrams illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system for managing a power grid communication system are shown. Considering  FIG. 16A , a waveguide system  1602  is presented for use in a guided wave communications system, such as the system presented in conjunction with  FIG. 15 . The waveguide system  1602  can comprise sensors  1604 , a power management system  1605 , a transmission device  101  or  102  that includes at least one communication interface  205 , transceiver  210  and coupler  220 . 
     The waveguide system  1602  can be coupled to a power line  1610  for facilitating guided wave communications in accordance with embodiments described in the subject disclosure. In an example embodiment, the transmission device  101  or  102  includes coupler  220  for inducing electromagnetic waves on a surface of the power line  1610  that longitudinally propagate along the surface of the power line  1610  as described in the subject disclosure. The transmission device  101  or  102  can also serve as a repeater for retransmitting electromagnetic waves on the same power line  1610  or for routing electromagnetic waves between power lines  1610  as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . 
     The transmission device  101  or  102  includes transceiver  210  configured to, for example, up-convert a signal operating at an original frequency range to electromagnetic waves operating at, exhibiting, or associated with a carrier frequency that propagate along a coupler to induce corresponding guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of the power line  1610 . A carrier frequency can be represented by a center frequency having upper and lower cutoff frequencies that define the bandwidth of the electromagnetic waves. The power line  1610  can be a wire (e.g., single stranded or multi-stranded) having a conducting surface or insulated surface. The transceiver  210  can also receive signals from the coupler  220  and down-convert the electromagnetic waves operating at a carrier frequency to signals at their original frequency. 
     Signals received by the communications interface  205  of transmission device  101  or  102  for up-conversion can include without limitation signals supplied by a central office  1611  over a wired or wireless interface of the communications interface  205 , a base station  1614  over a wired or wireless interface of the communications interface  205 , wireless signals transmitted by mobile devices  1620  to the base station  1614  for delivery over the wired or wireless interface of the communications interface  205 , signals supplied by in-building communication devices  1618  over the wired or wireless interface of the communications interface  205 , and/or wireless signals supplied to the communications interface  205  by mobile devices  1612  roaming in a wireless communication range of the communications interface  205 . In embodiments where the waveguide system  1602  functions as a repeater, such as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , the communications interface  205  may or may not be included in the waveguide system  1602 . 
     The electromagnetic waves propagating along the surface of the power line  1610  can be modulated and formatted to include packets or frames of data that include a data payload and further include networking information (such as header information for identifying one or more destination waveguide systems  1602 ). The networking information may be provided by the waveguide system  1602  or an originating device such as the central office  1611 , the base station  1614 , mobile devices  1620 , or in-building devices  1618 , or a combination thereof. Additionally, the modulated electromagnetic waves can include error correction data for mitigating signal disturbances. The networking information and error correction data can be used by a destination waveguide system  1602  for detecting transmissions directed to it, and for down-converting and processing with error correction data transmissions that include voice and/or data signals directed to recipient communication devices communicatively coupled to the destination waveguide system  1602 . 
     Referring now to the sensors  1604  of the waveguide system  1602 , the sensors  1604  can comprise one or more of a temperature sensor  1604   a , a disturbance detection sensor  1604   b , a loss of energy sensor  1604   c , a noise sensor  1604   d , a vibration sensor  1604   e , an environmental (e.g., weather) sensor  1604   f , and/or an image sensor  1604   g . The temperature sensor  1604   a  can be used to measure ambient temperature, a temperature of the transmission device  101  or  102 , a temperature of the power line  1610 , temperature differentials (e.g., compared to a setpoint or baseline, between transmission device  101  or  102  and  1610 , etc.), or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, temperature metrics can be collected and reported periodically to a network management system  1601  by way of the base station  1614 . 
     The disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  can perform measurements on the power line  1610  to detect disturbances such as signal reflections, which may indicate a presence of a downstream disturbance that may impede the propagation of electromagnetic waves on the power line  1610 . A signal reflection can represent a distortion resulting from, for example, an electromagnetic wave transmitted on the power line  1610  by the transmission device  101  or  102  that reflects in whole or in part back to the transmission device  101  or  102  from a disturbance in the power line  1610  located downstream from the transmission device  101  or  102 . 
     Signal reflections can be caused by obstructions on the power line  1610 . For example, a tree limb may cause electromagnetic wave reflections when the tree limb is lying on the power line  1610 , or is in close proximity to the power line  1610  which may cause a corona discharge. Other obstructions that can cause electromagnetic wave reflections can include without limitation an object that has been entangled on the power line  1610  (e.g., clothing, a shoe wrapped around a power line  1610  with a shoe string, etc.), a corroded build-up on the power line  1610  or an ice build-up. Power grid components may also impede or obstruct with the propagation of electromagnetic waves on the surface of power lines  1610 . Illustrations of power grid components that may cause signal reflections include without limitation a transformer and a joint for connecting spliced power lines. A sharp angle on the power line  1610  may also cause electromagnetic wave reflections. 
     The disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  can comprise a circuit to compare magnitudes of electromagnetic wave reflections to magnitudes of original electromagnetic waves transmitted by the transmission device  101  or  102  to determine how much a downstream disturbance in the power line  1610  attenuates transmissions. The disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  can further comprise a spectral analyzer circuit for performing spectral analysis on the reflected waves. The spectral data generated by the spectral analyzer circuit can be compared with spectral profiles via pattern recognition, an expert system, curve fitting, matched filtering or other artificial intelligence, classification or comparison technique to identify a type of disturbance based on, for example, the spectral profile that most closely matches the spectral data. The spectral profiles can be stored in a memory of the disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  or may be remotely accessible by the disturbance detection sensor  1604   b . The profiles can comprise spectral data that models different disturbances that may be encountered on power lines  1610  to enable the disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  to identify disturbances locally. An identification of the disturbance if known can be reported to the network management system  1601  by way of the base station  1614 . The disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  can also utilize the transmission device  101  or  102  to transmit electromagnetic waves as test signals to determine a roundtrip time for an electromagnetic wave reflection. The round trip time measured by the disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  can be used to calculate a distance traveled by the electromagnetic wave up to a point where the reflection takes place, which enables the disturbance detection sensor  1604   b  to calculate a distance from the transmission device  101  or  102  to the downstream disturbance on the power line  1610 . 
     The distance calculated can be reported to the network management system  1601  by way of the base station  1614 . In one embodiment, the location of the waveguide system  1602  on the power line  1610  may be known to the network management system  1601 , which the network management system  1601  can use to determine a location of the disturbance on the power line  1610  based on a known topology of the power grid. In another embodiment, the waveguide system  1602  can provide its location to the network management system  1601  to assist in the determination of the location of the disturbance on the power line  1610 . The location of the waveguide system  1602  can be obtained by the waveguide system  1602  from a pre-programmed location of the waveguide system  1602  stored in a memory of the waveguide system  1602 , or the waveguide system  1602  can determine its location using a GPS receiver (not shown) included in the waveguide system  1602 . 
     The power management system  1605  provides energy to the aforementioned components of the waveguide system  1602 . The power management system  1605  can receive energy from solar cells, or from a transformer (not shown) coupled to the power line  1610 , or by inductive coupling to the power line  1610  or another nearby power line. The power management system  1605  can also include a backup battery and/or a super capacitor or other capacitor circuit for providing the waveguide system  1602  with temporary power. The loss of energy sensor  1604   c  can be used to detect when the waveguide system  1602  has a loss of power condition and/or the occurrence of some other malfunction. For example, the loss of energy sensor  1604   c  can detect when there is a loss of power due to defective solar cells, an obstruction on the solar cells that causes them to malfunction, loss of power on the power line  1610 , and/or when the backup power system malfunctions due to expiration of a backup battery, or a detectable defect in a super capacitor. When a malfunction and/or loss of power occurs, the loss of energy sensor  1604   c  can notify the network management system  1601  by way of the base station  1614 . 
     The noise sensor  1604   d  can be used to measure noise on the power line  1610  that may adversely affect transmission of electromagnetic waves on the power line  1610 . The noise sensor  1604   d  can sense unexpected electromagnetic interference, noise bursts, or other sources of disturbances that may interrupt reception of modulated electromagnetic waves on a surface of a power line  1610 . A noise burst can be caused by, for example, a corona discharge, or other source of noise. The noise sensor  1604   d  can compare the measured noise to a noise profile obtained by the waveguide system  1602  from an internal database of noise profiles or from a remotely located database that stores noise profiles via pattern recognition, an expert system, curve fitting, matched filtering or other artificial intelligence, classification or comparison technique. From the comparison, the noise sensor  1604   d  may identify a noise source (e.g., corona discharge or otherwise) based on, for example, the noise profile that provides the closest match to the measured noise. The noise sensor  1604   d  can also detect how noise affects transmissions by measuring transmission metrics such as bit error rate, packet loss rate, jitter, packet retransmission requests, etc. The noise sensor  1604   d  can report to the network management system  1601  by way of the base station  1614  the identity of noise sources, their time of occurrence, and transmission metrics, among other things. 
     The vibration sensor  1604   e  can include accelerometers and/or gyroscopes to detect 2D or 3D vibrations on the power line  1610 . The vibrations can be compared to vibration profiles that can be stored locally in the waveguide system  1602 , or obtained by the waveguide system  1602  from a remote database via pattern recognition, an expert system, curve fitting, matched filtering or other artificial intelligence, classification or comparison technique. Vibration profiles can be used, for example, to distinguish fallen trees from wind gusts based on, for example, the vibration profile that provides the closest match to the measured vibrations. The results of this analysis can be reported by the vibration sensor  1604   e  to the network management system  1601  by way of the base station  1614 . 
     The environmental sensor  1604   f  can include a barometer for measuring atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature (which can be provided by the temperature sensor  1604   a ), wind speed, humidity, wind direction, and rainfall, among other things. The environmental sensor  1604   f  can collect raw information and process this information by comparing it to environmental profiles that can be obtained from a memory of the waveguide system  1602  or a remote database to predict weather conditions before they arise via pattern recognition, an expert system, knowledge-based system or other artificial intelligence, classification or other weather modeling and prediction technique. The environmental sensor  1604   f  can report raw data as well as its analysis to the network management system  1601 . 
     The image sensor  1604   g  can be a digital camera (e.g., a charged coupled device or CCD imager, infrared camera, etc.) for capturing images in a vicinity of the waveguide system  1602 . The image sensor  1604   g  can include an electromechanical mechanism to control movement (e.g., actual position or focal points/zooms) of the camera for inspecting the power line  1610  from multiple perspectives (e.g., top surface, bottom surface, left surface, right surface and so on). Alternatively, the image sensor  1604   g  can be designed such that no electromechanical mechanism is needed in order to obtain the multiple perspectives. The collection and retrieval of imaging data generated by the image sensor  1604   g  can be controlled by the network management system  1601 , or can be autonomously collected and reported by the image sensor  1604   g  to the network management system  1601 . 
     Other sensors that may be suitable for collecting telemetry information associated with the waveguide system  1602  and/or the power lines  1610  for purposes of detecting, predicting and/or mitigating disturbances that can impede the propagation of electromagnetic wave transmissions on power lines  1610  (or any other form of a transmission medium of electromagnetic waves) may be utilized by the waveguide system  1602 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16B , block diagram  1650  illustrates an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system for managing a power grid  1653  and a communication system  1655  embedded therein or associated therewith in accordance with various aspects described herein. The communication system  1655  comprises a plurality of waveguide systems  1602  coupled to power lines  1610  of the power grid  1653 . At least a portion of the waveguide systems  1602  used in the communication system  1655  can be in direct communication with a base station  1614  and/or the network management system  1601 . Waveguide systems  1602  not directly connected to a base station  1614  or the network management system  1601  can engage in communication sessions with either a base station  1614  or the network management system  1601  by way of other downstream waveguide systems  1602  connected to a base station  1614  or the network management system  1601 . 
     The network management system  1601  can be communicatively coupled to equipment of a utility company  1652  and equipment of a communications service provider  1654  for providing each entity, status information associated with the power grid  1653  and the communication system  1655 , respectively. The network management system  1601 , the equipment of the utility company  1652 , and the communications service provider  1654  can access communication devices utilized by utility company personnel  1656  and/or communication devices utilized by communications service provider personnel  1658  for purposes of providing status information and/or for directing such personnel in the management of the power grid  1653  and/or communication system  1655 . 
       FIG. 17A  illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method  1700  for detecting and mitigating disturbances occurring in a communication network of the systems of  FIGS. 16A &amp; 16B . Method  1700  can begin with step  1702  where a waveguide system  1602  transmits and receives messages embedded in, or forming part of, modulated electromagnetic waves or another type of electromagnetic waves traveling along a surface of a power line  1610 . The messages can be voice messages, streaming video, and/or other data/information exchanged between communication devices communicatively coupled to the communication system  1655 . At step  1704  the sensors  1604  of the waveguide system  1602  can collect sensing data. In an embodiment, the sensing data can be collected in step  1704  prior to, during, or after the transmission and/or receipt of messages in step  1702 . At step  1706  the waveguide system  1602  (or the sensors  1604  themselves) can determine from the sensing data an actual or predicted occurrence of a disturbance in the communication system  1655  that can affect communications originating from (e.g., transmitted by) or received by the waveguide system  1602 . The waveguide system  1602  (or the sensors  1604 ) can process temperature data, signal reflection data, loss of energy data, noise data, vibration data, environmental data, or any combination thereof to make this determination. The waveguide system  1602  (or the sensors  1604 ) may also detect, identify, estimate, or predict the source of the disturbance and/or its location in the communication system  1655 . If a disturbance is neither detected/identified nor predicted/estimated at step  1708 , the waveguide system  1602  can proceed to step  1702  where it continues to transmit and receive messages embedded in, or forming part of, modulated electromagnetic waves traveling along a surface of the power line  1610 . 
     If at step  1708  a disturbance is detected/identified or predicted/estimated to occur, the waveguide system  1602  proceeds to step  1710  to determine if the disturbance adversely affects (or alternatively, is likely to adversely affect or the extent to which it may adversely affect) transmission or reception of messages in the communication system  1655 . In one embodiment, a duration threshold and a frequency of occurrence threshold can be used at step  1710  to determine when a disturbance adversely affects communications in the communication system  1655 . For illustration purposes only, assume a duration threshold is set to 500 ms, while a frequency of occurrence threshold is set to 5 disturbances occurring in an observation period of 10 sec. Thus, a disturbance having a duration greater than 500 ms will trigger the duration threshold. Additionally, any disturbance occurring more than 5 times in a 10 sec time interval will trigger the frequency of occurrence threshold. 
     In one embodiment, a disturbance may be considered to adversely affect signal integrity in the communication systems  1655  when the duration threshold alone is exceeded. In another embodiment, a disturbance may be considered as adversely affecting signal integrity in the communication systems  1655  when both the duration threshold and the frequency of occurrence threshold are exceeded. The latter embodiment is thus more conservative than the former embodiment for classifying disturbances that adversely affect signal integrity in the communication system  1655 . It will be appreciated that many other algorithms and associated parameters and thresholds can be utilized for step  1710  in accordance with example embodiments. 
     Referring back to method  1700 , if at step  1710  the disturbance detected at step  1708  does not meet the condition for adversely affected communications (e.g., neither exceeds the duration threshold nor the frequency of occurrence threshold), the waveguide system  1602  may proceed to step  1702  and continue processing messages. For instance, if the disturbance detected in step  1708  has a duration of 1 msec with a single occurrence in a 10 sec time period, then neither threshold will be exceeded. Consequently, such a disturbance may be considered as having a nominal effect on signal integrity in the communication system  1655  and thus would not be flagged as a disturbance requiring mitigation. Although not flagged, the occurrence of the disturbance, its time of occurrence, its frequency of occurrence, spectral data, and/or other useful information, may be reported to the network management system  1601  as telemetry data for monitoring purposes. 
     Referring back to step  1710 , if on the other hand the disturbance satisfies the condition for adversely affected communications (e.g., exceeds either or both thresholds), the waveguide system  1602  can proceed to step  1712  and report the incident to the network management system  1601 . The report can include raw sensing data collected by the sensors  1604 , a description of the disturbance if known by the waveguide system  1602 , a time of occurrence of the disturbance, a frequency of occurrence of the disturbance, a location associated with the disturbance, parameters readings such as bit error rate, packet loss rate, retransmission requests, jitter, latency and so on. If the disturbance is based on a prediction by one or more sensors of the waveguide system  1602 , the report can include a type of disturbance expected, and if predictable, an expected time occurrence of the disturbance, and an expected frequency of occurrence of the predicted disturbance when the prediction is based on historical sensing data collected by the sensors  1604  of the waveguide system  1602 . 
     At step  1714 , the network management system  1601  can determine a mitigation, circumvention, or correction technique, which may include directing the waveguide system  1602  to reroute traffic to circumvent the disturbance if the location of the disturbance can be determined. In one embodiment, the waveguide coupling device  1402  detecting the disturbance may direct a repeater such as the one shown in  FIGS. 13-14  to connect the waveguide system  1602  from a primary power line affected by the disturbance to a secondary power line to enable the waveguide system  1602  to reroute traffic to a different transmission medium and avoid the disturbance. In an embodiment where the waveguide system  1602  is configured as a repeater the waveguide system  1602  can itself perform the rerouting of traffic from the primary power line to the secondary power line. It is further noted that for bidirectional communications (e.g., full or half-duplex communications), the repeater can be configured to reroute traffic from the secondary power line back to the primary power line for processing by the waveguide system  1602 . 
     In another embodiment, the waveguide system  1602  can redirect traffic by instructing a first repeater situated upstream of the disturbance and a second repeater situated downstream of the disturbance to redirect traffic from a primary power line temporarily to a secondary power line and back to the primary power line in a manner that avoids the disturbance. It is further noted that for bidirectional communications (e.g., full or half-duplex communications), repeaters can be configured to reroute traffic from the secondary power line back to the primary power line. 
     To avoid interrupting existing communication sessions occurring on a secondary power line, the network management system  1601  may direct the waveguide system  1602  to instruct repeater(s) to utilize unused time slot(s) and/or frequency band(s) of the secondary power line for redirecting data and/or voice traffic away from the primary power line to circumvent the disturbance. 
     At step  1716 , while traffic is being rerouted to avoid the disturbance, the network management system  1601  can notify equipment of the utility company  1652  and/or equipment of the communications service provider  1654 , which in turn may notify personnel of the utility company  1656  and/or personnel of the communications service provider  1658  of the detected disturbance and its location if known. Field personnel from either party can attend to resolving the disturbance at a determined location of the disturbance. Once the disturbance is removed or otherwise mitigated by personnel of the utility company and/or personnel of the communications service provider, such personnel can notify their respective companies and/or the network management system  1601  utilizing field equipment (e.g., a laptop computer, smartphone, etc.) communicatively coupled to network management system  1601 , and/or equipment of the utility company and/or the communications service provider. The notification can include a description of how the disturbance was mitigated and any changes to the power lines  1610  that may change a topology of the communication system  1655 . 
     Once the disturbance has been resolved (as determined in decision  1718 ), the network management system  1601  can direct the waveguide system  1602  at step  1720  to restore the previous routing configuration used by the waveguide system  1602  or route traffic according to a new routing configuration if the restoration strategy used to mitigate the disturbance resulted in a new network topology of the communication system  1655 . In another embodiment, the waveguide system  1602  can be configured to monitor mitigation of the disturbance by transmitting test signals on the power line  1610  to determine when the disturbance has been removed. Once the waveguide system  1602  detects an absence of the disturbance it can autonomously restore its routing configuration without assistance by the network management system  1601  if it determines the network topology of the communication system  1655  has not changed, or it can utilize a new routing configuration that adapts to a detected new network topology. 
       FIG. 17B  illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method  1750  for detecting and mitigating disturbances occurring in a communication network of the system of  FIGS. 16A and 16B . In one embodiment, method  1750  can begin with step  1752  where a network management system  1601  receives from equipment of the utility company  1652  or equipment of the communications service provider  1654  maintenance information associated with a maintenance schedule. The network management system  1601  can at step  1754  identify from the maintenance information, maintenance activities to be performed during the maintenance schedule. From these activities, the network management system  1601  can detect a disturbance resulting from the maintenance (e.g., scheduled replacement of a power line  1610 , scheduled replacement of a waveguide system  1602  on the power line  1610 , scheduled reconfiguration of power lines  1610  in the power grid  1653 , etc.). 
     In another embodiment, the network management system  1601  can receive at step  1755  telemetry information from one or more waveguide systems  1602 . The telemetry information can include among other things an identity of each waveguide system  1602  submitting the telemetry information, measurements taken by sensors  1604  of each waveguide system  1602 , information relating to predicted, estimated, or actual disturbances detected by the sensors  1604  of each waveguide system  1602 , location information associated with each waveguide system  1602 , an estimated location of a detected disturbance, an identification of the disturbance, and so on. The network management system  1601  can determine from the telemetry information a type of disturbance that may be adverse to operations of the waveguide, transmission of the electromagnetic waves along the wire surface, or both. The network management system  1601  can also use telemetry information from multiple waveguide systems  1602  to isolate and identify the disturbance. Additionally, the network management system  1601  can request telemetry information from waveguide systems  1602  in a vicinity of an affected waveguide system  1602  to triangulate a location of the disturbance and/or validate an identification of the disturbance by receiving similar telemetry information from other waveguide systems  1602 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the network management system  1601  can receive at step  1756  an unscheduled activity report from maintenance field personnel. Unscheduled maintenance may occur as result of field calls that are unplanned or as a result of unexpected field issues discovered during field calls or scheduled maintenance activities. The activity report can identify changes to a topology configuration of the power grid  1653  resulting from field personnel addressing discovered issues in the communication system  1655  and/or power grid  1653 , changes to one or more waveguide systems  1602  (such as replacement or repair thereof), mitigation of disturbances performed if any, and so on. 
     At step  1758 , the network management system  1601  can determine from reports received according to steps  1752  through  1756  if a disturbance will occur based on a maintenance schedule, or if a disturbance has occurred or is predicted to occur based on telemetry data, or if a disturbance has occurred due to an unplanned maintenance identified in a field activity report. From any of these reports, the network management system  1601  can determine whether a detected or predicted disturbance requires rerouting of traffic by the affected waveguide systems  1602  or other waveguide systems  1602  of the communication system  1655 . 
     When a disturbance is detected or predicted at step  1758 , the network management system  1601  can proceed to step  1760  where it can direct one or more waveguide systems  1602  to reroute traffic to circumvent the disturbance. When the disturbance is permanent due to a permanent topology change of the power grid  1653 , the network management system  1601  can proceed to step  1770  and skip steps  1762 ,  1764 ,  1766 , and  1772 . At step  1770 , the network management system  1601  can direct one or more waveguide systems  1602  to use a new routing configuration that adapts to the new topology. However, when the disturbance has been detected from telemetry information supplied by one or more waveguide systems  1602 , the network management system  1601  can notify maintenance personnel of the utility company  1656  or the communications service provider  1658  of a location of the disturbance, a type of disturbance if known, and related information that may be helpful to such personnel to mitigate the disturbance. When a disturbance is expected due to maintenance activities, the network management system  1601  can direct one or more waveguide systems  1602  to reconfigure traffic routes at a given schedule (consistent with the maintenance schedule) to avoid disturbances caused by the maintenance activities during the maintenance schedule. 
     Returning back to step  1760  and upon its completion, the process can continue with step  1762 . At step  1762 , the network management system  1601  can monitor when the disturbance(s) have been mitigated by field personnel. Mitigation of a disturbance can be detected at step  1762  by analyzing field reports submitted to the network management system  1601  by field personnel over a communications network (e.g., cellular communication system) utilizing field equipment (e.g., a laptop computer or handheld computer/device). If field personnel have reported that a disturbance has been mitigated, the network management system  1601  can proceed to step  1764  to determine from the field report whether a topology change was required to mitigate the disturbance. A topology change can include rerouting a power line  1610 , reconfiguring a waveguide system  1602  to utilize a different power line  1610 , otherwise utilizing an alternative link to bypass the disturbance and so on. If a topology change has taken place, the network management system  1601  can direct at step  1770  one or more waveguide systems  1602  to use a new routing configuration that adapts to the new topology. 
     If, however, a topology change has not been reported by field personnel, the network management system  1601  can proceed to step  1766  where it can direct one or more waveguide systems  1602  to send test signals to test a routing configuration that had been used prior to the detected disturbance(s). Test signals can be sent to affected waveguide systems  1602  in a vicinity of the disturbance. The test signals can be used to determine if signal disturbances (e.g., electromagnetic wave reflections) are detected by any of the waveguide systems  1602 . If the test signals confirm that a prior routing configuration is no longer subject to previously detected disturbance(s), then the network management system  1601  can at step  1772  direct the affected waveguide systems  1602  to restore a previous routing configuration. If, however, test signals analyzed by one or more waveguide coupling device  1402  and reported to the network management system  1601  indicate that the disturbance(s) or new disturbance(s) are present, then the network management system  1601  will proceed to step  1768  and report this information to field personnel to further address field issues. The network management system  1601  can in this situation continue to monitor mitigation of the disturbance(s) at step  1762 . 
     In the aforementioned embodiments, the waveguide systems  1602  can be configured to be self-adapting to changes in the power grid  1653  and/or to mitigation of disturbances. That is, one or more affected waveguide systems  1602  can be configured to self-monitor mitigation of disturbances and reconfigure traffic routes without requiring instructions to be sent to them by the network management system  1601 . In this embodiment, the one or more waveguide systems  1602  that are self-configurable can inform the network management system  1601  of its routing choices so that the network management system  1601  can maintain a macro-level view of the communication topology of the communication system  1655 . 
     While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks in  FIGS. 17A and 17B , respectively, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods described herein. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 18A , a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication system  1800  in accordance with various aspects of the subject disclosure is shown. The communication system  1800  can include a macro base station  1802  such as a base station or access point having antennas that covers one or more sectors (e.g., 6 or more sectors). The macro base station  1802  can be communicatively coupled to a communication node  1804 A that serves as a master or distribution node for other communication nodes  1804 B-E distributed at differing geographic locations inside or beyond a coverage area of the macro base station  1802 . The communication nodes  1804  operate as a distributed antenna system configured to handle communications traffic associated with client devices such as mobile devices (e.g., cell phones) and/or fixed/stationary devices (e.g., a communication device in a residence, or commercial establishment) that are wirelessly coupled to any of the communication nodes  1804 . In particular, the wireless resources of the macro base station  1802  can be made available to mobile devices by allowing and/or redirecting certain mobile and/or stationary devices to utilize the wireless resources of a communication node  1804  in a communication range of the mobile or stationary devices. 
     The communication nodes  1804 A-E can be communicatively coupled to each other over an interface  1810 . In one embodiment, the interface  1810  can comprise a wired or tethered interface (e.g., fiber optic cable). In other embodiments, the interface  1810  can comprise a wireless RF interface forming a radio distributed antenna system. In various embodiments, the communication nodes  1804 A-E can be configured to provide communication services to mobile and stationary devices according to instructions provided by the macro base station  1802 . In other examples of operation however, the communication nodes  1804 A-E operate merely as analog repeaters to spread the coverage of the macro base station  1802  throughout the entire range of the individual communication nodes  1804 A-E. 
     The micro base stations (depicted as communication nodes  1804 ) can differ from the macro base station in several ways. For example, the communication range of the micro base stations can be smaller than the communication range of the macro base station. Consequently, the power consumed by the micro base stations can be less than the power consumed by the macro base station. The macro base station optionally directs the micro base stations as to which mobile and/or stationary devices they are to communicate with, and which carrier frequency, spectral segment(s) and/or timeslot schedule of such spectral segment(s) are to be used by the micro base stations when communicating with certain mobile or stationary devices. In these cases, control of the micro base stations by the macro base station can be performed in a master-slave configuration or other suitable control configurations. Whether operating independently or under the control of the macro base station  1802 , the resources of the micro base stations can be simpler and less costly than the resources utilized by the macro base station  1802 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 18B , a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of the communication nodes  1804 B-E of the communication system  1800  of  FIG. 18A  is shown. In this illustration, the communication nodes  1804 B-E are placed on a utility fixture such as a light post. In other embodiments, some of the communication nodes  1804 B-E can be placed on a building or a utility post or pole that is used for distributing power and/or communication lines. The communication nodes  1804 B-E in these illustrations can be configured to communicate with each other over the interface  1810 , which in this illustration is shown as a wireless interface. The communication nodes  1804 B-E can also be configured to communicate with mobile or stationary devices  1806 A-C over a wireless interface  1811  that conforms to one or more communication protocols (e.g., fourth generation (4G) wireless signals such as LTE signals or other 4G signals, fifth generation (5G) wireless signals, WiMAX, 802.11 signals, ultra-wideband signals, etc.). The communication nodes  1804  can be configured to exchange signals over the interface  1810  at an operating frequency that may be higher (e.g., 28 GHz, 38 GHz, 60 GHz, 80 GHz or higher) than the operating frequency used for communicating with the mobile or stationary devices (e.g., 1.9 GHz) over interface  1811 . The high carrier frequency and a wider bandwidth can be used for communicating between the communication nodes  1804  enabling the communication nodes  1804  to provide communication services to multiple mobile or stationary devices via one or more differing frequency bands, (e.g. a 900 MHz band, 1.9 GHz band, a 2.4 GHz band, and/or a 5.8 GHz band, etc.) and/or one or more differing protocols, as will be illustrated by spectral downlink and uplink diagrams of  FIG. 19A  described below. In other embodiments, particularly where the interface  1810  is implemented via a guided wave communications system on a wire, a wideband spectrum in a lower frequency range (e.g. in the range of 2-6 GHz, 4-10 GHz, etc.) can be employed. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 18C-18D , block diagrams illustrating example, non-limiting embodiments of a communication node  1804  of the communication system  1800  of  FIG. 18A  is shown. The communication node  1804  can be attached to a support structure  1818  of a utility fixture such as a utility post or pole as shown in  FIG. 18C . The communication node  1804  can be affixed to the support structure  1818  with an arm  1820  constructed of plastic or other suitable material that attaches to an end of the communication node  1804 . The communication node  1804  can further include a plastic housing assembly  1816  that covers components of the communication node  1804 . The communication node  1804  can be powered by a power line  1821  (e.g., 110/220 VAC). The power line  1821  can originate from a light pole or can be coupled to a power line of a utility pole. 
     In an embodiment where the communication nodes  1804  communicate wirelessly with other communication nodes  1804  as shown in  FIG. 18B , a top side  1812  of the communication node  1804  (illustrated also in  FIG. 18D ) can comprise a plurality of antennas  1822  (e.g.,  16  dielectric antennas devoid of metal surfaces) coupled to one or more transceivers such as, for example, in whole or in part, the transceiver  1400  illustrated in  FIG. 14 . Each of the plurality of antennas  1822  of the top side  1812  can operate as a sector of the communication node  1804 , each sector configured for communicating with at least one communication node  1804  in a communication range of the sector. Alternatively, or in combination, the interface  1810  between communication nodes  1804  can be a tethered interface (e.g., a fiber optic cable, or a power line used for transport of guided electromagnetic waves as previously described). In other embodiments, the interface  1810  can differ between communication nodes  1804 . That is, some communications nodes  1804  may communicate over a wireless interface, while others communicate over a tethered interface. In yet other embodiments, some communications nodes  1804  may utilize a combined wireless and tethered interface. 
     A bottom side  1814  of the communication node  1804  can also comprise a plurality of antennas  1824  for wirelessly communicating with one or more mobile or stationary devices  1806  at a carrier frequency that is suitable for the mobile or stationary devices  1806 . As noted earlier, the carrier frequency used by the communication node  1804  for communicating with the mobile or station devices over the wireless interface  1811  shown in  FIG. 18B  can be different from the carrier frequency used for communicating between the communication nodes  1804  over interface  1810 . The plurality of antennas  1824  of the bottom portion  1814  of the communication node  1804  can also utilize a transceiver such as, for example, in whole or in part, the transceiver  1400  illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19A , a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of downlink and uplink communication techniques for enabling a base station to communicate with the communication nodes  1804  of  FIG. 18A  is shown. In the illustrations of  FIG. 19A , downlink signals (i.e., signals directed from the macro base station  1802  to the communication nodes  1804 ) can be spectrally divided into control channels  1902 , downlink spectral segments  1906  each including modulated signals which can be frequency converted to their original/native frequency band for enabling the communication nodes  1804  to communicate with one or more mobile or stationary devices  1906 , and pilot signals  1904  which can be supplied with some or all of the spectral segments  1906  for mitigating distortion created between the communication nodes  1904 . The pilot signals  1904  can be processed by the top side  1816  (tethered or wireless) transceivers of downstream communication nodes  1804  to remove distortion from a receive signal (e.g., phase distortion). Each downlink spectral segment  1906  can be allotted a bandwidth  1905  sufficiently wide (e.g., 50 MHz) to include a corresponding pilot signal  1904  and one or more downlink modulated signals located in frequency channels (or frequency slots) in the spectral segment  1906 . The modulated signals can represent cellular channels, WLAN channels or other modulated communication signals (e.g., 10-20 MHz), which can be used by the communication nodes  1804  for communicating with one or more mobile or stationary devices  1806 . 
     Uplink modulated signals generated by mobile or stationary communication devices in their native/original frequency bands can be frequency converted and thereby located in frequency channels (or frequency slots) in the uplink spectral segment  1910 . The uplink modulated signals can represent cellular channels, WLAN channels or other modulated communication signals. Each uplink spectral segment  1910  can be allotted a similar or same bandwidth  1905  to include a pilot signal  1908  which can be provided with some or each spectral segment  1910  to enable upstream communication nodes  1804  and/or the macro base station  1802  to remove distortion (e.g., phase error). 
     In the embodiment shown, the downlink and uplink spectral segments  1906  and  1910  each comprise a plurality of frequency channels (or frequency slots), which can be occupied with modulated signals that have been frequency converted from any number of native/original frequency bands (e.g. a 900 MHz band, 1.9 GHz band, a 2.4 GHz band, and/or a 5.8 GHz band, etc.). The modulated signals can be up-converted to adjacent frequency channels in downlink and uplink spectral segments  1906  and  1910 . In this fashion, while some adjacent frequency channels in a downlink spectral segment  1906  can include modulated signals originally in a same native/original frequency band, other adjacent frequency channels in the downlink spectral segment  1906  can also include modulated signals originally in different native/original frequency bands, but frequency converted to be located in adjacent frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment  1906 . For example, a first modulated signal in a 1.9 GHz band and a second modulated signal in the same frequency band (i.e., 1.9 GHz) can be frequency converted and thereby positioned in adjacent frequency channels of a downlink spectral segment  1906 . In another illustration, a first modulated signal in a 1.9 GHz band and a second communication signal in a different frequency band (i.e., 2.4 GHz) can be frequency converted and thereby positioned in adjacent frequency channels of a downlink spectral segment  1906 . Accordingly, frequency channels of a downlink spectral segment  1906  can be occupied with any combination of modulated signals of the same or differing signaling protocols and of a same or differing native/original frequency bands. 
     Similarly, while some adjacent frequency channels in an uplink spectral segment  1910  can include modulated signals originally in a same frequency band, adjacent frequency channels in the uplink spectral segment  1910  can also include modulated signals originally in different native/original frequency bands, but frequency converted to be located in adjacent frequency channels of an uplink segment  1910 . For example, a first communication signal in a 2.4 GHz band and a second communication signal in the same frequency band (i.e., 2.4 GHz) can be frequency converted and thereby positioned in adjacent frequency channels of an uplink spectral segment  1910 . In another illustration, a first communication signal in a 1.9 GHz band and a second communication signal in a different frequency band (i.e., 2.4 GHz) can be frequency converted and thereby positioned in adjacent frequency channels of the uplink spectral segment  1906 . Accordingly, frequency channels of an uplink spectral segment  1910  can be occupied with any combination of modulated signals of a same or differing signaling protocols and of a same or differing native/original frequency bands. It should be noted that a downlink spectral segment  1906  and an uplink spectral segment  1910  can themselves be adjacent to one another and separated by only a guard band or otherwise separated by a larger frequency spacing, depending on the spectral allocation in place. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19B , a block diagram  1920  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication node is shown. In particular, the communication node device such as communication node  1804 A of a radio distributed antenna system includes a base station interface  1922 , duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924 , and two transceivers  1930  and  1932 . It should be noted however, that when the communication node  1804 A is collocated with a base station, such as a macro base station  1802 , the duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  and the transceiver  1930  can be omitted and the transceiver  1932  can be directly coupled to the base station interface  1922 . 
     In various embodiments, the base station interface  1922  receives a first modulated signal having one or more down link channels in a first spectral segment for transmission to a client device such as one or more mobile communication devices. The first spectral segment represents an original/native frequency band of the first modulated signal. The first modulated signal can include one or more downlink communication channels conforming to a signaling protocol such as a LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, a 5G wireless communication protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a WiMAX protocol, a 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol and/or other communication protocol. The duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  transfers the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the transceiver  1930  for direct communication with one or more mobile communication devices in range of the communication node  1804 A as a free space wireless signal. In various embodiments, the transceiver  1930  is implemented via analog circuitry that merely provides: filtration to pass the spectrum of the downlink channels and the uplink channels of modulated signals in their original/native frequency bands while attenuating out-of-band signals, power amplification, transmit/receive switching, duplexing, diplexing, and impedance matching to drive one or more antennas that sends and receives the wireless signals of interface  1810 . 
     In other embodiments, the transceiver  1932  is configured to perform frequency conversion of the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency—shifting the first modulated signal from the first spectral segment to another spectral segment. This frequency conversion can be performed based on, in various embodiments, an analog signal processing of the first modulated signal without modifying the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal. The first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency can occupy one or more frequency channels of a downlink spectral segment  1906 . The first carrier frequency can be in a millimeter-wave or microwave frequency band. As used herein analog signal processing includes filtering, switching, duplexing, diplexing, amplification, frequency up and down conversion, and other analog processing that does not require digital signal processing, such as including without limitation either analog to digital conversion, digital to analog conversion, or digital frequency conversion. In other embodiments, the transceiver  1932  can be configured to perform frequency conversion of the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first carrier frequency by applying digital signal processing to the first modulated signal without utilizing any form of analog signal processing and without modifying the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal. In yet other embodiments, the transceiver  1932  can be configured to perform frequency conversion of the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first carrier frequency by applying a combination of digital signal processing and analog processing to the first modulated signal and without modifying the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal. 
     The transceiver  1932  can be further configured to transmit one or more control channels, one or more corresponding reference signals, such as pilot signals or other reference signals, and/or one or more clock signals together with the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to a network element of the distributed antenna system, such as one or more downstream communication nodes  1904 B-E, for wireless distribution of the first modulated signal to one or more other mobile communication devices once frequency converted by the network element to the first spectral segment. In particular, the reference signal enables the network element to reduce a phase error (and/or other forms of signal distortion) during processing of the first modulated signal from the first carrier frequency to the first spectral segment. The control channel can include instructions to direct the communication node of the distributed antenna system to convert the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment, to control frequency selections and reuse patterns, handoff and/or other control signaling. In embodiments where the instructions transmitted and received via the control channel are digital signals, the transceiver can  1932  can include a digital signal processing component that provides analog to digital conversion, digital to analog conversion and that processes the digital data sent and/or received via the control channel. The clock signals supplied with the downlink spectral segment  1906  can be utilized to synchronize timing of digital control channel processing by the downstream communication nodes  1904 B-E to recover the instructions from the control channel and/or to provide other timing signals. 
     In various embodiments, the transceiver  1932  can receive a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency from a network element such as a communication node  1804 B-E. The second modulated signal can include one or more uplink frequency channels occupied by one or more modulated signals conforming to a signaling protocol such as a LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, a 5G wireless communication protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol and/or other communication protocol. In particular, the mobile or stationary communication device generates the second modulated signal in a second spectral segment such as an original/native frequency band and the network element frequency converts the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment to the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency and transmits the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency as received by the communication node  1804 A. The transceiver  1932  operates to convert the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency to the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment and sends the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment, via the duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  and base station interface  1922 , to a base station, such as macro base station  1802 , for processing. 
     Consider the following examples where the communication node  1804 A is implemented in a distributed antenna system. The uplink frequency channels in an uplink spectral segment  1910  and downlink frequency channels in a downlink spectral segment  1906  can be occupied with signals modulated and otherwise formatted in accordance with a DOCSIS 2.0 or higher standard protocol, a WiMAX standard protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a 802.11 standard protocol, a 4G or 5G voice and data protocol such as an LTE protocol and/or other standard communication protocol. In addition to protocols that conform with current standards, any of these protocols can be modified to operate in conjunction with the system of  FIG. 18A . For example, a 802.11 protocol or other protocol can be modified to include additional guidelines and/or a separate data channel to provide collision detection/multiple access over a wider area (e.g. allowing network elements or communication devices communicatively coupled to the network elements that are communicating via a particular frequency channel of a downlink spectral segment  1906  or uplink spectral segment  1910  to hear one another). In various embodiments all of the uplink frequency channels of the uplink spectral segment  1910  and downlink frequency channel of the downlink spectral segment  1906  can all be formatted in accordance with the same communications protocol. In the alternative however, two or more differing protocols can be employed on both the uplink spectral segment  1910  and the downlink spectral segment  1906  to, for example, be compatible with a wider range of client devices and/or operate in different frequency bands. 
     When two or more differing protocols are employed, a first subset of the downlink frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment  1906  can be modulated in accordance with a first standard protocol and a second subset of the downlink frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment  1906  can be modulated in accordance with a second standard protocol that differs from the first standard protocol. Likewise a first subset of the uplink frequency channels of the uplink spectral segment  1910  can be received by the system for demodulation in accordance with the first standard protocol and a second subset of the uplink frequency channels of the uplink spectral segment  1910  can be received in accordance with a second standard protocol for demodulation in accordance with the second standard protocol that differs from the first standard protocol. 
     In accordance with these examples, the base station interface  1922  can be configured to receive modulated signals such as one or more downlink channels in their original/native frequency bands from a base station such as macro base station  1802  or other communications network element. Similarly, the base station interface  1922  can be configured to supply to a base station modulated signals received from another network device that is frequency converted to modulated signals having one or more uplink channels in their original/native frequency bands. The base station interface  1922  can be implemented via a wired or wireless interface that bidirectionally communicates communication signals such as uplink and downlink channels in their original/native frequency bands, communication control signals and other network signaling with a macro base station or other network element. The duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  is configured to transfer the downlink channels in their original/native frequency bands to the transceiver  1932  which frequency converts the frequency of the downlink channels from their original/native frequency bands into the frequency spectrum of interface  1810 —in this case a wireless communication link used to transport the communication signals downstream to one or more other communication nodes  1804 B-E of the distributed antenna system in range of the communication device  1804 A. 
     In various embodiments, the transceiver  1932  includes an analog radio that frequency converts the downlink channel signals in their original/native frequency bands via mixing or other heterodyne action to generate frequency converted downlink channels signals that occupy downlink frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment  1906 . In this illustration, the downlink spectral segment  1906  is within the downlink frequency band of the interface  1810 . In an embodiment, the downlink channel signals are up-converted from their original/native frequency bands to a 28 GHz, 38 GHz, 60 GHz, 70 GHz or 80 GHz band of the downlink spectral segment  1906  for line-of-sight wireless communications to one or more other communication nodes  1804 B-E. It is noted, however, that other frequency bands can likewise be employed for a downlink spectral segment  1906  (e.g., 3 GHz to 5 GHz). For example, the transceiver  1932  can be configured for down-conversion of one or more downlink channel signals in their original/native spectral bands in instances where the frequency band of the interface  1810  falls below the original/native spectral bands of the one or more downlink channels signals. 
     The transceiver  1932  can be coupled to multiple individual antennas, such as antennas  1822  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 18D , for communicating with the communication nodes  1804 B, a phased antenna array or steerable beam or multi-beam antenna system for communicating with multiple devices at different locations. The duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  can include a duplexer, triplexer, splitter, switch, router and/or other assembly that operates as a “channel duplexer” to provide bi-directional communications over multiple communication paths via one or more original/native spectral segments of the uplink and downlink channels. 
     In addition to forwarding frequency converted modulated signals downstream to other communication nodes  1804 B-E at a carrier frequency that differs from their original/native spectral bands, the communication node  1804 A can also communicate all or a selected portion of the modulated signals unmodified from their original/native spectral bands to client devices in a wireless communication range of the communication node  1804 A via the wireless interface  1811 . The duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  transfers the modulated signals in their original/native spectral bands to the transceiver  1930 . The transceiver  1930  can include a channel selection filter for selecting one or more downlink channels and a power amplifier coupled to one or more antennas, such as antennas  1824  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 18D , for transmission of the downlink channels via wireless interface  1811  to mobile or fixed wireless devices. 
     In addition to downlink communications destined for client devices, communication node  1804 A can operate in a reciprocal fashion to handle uplink communications originating from client devices as well. In operation, the transceiver  1932  receives uplink channels in the uplink spectral segment  1910  from communication nodes  1804 B-E via the uplink spectrum of interface  1810 . The uplink frequency channels in the uplink spectral segment  1910  include modulated signals that were frequency converted by communication nodes  1804 B-E from their original/native spectral bands to the uplink frequency channels of the uplink spectral segment  1910 . In situations where the interface  1810  operates in a higher frequency band than the native/original spectral segments of the modulated signals supplied by the client devices, the transceiver  1932  down-converts the up-converted modulated signals to their original frequency bands. In situations, however, where the interface  1810  operates in a lower frequency band than the native/original spectral segments of the modulated signals supplied by the client devices, the transceiver  1932  up-converts the down-converted modulated signals to their original frequency bands. Further, the transceiver  1930  operates to receive all or selected ones of the modulated signals in their original/native frequency bands from client devices via the wireless interface  1811 . The duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  transfers the modulated signals in their original/native frequency bands received via the transceiver  1930  to the base station interface  1922  to be sent to the macro base station  1802  or other network element of a communications network. Similarly, modulated signals occupying uplink frequency channels in an uplink spectral segment  1910  that are frequency converted to their original/native frequency bands by the transceiver  1932  are supplied to the duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  for transfer to the base station interface  1922  to be sent to the macro base station  1802  or other network element of a communications network. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19C , a block diagram  1935  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication node is shown. In particular, the communication node device such as communication node  1804 B,  1804 C,  1804 D or  1804 E of a radio distributed antenna system includes transceiver  1933 , duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924 , an amplifier  1938  and two transceivers  1936 A and  1936 B. 
     In various embodiments, the transceiver  1936 A receives, from a communication node  1804 A or an upstream communication node  1804 B-E, a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency corresponding to the placement of the channels of the first modulated signal in the converted spectrum of the distributed antenna system (e.g., frequency channels of one or more downlink spectral segments  1906 ). The first modulated signal includes first communications data provided by a base station and directed to a mobile communication device. The transceiver  1936 A is further configured to receive, from a communication node  1804 A one or more control channels and one or more corresponding reference signals, such as pilot signals or other reference signals, and/or one or more clock signals associated with the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency. The first modulated signal can include one or more downlink communication channels conforming to a signaling protocol such as a LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, a 5G wireless communication protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a WiMAX protocol, a 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol and/or other communication protocol. 
     As previously discussed, the reference signal enables the network element to reduce a phase error (and/or other forms of signal distortion) during processing of the first modulated signal from the first carrier frequency to the first spectral segment (i.e., original/native spectrum). The control channel includes instructions to direct the communication node of the distributed antenna system to convert the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment, to control frequency selections and reuse patterns, handoff and/or other control signaling. The clock signals can synchronize timing of digital control channel processing by the downstream communication nodes  1804 B-E to recover the instructions from the control channel and/or to provide other timing signals. 
     The amplifier  1938  can be a bidirectional amplifier that amplifies the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency together with the reference signals, control channels and/or clock signals for coupling via the duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  to transceiver  1936 B, which in this illustration, serves as a repeater for retransmission of the amplified the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency together with the reference signals, control channels and/or clock signals to one or more others of the communication nodes  1804 B-E that are downstream from the communication node  1804 B-E that is shown and that operate in a similar fashion. 
     The amplified first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency together with the reference signals, control channels and/or clock signals are also coupled via the duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  to the transceiver  1933 . The transceiver  1933  performs digital signal processing on the control channel to recover the instructions, such as in the form of digital data, from the control channel. The clock signal is used to synchronize timing of the digital control channel processing. The transceiver  1933  then performs frequency conversion of the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment in accordance with the instructions and based on an analog (and/or digital) signal processing of the first modulated signal and utilizing the reference signal to reduce distortion during the converting process. The transceiver  1933  wirelessly transmits the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment for direct communication with one or more mobile communication devices in range of the communication node  1804 B-E as free space wireless signals. 
     In various embodiments, the transceiver  1936 B receives a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency in an uplink spectral segment  1910  from other network elements such as one or more other communication nodes  1804 B-E that are downstream from the communication node  1804 B-E that is shown. The second modulated signal can include one or more uplink communication channels conforming to a signaling protocol such as a LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, a 5G wireless communication protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol and/or other communication protocol. In particular, one or more mobile communication devices generate the second modulated signal in a second spectral segment such as an original/native frequency band and the downstream network element performs frequency conversion on the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment to the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency and transmits the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency in an uplink spectral segment  1910  as received by the communication node  1804 B-E shown. The transceiver  1936 B operates to send the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency to amplifier  1938 , via the duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924 , for amplification and retransmission via the transceiver  1936 A back to the communication node  1804 A or upstream communication nodes  1804 B-E for further retransmission back to a base station, such as macro base station  1802 , for processing. 
     The transceiver  1933  may also receive a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment from one or more mobile communication devices in range of the communication node  1804 B-E. The transceiver  1933  operates to perform frequency conversion on the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment to the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency, for example, under control of the instructions received via the control channel, inserts the reference signals, control channels and/or clock signals for use by communication node  1804 A in reconverting the second modulated signal back to the original/native spectral segments and sends the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency, via the duplexer/diplexer assembly  1924  and amplifier  1938 , to the transceiver  1936 A for amplification and retransmission back to the communication node  1804 A or upstream communication nodes  1804 B-E for further retransmission back to a base station, such as macro base station  1802 , for processing. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19D , a graphical diagram  1940  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum is shown. In particular, a spectrum  1942  is shown for a distributed antenna system that conveys modulated signals that occupy frequency channels of a downlink segment  1906  or uplink spectral segment  1910  after they have been converted in frequency (e.g. via up-conversion or down-conversion) from one or more original/native spectral segments into the spectrum  1942 . 
     In the example presented, the downstream (downlink) channel band  1944  includes a plurality of downstream frequency channels represented by separate downlink spectral segments  1906 . Likewise the upstream (uplink) channel band  1946  includes a plurality of upstream frequency channels represented by separate uplink spectral segments  1910 . The spectral shapes of the separate spectral segments are meant to be placeholders for the frequency allocation of each modulated signal along with associated reference signals, control channels and clock signals. The actual spectral response of each frequency channel in a downlink spectral segment  1906  or uplink spectral segment  1910  will vary based on the protocol and modulation employed and further as a function of time. 
     The number of the uplink spectral segments  1910  can be less than or greater than the number of the downlink spectral segments  1906  in accordance with an asymmetrical communication system. In this case, the upstream channel band  1946  can be narrower or wider than the downstream channel band  1944 . In the alternative, the number of the uplink spectral segments  1910  can be equal to the number of the downlink spectral segments  1906  in the case where a symmetrical communication system is implemented. In this case, the width of the upstream channel band  1946  can be equal to the width of the downstream channel band  1944  and bit stuffing or other data filling techniques can be employed to compensate for variations in upstream traffic. While the downstream channel band  1944  is shown at a lower frequency than the upstream channel band  1946 , in other embodiments, the downstream channel band  1844  can be at a higher frequency than the upstream channel band  1946 . In addition, the number of spectral segments and their respective frequency positions in spectrum  1942  can change dynamically over time. For example, a general control channel can be provided in the spectrum  1942  (not shown) which can indicate to communication nodes  1804  the frequency position of each downlink spectral segment  1906  and each uplink spectral segment  1910 . Depending on traffic conditions, or network requirements necessitating a reallocation of bandwidth, the number of downlink spectral segments  1906  and uplink spectral segments  1910  can be changed by way of the general control channel. Additionally, the downlink spectral segments  1906  and uplink spectral segments  1910  do not have to be grouped separately. For instance, a general control channel can identify a downlink spectral segment  1906  being followed by an uplink spectral segment  1910  in an alternating fashion, or in any other combination which may or may not be symmetric. It is further noted that instead of utilizing a general control channel, multiple control channels can be used, each identifying the frequency position of one or more spectral segments and the type of spectral segment (i.e., uplink or downlink). 
     Further, while the downstream channel band  1944  and upstream channel band  1946  are shown as occupying a single contiguous frequency band, in other embodiments, two or more upstream and/or two or more downstream channel bands can be employed, depending on available spectrum and/or the communication standards employed. Frequency channels of the uplink spectral segments  1910  and downlink spectral segments  1906  can be occupied by frequency converted signals modulated formatted in accordance with a DOCSIS 2.0 or higher standard protocol, a WiMAX standard protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a 802.11 standard protocol, a 4G or 5G voice and data protocol such as an LTE protocol and/or other standard communication protocol. In addition to protocols that conform with current standards, any of these protocols can be modified to operate in conjunction with the system shown. For example, a 802.11 protocol or other protocol can be modified to include additional guidelines and/or a separate data channel to provide collision detection/multiple access over a wider area (e.g. allowing devices that are communicating via a particular frequency channel to hear one another). In various embodiments all of the uplink frequency channels of the uplink spectral segments  1910  and downlink frequency channel of the downlink spectral segments  1906  are all formatted in accordance with the same communications protocol. In the alternative however, two or more differing protocols can be employed on both the uplink frequency channels of one or more uplink spectral segments  1910  and downlink frequency channels of one or more downlink spectral segments  1906  to, for example, be compatible with a wider range of client devices and/or operate in different frequency bands. 
     It should be noted that, the modulated signals can be gathered from differing original/native spectral segments for aggregation into the spectrum  1942 . In this fashion, a first portion of uplink frequency channels of an uplink spectral segment  1910  may be adjacent to a second portion of uplink frequency channels of the uplink spectral segment  1910  that have been frequency converted from one or more differing original/native spectral segments. Similarly, a first portion of downlink frequency channels of a downlink spectral segment  1906  may be adjacent to a second portion of downlink frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment  1906  that have been frequency converted from one or more differing original/native spectral segments. For example, one or more 2.4 GHz 802.11 channels that have been frequency converted may be adjacent to one or more 5.8 GHz 802.11 channels that have also been frequency converted to a spectrum  1942  that is centered at 80 GHz. It should be noted that each spectral segment can have an associated reference signal such as a pilot signal that can be used in generating a local oscillator signal at a frequency and phase that provides the frequency conversion of one or more frequency channels of that spectral segment from its placement in the spectrum  1942  back into it original/native spectral segment. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19E , a graphical diagram  1950  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum is shown. In particular a spectral segment selection is presented as discussed in conjunction with signal processing performed on the selected spectral segment by transceivers  1930  of communication node  1840 A or transceiver  1932  of communication node  1804 B-E. As shown, a particular uplink frequency portion  1958  including one of the uplink spectral segments  1910  of uplink frequency channel band  1946  and a particular downlink frequency portion  1956  including one of the downlink spectral segments  1906  of downlink channel frequency band  1944  is selected to be passed by channel selection filtration, with the remaining portions of uplink frequency channel band  1946  and downlink channel frequency band  1944  being filtered out—i.e. attenuated so as to mitigate adverse effects of the processing of the desired frequency channels that are passed by the transceiver. It should be noted that while a single particular uplink spectral segment  1910  and a particular downlink spectral segment  1906  are shown as being selected, two or more uplink and/or downlink spectral segments may be passed in other embodiments. 
     While the transceivers  1930  and  1932  can operate based on static channel filters with the uplink and downlink frequency portions  1958  and  1956  being fixed, as previously discussed, instructions sent to the transceivers  1930  and  1932  via the control channel can be used to dynamically configure the transceivers  1930  and  1932  to a particular frequency selection. In this fashion, upstream and downstream frequency channels of corresponding spectral segments can be dynamically allocated to various communication nodes by the macro base station  1802  or other network element of a communication network to optimize performance by the distributed antenna system. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19F , a graphical diagram  1960  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum is shown. In particular, a spectrum  1962  is shown for a distributed antenna system that conveys modulated signals occupying frequency channels of uplink or downlink spectral segments after they have been converted in frequency (e.g. via up-conversion or down-conversion) from one or more original/native spectral segments into the spectrum  1962 . 
     As previously discussed two or more different communication protocols can be employed to communicate upstream and downstream data. When two or more differing protocols are employed, a first subset of the downlink frequency channels of a downlink spectral segment  1906  can be occupied by frequency converted modulated signals in accordance with a first standard protocol and a second subset of the downlink frequency channels of the same or a different downlink spectral segment  1910  can be occupied by frequency converted modulated signals in accordance with a second standard protocol that differs from the first standard protocol. Likewise a first subset of the uplink frequency channels of an uplink spectral segment  1910  can be received by the system for demodulation in accordance with the first standard protocol and a second subset of the uplink frequency channels of the same or a different uplink spectral segment  1910  can be received in accordance with a second standard protocol for demodulation in accordance with the second standard protocol that differs from the first standard protocol. 
     In the example shown, the downstream channel band  1944  includes a first plurality of downstream spectral segments represented by separate spectral shapes of a first type representing the use of a first communication protocol. The downstream channel band  1944 ′ includes a second plurality of downstream spectral segments represented by separate spectral shapes of a second type representing the use of a second communication protocol. Likewise the upstream channel band  1946  includes a first plurality of upstream spectral segments represented by separate spectral shapes of the first type representing the use of the first communication protocol. The upstream channel band  1946 ′ includes a second plurality of upstream spectral segments represented by separate spectral shapes of the second type representing the use of the second communication protocol. These separate spectral shapes are meant to be placeholders for the frequency allocation of each individual spectral segment along with associated reference signals, control channels and/or clock signals. While the individual channel bandwidth is shown as being roughly the same for channels of the first and second type, it should be noted that upstream and downstream channel bands  1944 ,  1944 ′,  1946  and  1946 ′ may be of differing bandwidths. Additionally, the spectral segments in these channel bands of the first and second type may be of differing bandwidths, depending on available spectrum and/or the communication standards employed. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19G , a graphical diagram  1970  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum is shown. In particular, a portion of the spectrum  1942  or  1962  of  FIGS. 19D-19F  is shown for a distributed antenna system that conveys modulated signals in the form of channel signals that have been converted in frequency (e.g. via up-conversion or down-conversion) from one or more original/native spectral segments. 
     The portion  1972  includes a portion of a downlink or uplink spectral segment  1906  and  1910  that is represented by a spectral shape and that represents a portion of the bandwidth set aside for a control channel, reference signal, and/or clock signal. The spectral shape  1974 , for example, represents a control channel that is separate from reference signal  1979  and a clock signal  1978 . It should be noted that the clock signal  1978  is shown with a spectral shape representing a sinusoidal signal that may require conditioning into the form of a more traditional clock signal. In other embodiments however, a traditional clock signal could be sent as a modulated carrier wave such by modulating the reference signal  1979  via amplitude modulation or other modulation technique that preserves the phase of the carrier for use as a phase reference. In other embodiments, the clock signal could be transmitted by modulating another carrier wave or as another signal. Further, it is noted that both the clock signal  1978  and the reference signal  1979  are shown as being outside the frequency band of the control channel  1974 . 
     In another example, the portion  1975  includes a portion of a downlink or uplink spectral segment  1906  and  1910  that is represented by a portion of a spectral shape that represents a portion of the bandwidth set aside for a control channel, reference signal, and/or clock signal. The spectral shape  1976  represents a control channel having instructions that include digital data that modulates the reference signal, via amplitude modulation, amplitude shift keying or other modulation technique that preserves the phase of the carrier for use as a phase reference. The clock signal  1978  is shown as being outside the frequency band of the spectral shape  1976 . The reference signal, being modulated by the control channel instructions, is in effect a subcarrier of the control channel and is in-band to the control channel. Again, the clock signal  1978  is shown with a spectral shape representing a sinusoidal signal, in other embodiments however, a traditional clock signal could be sent as a modulated carrier wave or other signal. In this case, the instructions of the control channel can be used to modulate the clock signal  1978  instead of the reference signal. 
     Consider the following example, where the control channel  1976  is carried via modulation of a reference signal in the form of a continuous wave (CW) from which the phase distortion in the receiver is corrected during frequency conversion of the downlink or uplink spectral segment  1906  and  1910  back to its original/native spectral segment. The control channel  1976  can be modulated with a robust modulation such as pulse amplitude modulation, binary phase shift keying, amplitude shift keying or other modulation scheme to carry instructions between network elements of the distributed antenna system such as network operations, administration and management traffic and other control data. In various embodiments, the control data can include without limitation:
         Status information that indicates online status, offline status, and network performance parameters of each network element.   Network device information such as module names and addresses, hardware and software versions, device capabilities, etc.   Spectral information such as frequency conversion factors, channel spacing, guard bands, uplink/downlink allocations, uplink and downlink channel selections, etc.   Environmental measurements such as weather conditions, image data, power outage information, line of sight blockages, etc.   Fault mitigation messaging such as a fault detection indication, instructions to select a back-up communications link, test results for a back-up communication link, instructions to modify a spectral segment used for communication between network devices to a different range of frequencies, etc.       

     In a further example, the control channel data can be sent via ultra-wideband (UWB) signaling. The control channel data can be transmitted by generating radio energy at specific time intervals and occupying a larger bandwidth, via pulse-position or time modulation, by encoding the polarity or amplitude of the UWB pulses and/or by using orthogonal pulses. In particular, UWB pulses can be sent sporadically at relatively low pulse rates to support time or position modulation, but can also be sent at rates up to the inverse of the UWB pulse bandwidth. In this fashion, the control channel can be spread over an UWB spectrum with relatively low power, and without interfering with CW transmissions of the reference signal and/or clock signal that may occupy in-band portions of the UWB spectrum of the control channel. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19H , a block diagram  1980  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a transmitter is shown. In particular, a transmitter  1982  is shown for use with, for example, a receiver  1981  and a digital control channel processor  1995  in a transceiver, such as transceiver  1933  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 19C . As shown, the transmitter  1982  includes an analog front-end  1986 , clock signal generator  1989 , a local oscillator  1992 , a mixer  1996 , and a transmitter front end  1984 . 
     The amplified first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency together with the reference signals, control channels and/or clock signals are coupled from the amplifier  1938  to the analog front-end  1986 . The analog front end  1986  includes one or more filters or other frequency selection to separate the control channel signal  1987 , a clock reference signal  1978 , a pilot signal  1991  and one or more selected channels signals  1994 . 
     The digital control channel processor  1995  performs digital signal processing on the control channel to recover the instructions, such as via demodulation of digital control channel data, from the control channel signal  1987 . The clock signal generator  1989  generates the clock signal  1990 , from the clock reference signal  1978 , to synchronize timing of the digital control channel processing by the digital control channel processor  1995 . In embodiments where the clock reference signal  1978  is a sinusoid, the clock signal generator  1989  can provide amplification and limiting to create a traditional clock signal or other timing signal from the sinusoid. In embodiments where the clock reference signal  1978  is a modulated carrier signal, such as a modulation of the reference or pilot signal or other carrier wave, the clock signal generator  1989  can provide demodulation to create a traditional clock signal or other timing signal. 
     In various embodiments, the control channel signal  1987  can be either a digitally modulated signal in a range of frequencies separate from the pilot signal  1991  and the clock reference  1988  or as modulation of the pilot signal  1991 . In operation, the digital control channel processor  1995  provides demodulation of the control channel signal  1987  to extract the instructions contained therein in order to generate a control signal  1993 . In particular, the control signal  1993  generated by the digital control channel processor  1995  in response to instructions received via the control channel can be used to select the particular channel signals  1994  along with the corresponding pilot signal  1991  and/or clock reference  1988  to be used for converting the frequencies of channel signals  1994  for transmission via wireless interface  1811 . It should be noted that in circumstances where the control channel signal  1987  conveys the instructions via modulation of the pilot signal  1991 , the pilot signal  1991  can be extracted via the digital control channel processor  1995  rather than the analog front-end  1986  as shown. 
     The digital control channel processor  1995  may be implemented via a processing module such as a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, digital circuitry, an analog to digital converter, a digital to analog converter and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module may be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that if the processing module includes more than one processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located (e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless bus structure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing via indirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network). Further note that the memory and/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, digital circuitry, an analog to digital converter, a digital to analog converter or other device. Still further note that, the memory element may store, and the processing module executes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions described herein and such a memory device or memory element can be implemented as an article of manufacture. 
     The local oscillator  1992  generates the local oscillator signal  1997  utilizing the pilot signal  1991  to reduce distortion during the frequency conversion process. In various embodiments the pilot signal  1991  is at the correct frequency and phase of the local oscillator signal  1997  to generate the local oscillator signal  1997  at the proper frequency and phase to convert the channel signals  1994  at the carrier frequency associated with their placement in the spectrum of the distributed antenna system to their original/native spectral segments for transmission to fixed or mobile communication devices. In this case, the local oscillator  1992  can employ bandpass filtration and/or other signal conditioning to generate a sinusoidal local oscillator signal  1997  that preserves the frequency and phase of the pilot signal  1991 . In other embodiments, the pilot signal  1991  has a frequency and phase that can be used to derive the local oscillator signal  1997 . In this case, the local oscillator  1992  employs frequency division, frequency multiplication or other frequency synthesis, based on the pilot signal  1991 , to generate the local oscillator signal  1997  at the proper frequency and phase to convert the channel signals  1994  at the carrier frequency associated with their placement in the spectrum of the distributed antenna system to their original/native spectral segments for transmission to fixed or mobile communication devices. 
     The mixer  1996  operates based on the local oscillator signal  1997  to shift the channel signals  1994  in frequency to generate frequency converted channel signals  1998  at their corresponding original/native spectral segments. While a single mixing stage is shown, multiple mixing stages can be employed to shift the channel signals to baseband and/or one or more intermediate frequencies as part of the total frequency conversion. The transmitter (Xmtr) front-end  1984  includes a power amplifier and impedance matching to wirelessly transmit the frequency converted channel signals  1998  as a free space wireless signals via one or more antennas, such as antennas  1824 , to one or more mobile or fixed communication devices in range of the communication node  1804 B-E. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19I , a block diagram  1985  illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a receiver is shown. In particular, a receiver  1981  is shown for use with, for example, transmitter  1982  and digital control channel processor  1995  in a transceiver, such as transceiver  1933  presented in conjunction with  FIG. 19C . As shown, the receiver  1981  includes an analog receiver (RCVR) front-end  1983 , local oscillator  1992 , and mixer  1996 . The digital control channel processor  1995  operates under control of instructions from the control channel to generate the pilot signal  1991 , control channel signal  1987  and clock reference signal  1978 . 
     The control signal  1993  generated by the digital control channel processor  1995  in response to instructions received via the control channel can also be used to select the particular channel signals  1994  along with the corresponding pilot signal  1991  and/or clock reference  1988  to be used for converting the frequencies of channel signals  1994  for reception via wireless interface  1811 . The analog receiver front end  1983  includes a low noise amplifier and one or more filters or other frequency selection to receive one or more selected channels signals  1994  under control of the control signal  1993 . 
     The local oscillator  1992  generates the local oscillator signal  1997  utilizing the pilot signal  1991  to reduce distortion during the frequency conversion process. In various embodiments the local oscillator employs bandpass filtration and/or other signal conditioning, frequency division, frequency multiplication or other frequency synthesis, based on the pilot signal  1991 , to generate the local oscillator signal  1997  at the proper frequency and phase to frequency convert the channel signals  1994 , the pilot signal  1991 , control channel signal  1987  and clock reference signal  1978  to the spectrum of the distributed antenna system for transmission to other communication nodes  1804 A-E. In particular, the mixer  1996  operates based on the local oscillator signal  1997  to shift the channel signals  1994  in frequency to generate frequency converted channel signals  1998  at the desired placement within spectrum spectral segment of the distributed antenna system for coupling to the amplifier  1938 , to transceiver  1936 A for amplification and retransmission via the transceiver  1936 A back to the communication node  1804 A or upstream communication nodes  1804 B-E for further retransmission back to a base station, such as macro base station  1802 , for processing. Again, while a single mixing stage is shown, multiple mixing stages can be employed to shift the channel signals to baseband and/or one or more intermediate frequencies as part of the total frequency conversion. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 20A , a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method  2040  is shown for mitigating faults in a communication system of  FIG. 20B . Method  2040  can begin at step  2042  where a waveguide system such as shown in  FIG. 16A  detects a fault in a primary communication link depicted by reference  2030  of  FIG. 20B  (herein referred to as primary communication link  2030 ). For long-haul communications, the primary communication link  2030  can represent a high voltage power line (e.g., 100 kV-138 kV), an extra high voltage power line (e.g., 230 kV-800 kV), or an ultra high voltage power line (e.g., &gt;800 kV) of the power grid. Generally, such power lines are placed at a high altitude on utility poles in one embodiment for safety reasons and to reduce a likelihood of obstructions from tree limbs. For short-haul communications (e.g., urban, suburban, or rural areas), the primary communication link  2030  can represent a medium voltage power line (e.g., 4 kV to 69 kV), which are generally positioned above lower voltage power lines, telephone lines, and/or coaxial cable lines. Thus it will be appreciated that the primary communication link  2030  can include non-high-voltage (e.g., medium or low voltage) power lines as well at various positions on utility poles without departing from example embodiments. 
     However, obstructions from tree limbs can happen with such power lines, which as can be sensed by sensors of the waveguide system  1602  described in  FIG. 16A . Generally, a fault can represent any disturbance sensed or detected by the sensors of the waveguide system that can adversely affect the transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that transport data and that propagate on a surface of the primary communication link  2030 . A non-limiting illustration of data can include data associated with voice communication services, internet services, broadcast video services, control data for controlling the distribution of content and/or for establishing voice and/or data communication sessions, voice or data communications from other networks, or other types of data services in any combination thereof. 
     At step  2044 , the waveguide system  1602  can report the fault, or information associated therewith, to a network management system  1601  such as shown in  FIG. 16A . For example, the waveguide system  1400  can identify a type of fault, a location of the fault, quality metrics (described herein) and/or other communication parameter information associated with a fault including signal strength, signal loss, latency, packet loss, etc. In one embodiment, the network management system  1601  can take evasive action by instructing the waveguide system  1400  to select at step  2046  one or more backup communication mediums or links that provide backup communication services in the event of a fault at the primary communication link  2030 . In another embodiment, the waveguide system  1602  can autonomously take fault mitigating action to maintain communication services active by selecting at step  2046  one or more backup communication mediums or links. The waveguide system  1602  can be configured to select a backup communication medium or link based on selection criteria. The selection criteria can include quality metrics that can be used to verify that the backup communication medium is suitable for backup communication services. Quality metrics can include without limitation a desired communications bandwidth, a desired Quality of Service (QoS), a desired signal to noise ratio, a desired bit error rate performance, a desired packet loss performance, a desired data throughput, a desired jitter performance, a desired latency performance, and so on. 
     The waveguide system, which can be represented by any of references  2006 ,  2008 , or  2010  of  FIG. 20B  (herein referred to as waveguide systems  2006 ,  2008 , or  2010 ) can have multiple options for initiating backup communication services. For example, waveguide system  2006  can have an antenna  2012  that can be coupled to a communications interface such as reference  205  of  FIG. 14  to provide a control channel to enable the waveguide system  2006  to engage in wireless communications that include control data such as fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data (e.g., LTE, WiFi, 4/5G, or otherwise) with base station  2002 , base station  2004 , or other waveguide systems such as waveguide system  2008  deploying a wireless communications interface with an antenna  2012 . Waveguide system  2006  can thus redirect data to base station  2002  over a first wireless link. Base station  2002  can in turn redirect the data to waveguide system  2008  over a second wireless link. Waveguide system  2008  can then retransmit the data using electromagnetic waves that propagate on the primary link  2030 . 
     Similarly, waveguide system  2006  can redirect data to base station  2004  over a first wireless link. Base station  2004  in turn can redirect the data to a landline network  2020  over a high speed wired link  2013  (e.g., fiber). The landline network  2020  can also redirect the data to a local base station  2014  (e.g., a microcell) over another high speed link  2013 . The local base station  2014  can then supply the data to waveguide system  2010  which retransmits the data using electromagnetic waves that propagate on the primary communication link  2030 . Additionally, waveguide system  2006  can redirect data to waveguide system  2008  over a wireless link. Waveguide system  2008  can then retransmit the data using electromagnetic waves that propagate on the primary communication link  2030 . 
     In each of the above example embodiments, the data is sent by the waveguide system  2006  to the backup communication medium or link, which redirects it back to a portion of the primary communication link  2030  unaffected by the fault. Unaffected portions of the primary communication link  2030  can be identified by the network management system  1601 . The network management system  1601  can in turn coordinate the flow of traffic with communication nodes of the backup communication medium selected by waveguide system  2006  via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data to redirect data back to unaffected portions of the primary communication link  2030 . 
     Using a wireless link to connect to any of the backup communication mediums or link may, however, in some embodiments result in less bandwidth than the original bandwidth capacity of the affected primary communication link  2030 . In such embodiments, waveguide system  2006  may need to adjust the bandwidth of the data to accommodate retransmission over a selected backup communication medium as will be addressed by method  2040  at steps  2060 ,  2062  and  2064 . To reduce or eliminate the need for bandwidth adjustments, the waveguide system  2006  can select multiple wireless backup communication mediums to mitigate the need for adjusting the bandwidth of the data by distributing portions of the data between the selected backup communication mediums. 
     In addition to wireless backup links, the waveguide system  2006  can use a waveguide  2005  (incorporated in waveguide system  2006 ) that can couple to an unaffected line in its vicinity such as line  2040 , which can serve as secondary communication link (herein referred to as secondary communication link  2040 ) for providing backup communication services. For long-haul communications, the secondary communication link  2040  can represent another high power line if more than one high power line is available, or a medium voltage power line if available. For short-haul communications (e.g., urban, suburban, or rural areas), the secondary communication link  2040  can represent a low voltage power line (e.g., less than 1000 volts such as 240V) for distributing electrical power to commercial and/or residential establishments, telephone lines, or coaxial cable lines. For illustration purposes, line  2040  will be assumed to be a power line, and thus referred to herein as power line  2040 . However, it is noted that line  2040  can be a non-power line such as a telephone line, or a coaxial cable accessible to the waveguide system  2006 . It is further noted that the low voltage power line, telephone lines, or coaxial cable lines are generally positioned below the medium voltage power line and thus may be more susceptible to obstructions such as tree limbs that may cause a disturbance that adversely affects the transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves on a surface of secondary communication link  2040 . 
     Secondary communication link  2040  enables waveguide system  2006  to communicate with waveguide system  2008 , which also has a waveguide  2009  incorporated therein and coupled to the secondary communication link  2040 . In this configuration, the secondary communication link  2040  can include a control channel that can be used to transport fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data and also be used to bypass a fault in the primary communication link  2030  that may be occurring between waveguide system  2006  and waveguide system  2008 . In this illustration, waveguide system  2008  can reestablish communication services back to a portion of the primary communication link  2030  that is unaffected by the fault detected by waveguide system  2006 . If, however, the fault on the primary communication link  2030  affects both waveguide system  2006  and waveguide system  2008 , waveguide system  2006  can use the secondary communication link  2040  to communicate with the local base station  2014 , which can be configured with a waveguide system of its own such as shown in  FIG. 16A  to receive and transmit electromagnetic waves that transport the data and that propagate on a surface of the secondary communication link  2040 . The local base station  2014  can in turn supply the data to waveguide system  2010  which can redirect its transmission to the primary communication link  2030  to downstream waveguide systems (not shown). 
     It is further noted that data can be redirected to the secondary communication link  2040  in several ways. In one embodiment, electromagnetic waves propagating on the primary communication link  2030  can be redirected to the secondary communication link  2040 . This can be accomplished by connecting one end of waveguide  2005  to the secondary communication link  2040  and the other end of waveguide  2005  to an unaffected portion of the primary communication link  2030 . In this configuration, electromagnetic waves flowing on the primary communication link  2030  can be redirected by the waveguide  2005  to the secondary communication link  2040 , and electromagnetic waves flowing on the secondary communication link  2030  can be redirected by the waveguide  2005  to the primary communication link  2040 . 
     In one embodiment, the electromagnetic waves propagating through the waveguide  2005  in a direction of the primary communication link  2030  or in a direction of the secondary communication link  2040  can be unamplified. For instance, the waveguide  2005  can be a passive dielectric waveguide device coupled to both ends of the primary and secondary communication links  2030  and  2040 , respectively, having no active circuitry for modifying the electromagnetic waves flowing through the waveguide  2005  in either direction. Alternatively, one or more amplifiers can be added to the waveguide  2005  to amplify the electromagnetic waves propagating through the waveguide  2005  in a direction of the primary communication link  2030  and/or in a direction of the secondary communication link  2040 . For example, the waveguide  2005  can include active circuits that amplify the electromagnetic waves propagating in a direction of the primary communication link  2030  and/or active circuits that amplify electromagnetic waves propagating in a direction of the secondary communication link  2040 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the waveguide device  2005  can be represented by a repeater such as shown in  FIG. 13  which can utilize active circuitry such as shown in  FIG. 14  to extract the data included in the electromagnetic waves propagating in the primary communication link  2030 , and retransmitting the same data with new electromagnetic waves that are sent to the secondary communication link  2040 . Similarly, the circuitry of  FIG. 14  can be used to extract data included in the electromagnetic waves propagating in the secondary communication link  2040 , and retransmitting the same data with new electromagnetic waves that are sent to the primary communication link  2030 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the waveguide system  2006  can also include a link  2007  that couples the waveguide system  2006  to a local base station  2015  (e.g., a microcell). Link  2007  can represent a high speed communication link such as a fiber link enabling the waveguide system  2006  to redirect data to the local base station  2015 , which in turn can direct data to a landline network  2020  that in turn supplies the data to another local base station  2014  that can present such signals to waveguide system  2010  for redirecting the data back to the primary communication link  2030 . 
     Based on the above illustrations, the waveguide system  2006  has several options for selecting at step  2046  one or more backup communication mediums or links depending on its bandwidth needs, which include: (1) a wired connection to local base station  2015  via high speed link  2007  which enables waveguide system  2006  to redirect data back to the primary communication link  2030  via waveguide system  2010 , (2) a connection to secondary communication link  2040  via waveguide  2005  of the waveguide system  2006  which enables waveguide system  2006  to redirect data back to the primary communication link  2030  via waveguide system  2008 , (3) a connection to secondary communication link  2040  via waveguide  2005  of the waveguide system  2006  which also enables waveguide system  2006  to redirect data back to the primary communication link  2030  via waveguide system  2010  using the local base station  2014 , (4) a wireless link to base station  2002  which enables waveguide system  2006  to redirect data back to the primary communication link  2030  via waveguide system  2008 , (5) a wireless link to base station  2004  which enables waveguide system  2006  to redirect data back to the primary communication link  2030  via waveguide system  2010  using the local base station  2014 , and (6) a wireless link to waveguide system  2008  which can redirect data back to the primary communication link  2030 . 
     Once waveguide system  2006  has selected one or more backup communication links, it can proceed to step  2048  where it can determine whether a particular backup communication link is part of the power grid or otherwise (e.g., wireless link or wired link to a local base station). Since it is possible that more than one backup communication link can be selected by waveguide system  2006 , steps  2050  and  2054  may be invoked simultaneously or in sequence for each instance of a backup link of the power grid, a backup wireless link, and/or a backup wired link to a local base station. 
     For backup links of the power grid, the waveguide system  2006  can be configured to transmit electromagnetic wave test signals on the secondary communication link  2040 . The electromagnetic wave test signals can be received by waveguide system  2008  and/or local base station  2014  (assuming it has an integrated waveguide system). The test signals can be analyzed by the waveguide system  2008  and/or the local base station  2014 . The test signals can be measured, for example, for signal to noise ratio, data throughput, bit error rate, packet loss rate, jitter, latency, and other metrics that can be compared to the selection criteria by waveguide system  2006 . The test results can be transmitted back at step  2052  to waveguide system  2006  by waveguide system  2008  and/or by the local base station  2014  over the secondary communication link  2040 , or in the case of waveguide system  2008  over a wireless link, and in the case of local base station  2014  over wired links  2013  and  2011 . In addition to analyzing test results sent back from waveguide system  2008  and/or local base station  2014  according to the selection criteria, waveguide system  2006  can also perform autonomous tests on the secondary communication link  2040  such as signal reflection measurements and other measurements described in the subject disclosure. 
     For non-power grid backup links, the waveguide system  2006  can send test signals appropriate for the type of transmission medium being used. In the case of wireless links, the waveguide system  2006  can send wireless test signals to base station  2002 , base station  2004 , and/or waveguide system  2008 . The waveguide system  2006  can determine a received signal strength indication (RSSI) for each wireless link, signal to noise ratios for each wireless link, data throughputs, bit error rates, packet loss rates, and other measurements applicable to the selection criteria for determining the suitability of each wireless link. Test results can also be received at step  2052  by waveguide system  2006  from base station  2002 ,  2004 , and/or waveguide system  2008  over the wireless link. In the case of a wired (non-power grid) link such as link  2007 , the waveguide  2006  can send test signals for testing communications with waveguide system  2010 . Similarly, test results can be received back from waveguide system  2010  and/or intermediate nodes (e.g., landline network  2020  and/or local base station  2015 ) for comparison to the selection criteria. 
     At step  2056 , the waveguide system  2006  can assess whether a backup link is suitable for backup communication services in accordance with the selection criteria used by the waveguide system  2006 . If a backup link is not available or suitable for backup communication services, the waveguide system  2006  can proceed to step  2058  and report this issue to the network management system  1601  via an available backup link, and proceed to select another backup link (if available) at step  2046 . If another backup link is selected, the waveguide system  2006  can perform steps  2048 - 2052  as previously described. If one or more backup links have been verified at step  2056  to be suitable for backup communication services, then the waveguide system  2006  can proceed to step  2060  to determine if the backup link(s) provide sufficient bandwidth to support the bandwidth being used in the primary communication link  2030  to transport the data. 
     If the backup link(s) cannot support the bandwidth originally used for transmission of the data on the primary communication link  2030 , the waveguide system  2006  can proceed to step  2062  to adjust the bandwidth of the data so that it is suitable for the backup link(s). If real-time transmissions are present, for example, real-time audio or video signals, a transcoder can transcode these real-time signals to reduce the bit rate to conform to the adjusted bandwidth. In another embodiment, the transmission rate of non-real-time signals can be reduced to preserve the quality of service associated with real-time signals included in the data. In this step, the waveguide system  2006  can inform the network management system  1601  via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data sent via an available backup link that the bandwidth of the data will be adjusted. The network management system  1601  can in one embodiment inform devices affected by the fault via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data (via, for example, backup links) that communications bandwidth must be adjusted to accommodate backup services. Alternatively, the waveguide system  2006  can notify the affected devices via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data via the backup link(s) of the change in bandwidth. 
     Once bandwidth has been adjusted at step  2062 , the waveguide system  2006  can proceed to step  2064  and begin to redirect data via the backup link(s). If bandwidth adjustment is not necessary, the waveguide system  2006  can proceed to step  2066  and redirect data according to its original bandwidth. In another embodiment, if the bandwidth capacity of the backup link(s) cannot support the bandwidth originally used for transmission of the data on the primary communication link  2030 , the waveguide system  2006  can proceed to step  2046  to select a different backup link. 
     In one embodiment, the backup link(s) (i.e., secondary communication links) may be shared with other communication devices (e.g., waveguide systems or other communication nodes). In one embodiment, the waveguide system  2006  can be configured to select an operating frequency for transmitting and receiving data over the backup link(s) via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data that differs from the operating frequency used by the other communication devices. In another embodiment, the waveguide system  2006  can be configured via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data to select time slot assignments for transmitting and receiving data over the backup link(s) that differs from time slot assignments used by the other communication devices. In yet another embodiment, the waveguide system  2006  can be configured via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data to select a combination of one or more operating frequencies and one or more time slot assignments for transmitting and receiving data over the backup link(s) that differ from one or more operating frequencies and one or more time slot assignments used by the other communication devices. 
     In instances where the backup link(s) have communication access to the power grid at a point where the primary communication link  2030  is unaffected by the fault, the waveguide system  2006  can instruct at step  2068  one or more communication nodes in the backup link(s) via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data to redirect the data back to the primary communication link  2030  at an unaffected location in the power grid determined by the waveguide system  2006  or at an unaffected location identified by the network management system  1601  and conveyed to the waveguide system  2006 , thereby circumventing the fault. 
     While the backup link(s) are in use, the network management system  1601  can be directing personnel of a power utility or communications company to resolve the fault as previously described in the subject disclosure. Once the fault has been resolved at step  2070 , the network management system  1601  can instruct at step  2072  the waveguide system  2006  (and other communication nodes in the backup link(s)) via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data to restore or reconfigure routing of the data according a mitigation strategy used to resolve the fault. Alternatively, the waveguide system  2006  can monitor the power grid for mitigation of the fault, and autonomously determine whether it can reuse a prior routing configuration or whether it must use a new routing configuration based on a detectable change in the network topology of the power grid. It will be appreciated that faults detected by one or more waveguide systems  2006  can be the result of power outages due to broken power lines caused by weather conditions, malfunctioning transformers, or otherwise. The network management system  1601  can also be used to coordinate mitigation of power outages based on fault notices sent to the network management system  1601  via fault mitigation messaging or other control channel data by one or more waveguide systems  2006 . It is also appreciated that secondary communication links (e.g., backup links) can also be represented by underground transmission mediums such as conduits, underground power lines, and so on. 
     While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks in  FIG. 20A , it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods described herein. It is further noted that the processes of  FIG. 20A  can be further modified to perform any of the embodiments described in the subject disclosure, such as, for example, embodiments relating to circumventing disturbances in a power grid such as shown in  FIGS. 17A and 17B . 
     Furthermore, while the foregoing description has primarily focused mitigating faults in guided wave communications between waveguide systems, similar techniques can likewise be employed in the mitigation of faults in a radio distributed antenna system (RDAS), such as any of the systems described in conjunction with  FIGS. 18A-18D and 19A-19I . In particular, fault mitigation messaging or other control data can be shared between network devices in such a distributed antenna system via an in-band or out-of-band wireless control channel. 
     In various embodiments, a network device of a distributed antenna system, such as communication nodes  1804 A- 1804 E, includes a base station interface  1922  or other interface configured to receive a modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to a mobile communication device. As previously discussed, the modulated signal can conform to a wireless signaling protocol such as LTE, an 802.11 protocol, a DOCSIS protocol, WIMAX protocol, a 5G wireless protocol or other signal format. A transceiver, such as transceivers  1932 ,  1936 A,  1926 B or other transceiver is configured to: convert the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment based on a signal processing of the modulated signal and without modifying the wireless signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the second spectral segment is outside the first spectral segment; generate fault mitigation messaging in a control channel; and transmit the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the control channel to another network device, such as another communication node  1804 A- 1804 E or other network device, of the distributed antenna system. 
     In various embodiments, the fault mitigation messaging includes one of: heartbeat signals indicating the links is functioning; a fault detection indication; instructions to select a back-up communications link; test results for a back-up communication link; and/or or instructions to modify the first spectral segment to a different range of frequencies. In this fashion, the fault mitigation messaging shared between network devices can be used to identify fault conditions, to coordinate testing of a back-up communications link, to coordinate a shift to or from a back-up communications link, to change the spectral segment used in the primary communications link, to exchange other messaging to facilitate the mitigation of a fault conditions and/or to provide other fault mitigation procedures. 
     The control channel can be transmitted in a spectral segment that is spaced apart from the spectral segment used for primary communications between network devices. In this fashion, a fault occurring in the primary communication link may not affect the control channel communications and the control channel can still be used to coordinate the transfer of communications to an alternate spectral segment or to a back-up communications link. In one example, when the primary communications link is in a millimeter wave or microwave band, the LTE or 802.11 band can be used for control channel communications, however, alternative millimeter wave or microwave bands or other non-millimeter wave or non-microwave bands or a wired link via the can likewise be used for this purpose. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 20C , a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a method  2075 , is shown. Method  2075  can be used with one or more functions and features presented in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-19 and 20A -B. Step  2080  includes receiving, by a system of a first network element of a distributed antenna system including signal processing circuitry, a modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to a mobile communication device, wherein the modulated signal conforms to a wireless signaling protocol. Step  2082  includes converting, by the system, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment based on a signal processing of the modulated signal and without modifying the wireless signaling protocol of the modulated signal, wherein the second spectral segment is outside the first spectral segment. Step  2084  includes generating, by the system, fault mitigation messaging in a control channel; and Step  2086  includes transmitting, by the system, the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the control channel to a second network element of the distributed antenna system. 
     In various embodiments, fault mitigation messaging includes one of: a fault detection indication; instructions to select a back-up communications link; test results for a back-up communication link; or instructions to modify the first spectral segment to a different range of frequencies. The wireless signaling protocol can be a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocol, a fifth generation cellular communications protocol or other wireless communication protocols. The control channel can be transmitted in a third spectral segment that is spaced apart from the second spectral segment. The signal processing circuitry can comprise analog signal processing circuitry that facilitates analog signal processing, wherein the signal processing comprises the analog signal processing, and wherein the analog signal processing does not require either an analog to digital conversion or a digital to analog conversion. 
     In various embodiments, the method can further include transmitting a reference signal enabling the second network element to reduce a phase error when reconverting the modulated signal in the second spectral segment to the modulated signal in the first spectral segment for wireless distribution of the modulated signal to the mobile communication device in the first spectral segment. The method can also include transmitting, by the system, instructions in the control channel to direct the second network element of the distributed antenna system to convert the modulated signal in the second spectral segment to the modulated signal in the first spectral segment. 
     In various embodiments, the converting by the system comprises up-converting the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the converting by the network element comprises down-converting the modulated signal in the second spectral segment to the modulated signal in the first spectral segment. Alternatively, converting by the system comprises down-converting the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment and the converting by the network element comprises up-converting the modulated signal in the second spectral segment to the modulated signal in the first spectral segment. 
     While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks in  FIG. 20C , it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods described herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 21 , there is illustrated a block diagram of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects described herein. In order to provide additional context for various embodiments of the embodiments described herein,  FIG. 21  and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment  2100  in which the various embodiments of the subject disclosure can be implemented. While the embodiments have been described above in the general context of computer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments can be also implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software. 
     Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer system configurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associated devices. 
     As used herein, a processing circuit includes processor as well as other application specific circuits such as an application specific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine, programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals or data and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. It should be noted that while any functions and features described herein in association with the operation of a processor could likewise be performed by a processing circuit. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in the claims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only and doesn&#39;t otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “a first determination,” “a second determination,” and “a third determination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determination is to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc. 
     The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be also practiced in distributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
     Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which can comprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media, which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows. Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media that can be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implemented in connection with any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured data or unstructured data. 
     Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices or other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to store desired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or “non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory or computer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude only propagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquish rights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory signals per se. 
     Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the information stored by the medium. 
     Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructured data in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any information delivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media comprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 21 , the example environment  2100  for transmitting and receiving signals via or forming at least part of a base station (e.g., base station devices  1504 , macrocell site  1502 , or base stations  1614 ) or central office (e.g., central office  1501  or  1611 ). At least a portion of the example environment  2100  can also be used for transmission devices  101  or  102 . The example environment can comprise a computer  2102 , the computer  2102  comprising a processing unit  2104 , a system memory  2106  and a system bus  2108 . The system bus  2108  couples system components including, but not limited to, the system memory  2106  to the processing unit  2104 . The processing unit  2104  can be any of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as the processing unit  2104 . 
     The system bus  2108  can be any of several types of bus structure that can further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of commercially available bus architectures. The system memory  2106  comprises ROM  2110  and RAM  2112 . A basic input/output system (BIOS) can be stored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer  2102 , such as during startup. The RAM  2112  can also comprise a high-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data. 
     The computer  2102  further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD)  2114  (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive  2114  can also be configured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD)  2116 , (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette  2118 ) and an optical disk drive  2120 , (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk  2122  or, to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as the DVD). The hard disk drive  2114 , magnetic disk drive  2116  and optical disk drive  2120  can be connected to the system bus  2108  by a hard disk drive interface  2124 , a magnetic disk drive interface  2126  and an optical drive interface  2128 , respectively. The interface  2124  for external drive implementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies are within contemplation of the embodiments described herein. 
     The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media provide nonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executable instructions, and so forth. For the computer  2102 , the drives and storage media accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format. Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refers to a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of storage media which are readable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the example operating environment, and further, that any such storage media can contain computer-executable instructions for performing the methods described herein. 
     A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM  2112 , comprising an operating system  2130 , one or more application programs  2132 , other program modules  2134  and program data  2136 . All or portions of the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also be cached in the RAM  2112 . The systems and methods described herein can be implemented utilizing various commercially available operating systems or combinations of operating systems. Examples of application programs  2132  that can be implemented and otherwise executed by processing unit  2104  include the diversity selection determining performed by transmission device  101  or  102 . 
     A user can enter commands and information into the computer  2102  through one or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard  2138  and a pointing device, such as a mouse  2140 . Other input devices (not shown) can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  2104  through an input device interface  2142  that can be coupled to the system bus  2108 , but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an IR interface, etc. 
     A monitor  2144  or other type of display device can be also connected to the system bus  2108  via an interface, such as a video adapter  2146 . It will also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor  2144  can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display, a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving display information associated with computer  2102  via any communication means, including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to the monitor  2144 , a computer typically comprises other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc. 
     The computer  2102  can operate in a networked environment using logical connections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer(s)  2148 . The remote computer(s)  2148  can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, a personal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainment appliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typically comprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer  2102 , although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device  2150  is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprise wired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN)  2152  and/or larger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN)  2154 . Such LAN and WAN networking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, and facilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all of which can connect to a global communications network, e.g., the Internet. 
     When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  2102  can be connected to the local network  2152  through a wired and/or wireless communication network interface or adapter  2156 . The adapter  2156  can facilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN  2152 , which can also comprise a wireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the wireless adapter  2156 . 
     When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  2102  can comprise a modem  2158  or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN  2154  or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN  2154 , such as by way of the Internet. The modem  2158 , which can be internal or external and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the system bus  2108  via the input device interface  2142 . In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  2102  or portions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device  2150 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are example and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers can be used. 
     The computer  2102  can be operable to communicate with any wireless devices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable data assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or location associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, the communication can be a predefined structure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices. 
     Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bed in a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wired networks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with products that contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can provide real-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernet networks used in many offices. 
       FIG. 22  presents an example embodiment  2200  of a mobile network platform  2210  that can implement and exploit one or more aspects of the disclosed subject matter described herein. In one or more embodiments, the mobile network platform  2210  can generate and receive signals transmitted and received by base stations (e.g., base station devices  1504 , macrocell site  1502 , or base stations  1614 ), central office (e.g., central office  1501  or  1611 ), or transmission device  101  or  102  associated with the disclosed subject matter. Generally, wireless network platform  2210  can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation for networked wireless telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, wireless network platform  2210  can be included in telecommunications carrier networks, and can be considered carrier-side components as discussed elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform  2210  comprises CS gateway node(s)  2222  which can interface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephony network(s)  2240  (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network  2270 . Circuit switched gateway node(s)  2222  can authorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s)  2222  can access mobility, or roaming, data generated through SS7 network  2270 ; for instance, mobility data stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside in memory  2230 . Moreover, CS gateway node(s)  2222  interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PS gateway node(s)  2218 . As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gateway node(s)  2222  can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s)  2222 , PS gateway node(s)  2218 , and serving node(s)  2216 , is provided and dictated by radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform  2210  for telecommunication. 
     In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic and signaling, PS gateway node(s)  2218  can authorize and authenticate PS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions can comprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to the wireless network platform  2210 , like wide area network(s) (WANs)  2250 , enterprise network(s)  2270 , and service network(s)  2280 , which can be embodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced with mobile network platform  2210  through PS gateway node(s)  2218 . It is to be noted that WANs  2250  and enterprise network(s)  2260  can embody, at least in part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Based on radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s)  2217 , packet-switched gateway node(s)  2218  can generate packet data protocol contexts when a data session is established; other data structures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can be generated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s)  2218  can comprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in 3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetized communication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Fi networks. 
     In embodiment  2200 , wireless network platform  2210  also comprises serving node(s)  2216  that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) within technology resource(s)  2217 , convey the various packetized flows of data streams received through PS gateway node(s)  2218 . It is to be noted that for technology resource(s)  2217  that rely primarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance on PS gateway node(s)  2218 ; for example, server node(s) can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s)  2216  can be embodied in serving GPRS support node(s) (SGSN). 
     For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)  2214  in wireless network platform  2210  can execute numerous applications that can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows, and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Such application(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (for example, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided by wireless network platform  2210 . Data streams (e.g., content(s) that are part of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gateway node(s)  2218  for authorization/authentication and initiation of a data session, and to serving node(s)  2216  for communication thereafter. In addition to application server, server(s)  2214  can comprise utility server(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, an operations and maintenance server, a security server that can implement at least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as other security mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s) secure communication served through wireless network platform  2210  to ensure network&#39;s operation and data integrity in addition to authorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s)  2222  and PS gateway node(s)  2218  can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s) can provision services from external network(s) like networks operated by a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN  2250  or Global Positioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s) can also provision coverage through networks associated to wireless network platform  2210  (e.g., deployed and operated by the same service provider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown in  FIG. 1( s )  that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more network coverage. Repeater devices such as those shown in  FIGS. 7, 8, and 9  also improve network coverage in order to enhance subscriber service experience by way of UE  2275 . 
     It is to be noted that server(s)  2214  can comprise one or more processors configured to confer at least in part the functionality of macro network platform  2210 . To that end, the one or more processor can execute code instructions stored in memory  2230 , for example. It is should be appreciated that server(s)  2214  can comprise a content manager  2215 , which operates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore. 
     In example embodiment  2200 , memory  2230  can store information related to operation of wireless network platform  2210 . Other operational information can comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served through wireless platform network  2210 , subscriber databases; application intelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rate programs, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistent with telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, or wireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory  2230  can also store information from at least one of telephony network(s)  2240 , WAN  2250 , enterprise network(s)  2270 , or SS7 network  2260 . In an aspect, memory  2230  can be, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as a remotely connected memory store. 
     In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosed subject matter,  FIG. 22 , and the following discussion, are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in which the various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented. While the subject matter has been described above in the general context of computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination with other program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract data types. 
       FIG. 23  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device  2300 . The communication device  2300  can serve as an illustrative embodiment of devices such as mobile devices and in-building devices referred to by the subject disclosure (e.g., in  FIGS. 15, 16A and 16B ). 
     The communication device  2300  can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver  2302  (herein transceiver  2302 ), a user interface (UI)  2304 , a power supply  2314 , a location receiver  2316 , a motion sensor  2318 , an orientation sensor  2320 , and a controller  2306  for managing operations thereof. The transceiver  2302  can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth® and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA- 1 X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver  2302  can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof. 
     The UI  2304  can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad  2308  with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device  2300 . The keypad  2308  can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device  2300  or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad  2308  can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI  2304  can further include a display  2310  such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device  2300 . In an embodiment where the display  2310  is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad  2308  can be presented by way of the display  2310  with navigation features. 
     The display  2310  can use touch screen technology to also serve as a user interface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, the communication device  2300  can be adapted to present a user interface having graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The touch screen display  2310  can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a user&#39;s finger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can be used to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the user interface. The display  2310  can be an integral part of the housing assembly of the communication device  2300  or an independent device communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a cable) or a wireless interface. 
     The UI  2304  can also include an audio system  2312  that utilizes audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard in proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system  2312  can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system  2312  can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI  2304  can further include an image sensor  2313  such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images. 
     The power supply  2314  can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device  2300  to facilitate long-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or in combination, the charging system can utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port or other suitable tethering technologies. 
     The location receiver  2316  can utilize location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device  2300  based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used for facilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor  2318  can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motion of the communication device  2300  in three-dimensional space. The orientation sensor  2320  can utilize orientation sensing technology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device  2300  (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics). 
     The communication device  2300  can use the transceiver  2302  to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wireless access points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF) measurements. The controller  2306  can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits, and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executing computer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by the aforementioned components of the communication device  2300 . 
     Other components not shown in  FIG. 23  can be used in one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communication device  2300  can include a slot for adding or removing an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifying subscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so on. 
     In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “data store,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile and nonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further, nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can comprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory. 
     Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can be practiced with other computer system configurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tablet computers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network; however, some if not all aspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
     Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more features described herein. For example, artificial intelligence can be used in optional training controller  230  evaluate and select candidate frequencies, modulation schemes, MIMO modes, and/or guided wave modes in order to maximize transfer efficiency. The embodiments (e.g., in connection with automatically identifying acquired cell sites that provide a maximum value/benefit after addition to an existing communication network) can employ various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodiments thereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a ranking or priority of the each cell site of the acquired network. A classifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, . . . , xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is, f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysis utilities and costs) to prognose or infer an action that a user desires to be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is an example of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates by finding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which the hypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from the non-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classification correct for testing data that is near, but not identical to training data. Other directed and undirected model classification approaches comprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification models providing different patterns of independence can be employed. Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority. 
     As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments can employ classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generic training data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UE behavior, operator preferences, historical information, receiving extrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via a learning or training phase within a classifier constructor and feature selection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automatically learn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited to determining according to a predetermined criteria which of the acquired cell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which of the acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existing communication network coverage, etc. 
     As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, the terms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, or comprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. As an example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration and not limitation, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts, the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to execute software or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality of the electronic components. While various components have been illustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiple components can be implemented as a single component, or a single component can be implemented as multiple components, without departing from example embodiments. 
     Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method, apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communications media. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications can be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments. 
     In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to mean serving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
     Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,” subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobile device” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to a wireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wireless communication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with reference to the related drawings. 
     Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” and the like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless context warrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should be appreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automated components supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacity to make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms), which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth. 
     As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units. 
     As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components or computer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. 
     What has been described above includes mere examples of various embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/or claimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 
     In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue” indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used in conjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that the principles of causality are maintained. 
     As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Such items and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions, communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functional blocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signal conveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one or more intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format of information in a signal, while one or more elements of the information in the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can be recognized by the second item. In a further example of indirect coupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the second item, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more intervening items. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments described or shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure. For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can be combined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. In one or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can also be negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or without replacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure can be performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions of the subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from other steps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further, more than or less than all of the features described with respect to an embodiment can also be utilized.