Abstract: There is discussed a location system for locating the position of a mobile communications device that communicates with a communication network using wireless signals. The location system includes a receiver which detects a wireless signal transmitted between the mobile communications device and a base station forming part of the communication network, and a processing means which processes the detected wireless signal to extract identification information for the mobile communications device. The extracted identification is stored in a data store in association with data indicative of the base station. The processing means and the data store are independent from the communication network, and therefore do not affect the operation of the mobile network.

Abstract: There is discussed a location system for locating the position of a mobile communications device that communicates with a communication network using wireless signals. The location system includes a receiver which detects a wireless signal transmitted between the mobile communications device and a base station forming part of the communication network, and a processing means which processes the detected wireless signal to extract identification information for the mobile communications device. The extracted identification is stored in a data store in association with data indicative of the base station. The processing means and the data store are independent from the communication network, and therefore do not affect the operation of the mobile network.

Abstract: A measurement-based prediction method for radiation path loss over a predetermined area comprises the steps of: determining a received signal strength (2) at least one first station resulting from a transmission of known properties (4, 6) from at least one second station, the first and second stations having known locations; determining radiation path loss data on the basis of the received signal strengths (2) and topographical information (6) of the predetermined area; analyzing the determined radiation path loss data to determine coefficients for a radiation propagation model; applying the radiation propagation model (10) to generate first predicted radiation path loss data at each of the locations of the first stations and over the predetermined area; determining shadowing values on the basis of differences between the received signal strength (2) and the first predicted radiation path loss data at each of the locations of the first stations; analysing the shadowing values to yield shadowing parameters rep

Abstract: A diversity switch combiner for use in systems for receiving wideband signals is arranged to split the received signal into separate channels each carrying a respective frequency band. Respective switch means are provided for each channel in order to switch the input of each channel between different antennas. A switch control determines the switch setting in accordance with the result of a comparison operation, preferably performed during a guard period, in which the signal qualities for different settings are compared.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a distributed antenna arrangement having a plurality of antenna elements arranged in groups and at least one mobile station including a RAKE reciever for combining received signals produced by the antenna elements. The antenna elements producing the strongest antenna signals are assigned to different groups and the antenna signal produced by the different groups of antenna elements are subjected to preset relative delays enabling the antenna signals to be coherently combined.

Abstract: A multifilar helix antenna comprises a plurality of helical antenna filaments each having a square waveform pattern along its length, giving reduced axial length. Also described is a multifilar helix antenna comprising a plurality of helical antenna filaments each incorporating a microstrip spur-line band stop filter for enabling multi-band operation.

Abstract: A diversity switch combiner for use in systems for receiving multi-carrier wideband signals is arranged to determine, during a guard interval, which antenna provides the strongest carrier, for each of a plurality of carrier frequencies. A switch is then operated to select, for the subsequent symbol, that antenna which provides the greatest number of strongest carriers.

Abstract: A measurement-based prediction method for radiation path loss over a predetermined area comprises the steps of: determining a received signal strength (2) at least one first station resulting from a transmission of known properties (4, 6) from at least one second station, the first and second stations having known locations; determining radiation path loss data on the basis of the received signal strengths (2) and topographical information (6) of the predetermined area; analysing the determined radiation path loss data to determine coefficients for a radiation propagation model; applying the radiation propagation model (10) to generate first predicted radiation path loss data at each of the locations of the first stations and over the predetermined area; determining shadowing values on the basis of differences between the received signal strength (2) and the first predicted radiation path loss data at each of the locations of the first stations; analysing the shadowing values to yield shadowing parameters rep

Abstract: A cellular communication system has a frequency bandwidth arranged into a plurality of frequency channels, and a plurality of neighbouring first (130) and second (132) sites each having sectors (a1-f1, a2-f2) containing at least one frequency channel. Corresponding sectors in each of the neighbouring first (130) and second sites (132) have consecutive frequency channels from the frequency bandwidth, thereby producing a two-site re-use pattern (134, 136). The cellular communication system may be adapted to support an underlay/overlay cell configuration in which neighbouring first (230) and second (232) sites each have six-sectors containing at least one frequency channel (b1-b12) of a two-site repeat pattern. The six sectors further each contain at least one frequency channel (t1-t6) of a one-site repeat pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for receiving and transmitting information from an array of adaptive antenna elements, wherein a predictive filter supplies an estimate of received signal samples likely to be received in a burst immediately preceding a transmission. Combination of this estimate with received signal samples obtained from actual (historically received) signals, received over a predetermined number of frames, yield estimates of optimum beamforming coefficients for application to data for transmission from an adaptive array of antenna elements. As such, available processing time for obtaining the beamforming coefficients is increased.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, a Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) radio communication system (100) utilizes a base station (101) having a plurality of antenna elements (103) used to transmit and receive to multiple radio communication devices (107, 109) on a same frequency and time channel. A different set of beam forming weights is applied to communications for each radio communication device (107, 109) in such a way as to minimize the interference between the radio communication devices signals. A set of distance metrics is calculated utilizing the sets of weights for each pair of radio communication units sharing a channel. When any distant metric is less than a pre determined threshold value, one of the radio communication devices (107, 109) is reallocated to a new channel or a handover instruction is performed.