Systems and methods for communicating through a glass window barrier, in which one communication device, placed outdoors near the glass window, utilizes optical signals to propagate communication signals through the glass window, and thereby communicate with another communication device placed indoors near the same glass window. The outdoor communication device receives power from a power source located indoors, in which power is transported from the indoor power source to the outdoor communication device through the same glass window in a form of an alternating magnetic field. The outdoor communication device may be either placed near the glass window or mechanically fixed to the glass window on one side, and the indoor communication device may be either placed near the glass window or mechanically fixed to the glass window on the other side. Certain known properties of glass windows are exploited, such as transparency to both optical radiation and magnetic fields.