Method and apparatus having an adjustable structure positioned along a transmission medium for launching or receiving electromagnetic waves having a desired wavemode

A waveguide system, comprising:

• a processing system including a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• generating one or more tuning signals supplied to a material positioned along a portion of an outer surface of a transmission medium, the material facilitating generation of electromagnetic waves having a desired wave mode;
• and
• generating an electromagnetic wave with the desired wave mode, the electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission medium without relying on an electrical return path to facilitate propagation of the electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium.

A machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor of a waveguide system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving a first electromagnetic wave propagating along a transmission medium;
• detecting, according to the first electromagnetic wave, an obstruction on an outer surface of the transmission medium;
• responsive to the detecting the obstruction, generating one or more tuning signals supplied to a material positioned along a portion of the outer surface of the transmission medium, the material facilitating generation of a second electromagnetic wave having a desired wave mode;
• and
• generating the second electromagnetic wave with the desired wave mode, the second electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission medium without relying on an electrical return path to facilitate propagation of the second electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium.