Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling access of a mobile device to a femtocell base station in a communications network are described. The method determines whether to allow access of the mobile device to the femtocell base station based on the femtocell-mobile device path loss for transmissions between the mobile device and the femtocell base station. Access may be allowed if the femtocell-mobile device pathloss is lower than a threshold amount. Additionally or alternatively access may be allowed only if the femtocell-mobile device pathloss is lower than the macrocell-mobile device pathloss for transmissions between the mobile device and a macrocell base station. The method is particularly applicable for hybrid access mode femtocells and additional conditions may be applied regarding the number of mobile device that are not part of the subscriber group that can access the femtocell. The method may be implemented by the femtocell, the macrocell or by any other suitable network device.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system such that the communication system comprises at least a macrocell base station and a femtocell base station that is within the coverage area of the macrocell base station. The communication system is configured to provide an indication of the noise rise or interference at the macrocell base station to the femtocell base station and the femtocell base station, in response thereto, adjusts a maximum permitted transmission power based on the indication.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a femtocell base station comprising, following a hand-in or reselection of the femtocell base station by a mobile device, determining a reason for the hand-in or reselection by the mobile device and adjusting a maximum permitted transmission power of the femtocell base station according to the determined reason. A femtocell base station for use in a communication network is also provided that comprises a processor configured to perform the above method following hand-in or reselection of the femtocell base station.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system such that the communication system comprises at least a macrocell base station and a femtocell base station that is within the coverage area of the macrocell base station. The communication system is configured to provide an indication of the noise rise or interference at the macrocell base station to the femtocell base station and the femtocell base station, in response thereto, adjusts a maximum permitted transmission power based on the indication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling access of a mobile device to a femtocell base station in a communications network are described. The method determines whether to allow access of the mobile device to the femtocell base station based on the femtocell-mobile device path loss for transmissions between the mobile device and the femtocell base station. Access may be allowed if the femtocell-mobile device pathloss is lower than a threshold amount. Additionally or alternatively access may be allowed only if the femtocell-mobile device pathloss is lower than the macrocell-mobile device pathloss for transmissions between the mobile device and a macrocell base station. The method is particularly applicable for hybrid access mode femtocells and additional conditions may be applied regarding the number of mobile device that are not part of the subscriber group that can access the femtocell. The method may be implemented by the femtocell, the macrocell or by any other suitable network device.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a communication system, the communication system comprising at least a macrocell base station and a femtocell base station that is within the coverage area of the macrocell base station, the method comprising providing an indication of the noise rise or interference at the macrocell base station to the femtocell base station; and the femtocell base station adjusting a maximum permitted transmission power based on the indication.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a communication network comprising at least one macrocellular base station, and a plurality of femtocell base stations that are within the coverage area of the at least one macrocellular base station, the method comprising providing a proxy in a signalling path between the at least one macrocellular base station and the plurality of femtocell base stations, providing unidirectional signalling for the support of mobility and interference control from the at least one macrocellular base station to the proxy; and providing signalling for the support of mobility and interference control between the proxy and the plurality of femtocell base stations.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a femtocell base station comprising, following a hand-in or reselection of the femtocell base station by a mobile device, determining a reason for the hand-in or reselection by the mobile device and adjusting a maximum permitted transmission power of the femtocell base station according to the determined reason. A femtocell base station for use in a communication network is also provided that comprises a processor configured to perform the above method following hand-in or reselection of the femtocell base station.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a communication system, the communication system comprising at least a macrocell base station and a femtocell base station that is within the coverage area of the macrocell base station, the method comprising providing an indication of the noise rise or interference at the macrocell base station to the femtocell base station; and the femtocell base station adjusting a maximum permitted transmission power based on the indication.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a communication network comprising at least one macrocellular base station, and a plurality of femtocell base stations that are within the coverage area of the at least one macrocellular base station, the method comprising providing a proxy in a signalling path between the at least one macrocellular base station and the plurality of femtocell base stations, providing unidirectional signalling for the support of mobility and interference control from the at least one macrocellular base station to the proxy; and providing signalling for the support of mobility and interference control between the proxy and the plurality of femtocell base stations.

Abstract: A cellular communication system includes first and second base stations and a user equipment. A Radio Network Controller controls a handover of the user equipment between the base stations by either forwarding data of the communication to both the first and second base stations or to only one of the first and second base stations dependent on a Quality of Service (QoS) characteristic of the communication of the user equipment. The QoS characteristic can specifically be an indication of a delay constraint for the communication service such as an indication of whether the service is a real-time service or a non-real time service.

Abstract: A system and method for to establish a wireless group call from one of a plurality of communication units to others communication units includes a first step of receiving, from a requesting communication unit a request for a group call with other communication units of the group. A next step includes allocating a common downlink channel for the group call. A next step includes allocating a dedicated uplink channel for the requesting communication unit. A next step includes switching one of the communication units between the common channel mode and a dedicated channel mode depending upon performance criteria.

Abstract: A method to provide a nominal best effort data rate based on a Quality of Service (QoS) requirement of a user data connection, the method comprising assigning (105) a service priority based on the QoS requirement, and assigning (110) the nominal best effort data rate for the service priority using a predetermined function. Further, it comprises of a method to determine a scheduling priority value for a user data connection by providing a relative fairness. Furthermore, the method comprises a method to satisfy a delay requirement for a delay sensitive data connection through a scheduling.

Abstract: A method (400) and apparatus (501) provide for rapid power control based on a quality related value, e.g. channel quality indicator (CQI) value. A transmit power level can be derived from a CQI value received according to a time period, e.g. corresponding to 500 Hz. A first predicted value can be predicted based on the CQI value, at a first time within the time period and a power adjustment value can be determined based on the CQI value as well as the first predicted value at a rate that exceeds the rate of receiving the CQI values. Note that other predicted values for or corresponding to the CQI value can be predicted at other times within the time period and that power adjustment values can be determined through interpolation between predicted values for any time within the period.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described to address the need for an apparatus and method of outer-loop power control for enhanced uplink communications that address some of the outstanding problems in the prior art. Generally expressed, a base site (131), while a first uplink channel is inactive, monitors packet retransmissions to generate an uplink quality indicator. Here, packet retransmissions refers to the number of packet retransmissions used by a remote unit (101) to send packets to a base transceiver station (111) via at least one other uplink channel. Also, while the first uplink channel is inactive, the base site adjusts a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) target for the first uplink channel based on the uplink quality indicator. Then, when the first uplink channel becomes active, the base site begins power controlling the first uplink channel using the SIR target.

Abstract: A base station (101) of a cellular communication system (100) comprises a receiver (105) and a channel quality processor (111) which receive channel quality indications from a communication unit (103). The base station (101) further comprises a transmitter (107) for transmitting signals to the communication unit (103). A first power control processor (115) controls the transmit power in response to a first power control mode of operation and a second power control processor (117) controls the transmit power in response to the second power control mode of operation. A rate processor (113) determines a rate of change indication for the channel quality indications and a selector (119) selects between the first power control mode and the second power control mode in response to the rate of change indication. The power control mode of operation may be modified to suit the current channel variations of the communication channel.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for adapting an antenna array for closed loop transmit diversity, the method comprising: receiving an adapting signal corresponding to an antenna array weighting pattern for a time period; demodulating the adapting signal to provide a symbol for the time period; determining a preferred symbol from the symbol for the time period and a previous symbol for a previous time period; and transmitting with an antenna array weighting pattern corresponding to the preferred symbol.

Abstract: During a random access communication opportunity (12), user equipment (20) utilizes either or both of an adaptive modulation and coding-based communication protocol (26) and an HARQ-based communication protocol (27) to achieve improved performance. This can avoid the need to establish dedicated channels (13) to support the required communications. In one embodiment, a plurality of adaptive modulation and coding-based communication protocols are provided with a given protocol being selected as a function of one or more governing criteria. For example, the protocol can be selected as a function of a quality condition of the communication path, as a function of a memory buffer, and so forth.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for adapting an antenna array for closed loop transmit diversity, the method comprising: receiving an adapting signal corresponding to an antenna array weighting pattern for a time period; demodulating the adapting signal to provide a symbol for the time period; determining a preferred symbol from the symbol for the time period and a previous symbol for a previous time period; and transmitting with an antenna array weighting pattern corresponding to the preferred symbol.