Method and apparatus for repeating guided wave communication signals

A method for use by a guided wave repeater system that includes a processor and a guided wave transceiver, the method comprising:

• receiving via the guided wave transceiver a first plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a first communication signal, wherein the first communication signal includes sensor input from a weather sensor;
• generating first power outage warning data that indicates a predicted future power outage, wherein the first power outage warning data is generated by determining a power outage likelihood value based on the sensor input from the weather sensor and comparing the power outage likelihood value to a power outage likelihood threshold;
• generating, subsequently to generating the first power outage warning data, second power outage warning data that includes a notice that a warning period has passed when the power outage likelihood value compares favorably to the power outage likelihood threshold;
• transmitting via the guided wave transceiver a second plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a second communication signal, wherein the second communication signal includes the first power outage warning data and the second power outage warning data, wherein the guided wave transceiver includes a plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits coupled to radiating elements that transmit electromagnetic signals having e-fields of opposing orientation that combine together to induce the second plurality of electromagnetic waves for propagation along a transmission medium according to a fundamental wave mode;
• receiving a third communication signal from a smart grid device;
• and
• transmitting a fourth communication signal to the smart grid device;
• wherein the first plurality of electromagnetic waves and the second plurality of electromagnetic waves are guided by a power line of a utility pole and propagate without utilizing an electrical return path.

A guided wave repeater system, comprising:

• means for receiving via a first plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a first communication signal, wherein the first communication signal includes sensor input from a weather sensor;
• means for generating first power outage warning data that indicates a predicted future power outage, wherein the first power outage warning data is generated by determining a power outage likelihood value based on the sensor input from the weather sensor and comparing the power outage likelihood value to a power outage likelihood threshold;
• means for generating, subsequently to generating the first power outage warning data, second power outage warning data that includes a notice that a warning period has passed when the power outage likelihood value compares favorably to the power outage likelihood threshold;
• means for transmitting a second plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a second communication signal, wherein the second communication signal includes the first power outage warning data and the second power outage warning data, wherein the means for transmitting includes a plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits coupled to radiating elements that transmit electromagnetic signals having e-fields of opposing orientation that combine together to induce the second plurality of electromagnetic waves for propagation along a transmission medium according to a fundamental wave mode;
• means for receiving a third communication signal from a smart grid device;
• and
• means for transmitting a fourth communication signal to the smart grid device;
• wherein the first plurality of electromagnetic waves and the second plurality of electromagnetic waves are guided by a power line of a utility pole and propagate without utilizing an electrical return.