Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling wireless communication between a first wireless access point and one or more user devices, the first access point having an interface for communication with the user devices on one or more wireless communication channels in a predetermined frequency range, and also being configured to communicate with one or more other wireless access points. The access points each have a radar detector operable to detect possible radar signals within the frequency range, and are configured to provide information indicative of whether or not possible radar signals have been detected. The first access point receives communications relating to information provided by the other access points, and starts or stops wireless communications with its user devices on a particular channel based on whether or not it has detected possible radar signals together with whether or not the other wireless access points have detected possible radar signals.

Abstract: A communication network (1) comprises a number of network nodes (2, 3, 4 and 5) linked together by transmission paths (6, 7 and 8). A network manager (9) controls acceptance of calls onto transmission paths by classifying an incoming call and selecting from the database (14) an appropriate mean to peak bit rate distribution. This selected distribution is then used with the monitored transmission path load to determine a posterior distribution which reflects the load. The decision to accept or reject the call is made on the basis of the posterior distribution by a call acceptance algorithm considering the effective bandwidth for example.

Abstract: A process for treating a halide, e.g. fluoride, glass composition, characterized by contacting a melt of the composition (3) with dry oxygen (6). Oxygen, simply on contact with a fluoride glass melt, converts transition metals, e.g. from Fe(II) to Fe(III), from one stable state to another and thereby reduces loss at transmission wavelengths in optical fibre, e.g. the loss at 2.6 .mu.m attributabel to Fe(II).

Abstract: An optical coupling assembly is disclosed which comprises a semiconductor laser amplifier to which an optical control signal and an input signal are fed. The semiconductor laser amplifier is responsive to changes in amplitude of the control signal to produce corresponding phase shifts in the input signal. First and second optical couplers are positioned upstream and downstream of the laser amplifier so that a proportion of the input signal and control signal are fed along an optical fiber directly from the first optical coupler to the second coupler. The remaining portions of the input signal and control signal are fed to the laser amplifier where the input signal is phase shifted and then fed to the second coupler. The arrangement is such that the proportion of the input signal output from each output port of the second coupler is selectable by controlling the amplitude of the control signal.