Abstract: The invention provides a traffic shaper module allocates more bandwidth to real-time data in wireless TCP/IP networks where accessible bandwidth is limited. This is particular relevant for IEEE 802.11b networks. For downstream data, the traffic shaper module can be set to control the transmission to all clients and thereby give priority to the port carrying real-time data. For the upstream case, data transmission from all kinds of standard devices is to be reduced or delayed. Hence, the data transmissions from other clients have to be controlled remotely from the access point. By delaying or discarding packets, such as TCP acknowledgements, to other clients, the traffic shaper module artificially increases their Round Trip Time (RTT). The protocol at these clients responds to the increased RTT by transmitting data at a lower rate, thereby leaving more bandwidth for the real-time data port.

Abstract: A network interface driver is provided for the communication of TCP packets involving a mobile terminal and a wireless link. Acknowledgement signals are sent responsive to TCP data packets. A control element is arranged to prevent acknowledgement signals that are delayed in the wireless link from triggering a time-out signal in the TCP packet source.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed that enables a mobile device to manage multiple network interfaces in order to be substantially always reachable on the Internet. Wired LAN, Wireless LAN, Wireless PAN and cellular systems are technologies that are employed in the exemplary embodiment described. Scanning of the available network infrastructures is performed by a specific software agent implemented in a mobile device. User mobility profiles, power consumption, cached context information and application requirements are taken into account so that the end user can always communicate through the most appropriate network interface without explicit manual intervention.

Abstract: A method for communicating video data on a wireless channel in a packet-switched network includes the steps of operating at a wireless terminal a compression in packets on the video data during a video coding operation, detecting wireless channel conditions and adapting control parameters of the video coding operation to the detected wireless channel conditions. The compression operation is a robust header compression operation and the step of adapting control parameters of said video coding operation is performed in dependence of information about the wireless channel conditions detected on a feedback channel made available in a decompression step associated with the compression operation.

Abstract: A system for admission control in a wireless local area network adapted to serve a set of stations and manage real time transmission as well as and TCP/IP sessions includes an access point (AP) configured for: when either a new station joins the network or a new TCP/IP session is being initiated, checking if sufficient bandwidth is available in the network for the new traffic flow associated with the new station or TCP/IP session without interfering with any ongoing real time transmission in the network, and in case no sufficient bandwidth is found to be available, whereby said new traffic flow could interfere with said ongoing real time transmission, blocking such new traffic flow.

Abstract: A system controls operation of a network, such as a WLAN, where at least one information stream is delivered to at least one user via a link that is exposed to variable operating conditions. The system includes a controller module for monitoring the operating conditions of the link, and at least one transcoder for selectively transcoding the information stream by selectively varying one or more transcoding parameters as a function of the monitored operating conditions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for packet-based wireless transmission between a first unit and a second unit, the method including a said unit: a) generating packets suitable for transmission between said units; b) transmitting said packets in succession during active periods on a wireless channel, successive said active periods being spaced apart by a number of timeslots of predetermined duration; c) implementing a low power mode in timeslots between said active periods; and d) setting the duration of operation in at least one of said active period and said low power mode in dependence on the status of said channel.

Abstract: Mobile devices such as Personal Digital Assistants or mobile phones can connect to the Internet or another IP based network using WPAN and WLAN infrastructures or cellular systems like GPRS or 3G. Multi-mode hardware such as combination chipsets that support these standards are becoming available as well. According to the present invention, wireless network driver software architecture is proposed, named Multi-standard Wireless Adaptation Layer (MWAL) and is for client devices MT that may be portable, need to efficiently switch from one wireless standard to another and that must be able to stay connected and reachable in the Internet or other IP based network even when switching between wireless communication standards. The technique of the invention is a layer 2 technique suitable for vertical markets and proprietary solutions, in which the MWAL enables the client device MT to perform vertical handovers between wireless communications standards.

Abstract: In a wireless communications arrangement, a method is disclosed of providing location based services to at least one mobile terminal MT, the mobile terminal MT being adapted for roaming between a plurality of access points AP1-n and for wireless communication therebetween. The access points AP1-n are controlled by a network control means (10) and the method includes: a) the control means (10) activating location based services LBS only on receipt of a predetermined message sent thereto from the mobile terminal MT though an access point AP; and b) the control means (10) determining the location of the mobile terminal MT based on a network address of an access point AP through which said predetermined message was sent and directing said location based services LBS to said mobile terminal MT through said access point AP.

Abstract: A wireless, e.g. radio communications arrangement is disclosed, which includes an access point (12) in which are integrated a plurality of radio modules (20). Each module (20) is configurable as a master unit of an area network (10) and comprises its own native clock (28) for clocking said module (20) independently of the native clock (28) of any other said module (20). Each said module (20) further comprises its own baseband controller (24) and radio transceiver (26) and is adapted for wireless communication with one or more mobile terminals (16) by transmission of packets a,c in timeslots defined by said native clock (28) of said module (20). Each said module (20) further comprises at least one external input (18, 180; 30), through which in use is supplied a signal which substantially synchronizes said modules (20) in such a manner that there is no partial collision between packets transmissions of two said modules (20) integrated into the same said access point (12).

Abstract: A Communications arrangement is disclosed, which comprises a first communications device in the form of an access point AP1. The access point AP1 is adapted to look for further communications devices in range for connection thereto by transmission of an inquiry message IQ1 in accordance with a predetermined protocol, which in the specific example given is the Bluetooth protocol. A mobile terminal MT1 which receives the inquiry message IQ1 replies with an identifier. On receipt of the identifier, the access point AP1 is adapted to page PG1 the mobile terminal MT1 and thereby to establish interaction IA1 therebetween. The access point AP1 includes a group of radio communications modules (14, 16, 18) which are configured at least temporarily to perform individual wireless communications tasks.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for connecting mobile client devices MT to the Internet, or other IP based networks, using WPAN and WLAN infrastructures or certain cellular systems like GPRS. This is achieved substantially seamlessly by providing a routing mechanism (IP-IP Tunnel 14) that allows mobile client devices like Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to connect to an application server 10 using a plurality of communications standards depending on the available infrastructure, e.g. GPRS, IEEE802.11b or Bluetooth wireless standards. The arrangement proposed is a Layer 2 technique suitable for general use, in which the mobile client device MT and the server 10 are arranged in use to communicate at the network layer through an Internet Protocol tunneling technique, such that an Internet Protocol address of the mobile client MT remains the same during a handover from a first communications standard to a second communications standard.

Abstract: A method for wireless transmission between a first unit AP and a second unit MT is disclosed. The method includes a said unit AP, MT converting a real-time bit stream (e.g. VoIP, Audio, payloads of predetermined maximum length. One or more predefined headers (RTP/UDP/IP) is applied to the or each said payload so as to generate packets suitable for transmission between said units AP, MT in accordance with a protocol. The or each packet is then encapsulated within a frame of an encapsulation protocol (BNEP) adapted for transporting the or each packet across a wireless connection between the units MT, AP. A predefined header compression technique (IETF ROHC) is then applied to the or each encapsulated packet.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for performing a handoff of a slave unit (MT) from a currently wireless connected first master unit (AP1) of a shared resource network to a further master unit (AP2) of said shared resource network, the arrangement including:

Abstract: A communications arrangement 10 is disclosed which comprises first and second communications devices MT, AP, said first device MT being adapted to enter into a page scan state in which it is receptive to transmissions on a particular page scan frequency fps and said second device AP being adapted to transmit a page train A which is centered around an estimate of said page scan frequency fps. The arrangement is characterized in that in that, under predetermined circumstances following prior communication between said devices MT, AP, said second device AP is adapted to transmit a page train A′ which has been modified to start on a frequency f(k) shifted to correspond to said estimate and preferably also truncated to avoid transmission of at least one predetermined frequency sub-train A2 of the original page train A.

Abstract: The invention provides for a network interface driver for the communication of TCP packets involving a mobile terminal (38) and a wireless link (34) and in which acknowledgement signals are sent responsive to TCP data packets, including a control element (32) arranged to prevent acknowledgement signals that are delayed in the wireless link (34) from triggering a time-out signal in the TCP packet source, and a related method and also a computer program product arranged for use in a network interface driver for the communication of TCP packets involving the mobile terminal (38) and that exhibits a control function serving to prevent acknowledgement signal that are delayed in the wireless link from triggering a time-out signal at the TCP packet source.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a network interface for wireless communications involving a mobile terminal (28), the interface comprising a layered protocol structure, including an Internet protocol responsive link layer (40, 52) arranged to be matched to the wireless link.