Abstract: A communication system comprises a remote optimization server and a central optimization server adapted to communicate with each via a backhaul network. The central optimization server communicates with core network elements for data delivery. The servers provide access to local data servers, manage backhaul links, perform data caching, and optimize transmission of data that needs to be back-hauled in order to reduce data transfer via the backhaul network in a manner which is transparent to users and to core network elements. The servers perform compression and protocol optimization. The remote optimization server comprises a HTTP accelerator which uses client and server side optimization functions to retrieve a bundle of resources associated with a request for base HTML, and maintains a set of persistent connections over which all HTTP traffic is carried.

Abstract: A method of operation of a mobile network (1) comprising network core central nodes including a switching node and at least one remote node (4, 5) linked with the central nodes via a remote backhaul communication link (3). The method performs local connection of data or voice sessions. A remote node (4, 5) extracts, from signals, information concerning said devices to populate a database, and accesses said database when deciding whether to connect the call locally. The information includes device capability information including codec capabilities of the originating and terminating devices (MS-A, B, C). A remote node alters signalling information concerning codec capabilities of at least one of the devices (MS-A, B, C) to force use of the same codecs during the session. In one example, the information is extracted from a Bearer Capability field in a Call Confirmed message sent back from the terminating device and stored in the database for use in subsequent decisions concerning local connections of sessions.

Abstract: A mobile network comprises remote base transceiver station (BTS) nodes (3, 4) linked with a central base station controller (BSC) node (9). The latter is in turn linked with a mobile switching center (MSC, 10), a visitor location register (VLR, 11), and a home location register (HLR, 8). Mobile stations (2, MS-A, MS-B, and MS-C) are located in the cells of the BTSs (3, 4). The remote nodes (3, 4, 3(a), 4(a)) are connected to the central node BSC (9) over a remote backhaul satellite connection. Calls are routed locally while the central nodes continue to manage calls and services from central feature-rich and typically more reliable switches of a core network. This means that calls set up between subscribers on the same remote node get connected within the remote node but call supervision is still carried out by the central nodes. The features and services of the existing core network are preserved.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a remote optimisation server and a central optimisation server adapted to communicate with each via a backhaul network. The central optimisation server communicates with core network elements for data delivery. The servers provide access to local data servers, manage backhaul links, perform data caching, and optimise transmission of data that needs to be back-hauled in order to reduce data transfer via the backhaul network in a manner which is transparent to users and to core network elements. The servers perform compression and protocol optimisation. The remote optimisation server comprises a HTTP accelerator which uses client and server side optimisation functions to retrieve a bundle of resources associated with a request for base HTML, and maintains a set of persistent connections over which all HTTP traffic is carried.

Abstract: A method of operation of a mobile network (1) comprising network core central nodes including a switching node and at least one remote node (4, 5) linked with the central nodes via a remote backhaul communication link (3). The method performs local connection of data or voice sessions. A remote node (4, 5) extracts, from signals, information concerning said devices to populate a database, and accesses said database when deciding whether to connect the call locally. The information includes device capability information including codec capabilities of the originating and terminating devices (MS-A, B, C). A remote node alters signalling information concerning codec capabilities of at least one of the devices (MS-A, B, C) to force use of the same codecs during the session. In one example, the information is extracted from a Bearer Capability field in a Call Confirmed message sent back from the terminating device and stored in the database for use in subsequent decisions concerning local connections of sessions.

Abstract: A remote mobile network part (2, 11, 12) may be on an aircraft, a ship, or in a geographically remote location. It comprises a gateway (6) which communicates with a central gateway (9) via a satellite link. The two gateways (6, 9) together are a base station controller (BSC), the satellite link being used for BSC-internal communication. Such communication can be optimised to make best use of the limited bandwidth available on the satellite link.

Abstract: Monitoring device modules (10) in containers on a ship are polled by a tracking proxy (12). Monitoring data is thus captured, and the proxy 12 can ascertain in real time that the correct group of containers is present. The proxy (12) also transmits higher-value report messages with relatively low bandwidth via a satellite communication system (13) to a gateway (15). The gateway (15) routes the messages on to various systems such as tracking centers. Also, the gateway (15) regularly polls and authenticates the distributed tracking proxies (12) within its group.

Abstract: A radio interference avoidance system (1) has a processor in a detection system (11) which receives real time inputs from various sensors (12-16). The processor dynamically determines if a craft (for example, ship) movable network (19) is within an interference distance of a fixed network. It uses real time craft position data relative to fixed network position and also radiation characteristic data for both the movable (19) and fixed networks.

Abstract: A mobile network comprises remote base transceiver station (BTS) nodes (3, 4) linked with a central base station controller (BSC) node (9). The latter is in turn linked with a mobile switching centre (MSC, 10), a visitor location register (VLR, 11), and a home location register (HLR, 8). Mobile stations (2, MS-A, MS-B, and MS-C) are located in the cells of the BTSs (3, 4). The remote nodes (3, 4, 3(a), 4(a)) are connected to the central node BSC (9) over a remote backhaul satellite connection. Calls are routed locally while the central nodes continue to manage calls and services from central feature-rich and typically more reliable switches of a core network. This means that calls set up between subscribers on the same remote node get connected within the remote node but call supervision is still carried out by the central nodes. The features and services of the existing core network are preserved.

Abstract: A radio interference avoidance system (1) has a processor in a detection system (11) which receives real time inputs from various sensors (12-16). The processor dynamically determines if a craft (for example, ship) movable network (19) is within an interference distance of a fixed network. It uses real time craft position data relative to fixed network position and also radiation characteristic data for both the movable (19) and fixed networks.

Abstract: Monitoring device modules (10) in containers on a ship are polled by a tracking proxy (12). Monitoring data is thus captured, and the proxy 12 can ascertain in real time that the correct group of containers is present. The proxy (12) also transmits higher-value report messages with relatively low bandwidth via a satellite communication system (13) to a gateway (15). The gateway (15) routes the messages on to various systems such as tracking centres. Also, the gateway (15) regularly polls and authenticates the distributed tracking proxies (12) within its group.

Abstract: A remote mobile network part (2, 11, 12) may be on an aircraft, a ship, or in a geographically remote location. It comprises a gateway (6) which communicates with a central gateway (9) via a satellite link. The two gateways (6, 9) together are a base station controller (BSC), the satellite link being used for BSC-internal communication. Such communication can be optimised to make best use of the limited bandwidth available on the satellite link.

Abstract: A communication system comprises an adapter (10) having interfaces (25-27) linked with user device components (12). A terminal controller (29) dynamically associates the components in real time to provide mobile stations. Thus, passengers of an aircraft can insert SIM cards into conveniently-located readers (22) and use in-flight entertainment i/o devices to make and receive cellular calls. The adapter (10) also has a BTS emulator (30) for direct communication with a BSC (3) with non-wireless internal network communication. This avoids the need for a mobile station to BTS wireless link.