Abstract: An example user device may include a terrestrial mobile network radio; a satellite network radio; and one or more processors to establish, via the terrestrial mobile network radio, a first communication link with a terrestrial mobile network, establish, via the satellite network radio, a second communication link with a satellite network, monitor a characteristic of the first communication link and a characteristic of the second communication link, select the terrestrial mobile network or the satellite network for traffic communication based on the characteristic of the first communication link and the characteristic of the second communication link, and/or perform an action associated with the traffic communication based on selecting the terrestrial mobile network or the satellite network for traffic communication.

Abstract: An example user device may include a terrestrial mobile network radio; a satellite network radio; and one or more processors to establish, via the terrestrial mobile network radio, a first communication link with a terrestrial mobile network, establish, via the satellite network radio, a second communication link with a satellite network, monitor a characteristic of the first communication link and a characteristic of the second communication link, select the terrestrial mobile network or the satellite network for traffic communication based on the characteristic of the first communication link and the characteristic of the second communication link, and/or perform an action associated with the traffic communication based on selecting the terrestrial mobile network or the satellite network for traffic communication.

Abstract: A radio network coverage area provided by a mobile radio network is analyzed. The analysis is provided by receiving control messages from a first interface communicated between a base station of the mobile radio network and a radio network controller, the control messages being provided for controlling the communications of the data to or from the mobile terminals via the base station.

Abstract: A radio network coverage area provided by a mobile radio network is analysed. The analysis is provided by receiving control messages from a first interface communicated between a base station of the mobile radio network and a radio network controller, the control messages being provided for controlling the communications of the data to or from the mobile terminals via the base station.

Abstract: A cellular telephone is provided with a connector for connecting it to an interface unit. The interface unit can exchange speech and data signals with the telephone as well as providing power. When the telephone is connected to the interface unit, its antenna is effectively disabled. The interface unit provides a link between the telephone and a BTS via a communication path other than the cellular telephone system's conventional cell arrangement. The communication path can include telephone or ISDN connections, leased lines, point-to-point microwave links or coaxial cable. In the cases of telephone and ISDN lines and leased lines, baseband speech and data signals pass between the telephone and the interface unit and a modem is used to transmit and receive these signals over the communication path. If a microwave link or coaxial cable is used, RF speech and data signals may be passed between the telephone and the interface unit.

Abstract: A cellular telephone is provided with a connector for connecting it to an interface unit. The interface unit can exchange speech and data signals with the telephone as well as providing power. When the telephone is connected to the interface unit, its antenna is effectively disabled. The interface unit provides a link between the telephone and a BTS via a communication path other than the cellular telephone system's conventional cell arrangement. The communication path can include telephone or ISDN connections, leased lines, point-to-point microwave links or coaxial cable. In the cases of telephone and ISDN lines and leased lines, baseband speech and data signals pass between the telephone and the interface unit and a modem is used to transmit and receive these signals over the communication path. If a microwave link or coaxial cable is used, RF speech and data signals may be passed between the telephone and the interface unit.

Abstract: During connection set up between a mobile telephone and a base station, program data is acquired from the network for controlling its mode of operation. The mobile telephone and base station each have a memory for storing program data relating to one or more modes of operation. The base station transmits a signal indicative of a preferred mode of operation and the mobile responds with a signal indicative of whether its memory already contains program data for this mode of operation. If not, then the base station transmits the required program data. The base station and mobile telephone then operate in this preferred mode. If the mobile is not so capable (for example because it has insufficient memory), the process is repeated with different mode control programs until the most appropriate mutually compatible program is identified.

Abstract: The location of mobile unit cellular radio system is determined by determining the differences in timing of a characteristic feature of the transmission of the control channel of each of a plurality of base stations as measured at the mobile unit. The characteristic feature may, for example, be the training signal already used by the mobile unit in a cellular system to measure signal strength in handover operations. By determining the differences between time of arrival of transmissions from four base stations, location in two dimensions can be derived without prior knowledge of the actual distance to any of the base stations. A fifth base station allows location in three dimensions to be determined.

Abstract: A cellular radio system includes radio base stations, each having an allocated number of radio channels. Each radio base station is connected to the rest of the network by a branched network. At a branch point an intermediate switch is provided for connecting channels in the trunk portion to channels in the branches. The capacity of the trunk link is less than the total capacity of the base stations (and of their associated branch links). At times when one or more of the base stations have surplus capacity, that capacity is disabled so that the capacity of the trunk link is not exceeded. The capacity of each base station may be varied according to predicted or actual demand, provided that the total (non-disabled) capacity of the base stations does not exceed that of the trunk link.

Abstract: A mobile telephone system has a base transceiver station (BTS) that provides radio communication with a mobile handset (MS) and also communicates with a control station (BSC) through a communication link in the form of a leased line which provides a first communication path with a predetermined bandwidth for signals communicated between the BTS and the BSC. A communication network in the form of an ISDN is used to provide a selectively connectable second communication path between the BTS and the BSC so as to augment the bandwidth available for the signals during periods of peak demand. In order to accommodate different call connection times in the system through the leased line and the ISDN, the BSC/BTS are arranged to produce all connection signals that initiate billing at the same time irrespective of the path used to make the call connection.

Abstract: Mobile radio units communicate at a lower bit-rate than the conventional switching rate of a fixed network. Such calls are identified by mobile-to-mobile recognizers which identify characteristic bit streams and handle calls appropriately. An incoming mobile-to-mobile recognizer normally routes the call to a digital to A-law transcoder. An outgoing mobile-to-mobile recognizer normally routes calls to a high bit-rate digital to A-law transcoder. If a call is established between two mobile users the first--mobile-to-mobile recognizer diverts the signal received to a bit stuffer which provides three null bits for every bit received over the air interface. The null bits may be random numbers, but preferably include a recognizable pattern which can be detected by the second mobile-to-mobile recognizer. By such "bit sutffing" a 64 kbit/s signal can be generated from a 16 kbit/s signal with minimal signal processing and without the need to transcode to A-law and back.