Abstract: A mobile node includes a software client that is configured to monitor the quality of a communication service provided by a wireless network and to detect an impairment of the communication service. When a service impairment is detected, the software client is further configured to generate a service impairment report for transmission to a service quality management system for the wireless network. The service impairment report may include a description of the service impairment (such as the category of impairment), a time associated with the impairment, and a location associated with the impairment. The software client may also be configured to determine a cause of the detected impairment and to indicate the cause in the service impairment report.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a surface wave antenna configured to install on an electrically conductive structure. The surface wave antenna includes a first portion comprising a conductive element and an attachment element, and a second portion comprising a conductive element and an attachment element. The conductive element of the first portion and the conductive element of the second portion are configured to each form a conductive longitudinal portion of a horn receive element, and the attachment elements are configured to conductively couple the conductive elements together to form the horn receive element. The surface wave antenna also includes a dipole element comprising a first transmit element and a second transmit element. The surface wave antenna also includes a mounting element comprising a first dielectric mount and a second dielectric mount.

Abstract: A method of operating a control database for a wireless communication system comprises receiving geographic coordinates for a wireless access hub and an identity of a wireless collector hub, retrieving geographic coordinates for the wireless collector hub, identifying a frequency band for wireless communication signals between a core communication network and the wireless collector hub, and identifying reserved time slots in the frequency band. The method also comprises selecting available time slots, processing the geographic coordinates to determine an azimuth and an angle for the wireless access and collector hubs to optimize signal strength, determining a power for the wireless communications signals between the wireless collector and access hubs, receiving a query for the wireless access and collector hubs, and transferring a response indicating the azimuth, the angle, the frequency band, the available time slots, and the power.

Abstract: A base station detects that an end-user has turned on an on/off switch on the base station, and in response, the base station transfers a registration request to a service node over an IP network. The service node processes the registration request to register the base station. The base station exchanges wireless telephony signals with a plurality of end-user communication devices, wherein the wireless telephony signals transport end-user communications. The base station and the service node exchange IP packets over the IP network, wherein the IP packets transport the end-user communications. The service node processes the end-user communications to provide a telephony service to the end-user communication devices, but the service node does not provide the telephony service to end-user communication devices through the base station until the base station registration is complete.

Abstract: A communication system for linking a communication network to a customer facility is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The communication system includes the communication network, a network-side Unbundled Network Element (UNE) interface connected to the communication network, a first wireless transceiver adapted to communicate with at least a second, customer facility wireless transceiver at the customer facility, a customer-side UNE interface connected to the first wireless transceiver, and a plurality of UNEs extending between the network-side UNE interface and the customer-side UNE interface. A communication session between the communication network and the customer facility can be established by selecting and bonding one or more UNEs from the plurality of UNEs to form one or more bonded UNEs and exchanging communications between the communication network and the first wireless transceiver over the one or more bonded UNEs.

Abstract: A base station detects that an end-user has turned on an on/off switch on the base station, and in response, the base station transfers a registration request to a service node over an IP network. The service node processes the registration request to register the base station. The base station exchanges wireless telephony signals with a plurality of end-user communication devices, wherein the wireless telephony signals transport end-user communications. The base station and the service node exchange IP packets over the IP network, wherein the IP packets transport the end-user communications. The service node processes the end-user communications to provide a telephony service to the end-user communication devices, but the service node does not provide the telephony service to end-user communication devices through the base station until the base station registration is complete.

Abstract: A communication system includes a base station and a service node. The service node communicates over the Internet. The base station establishes Internet connectivity over a communication link. The base station registers with the service node over the communication link and the Internet, and the service node validates the base station during registration. The base station and service node establish a tunnel over the communication link and the Internet. The base station exchanges user communications with wireless communication devices in a wireless format. The base station and service node exchange the user communications over the tunnel. The service node processes the user communications to provide a communication service to the wireless communication devices.

Abstract: A network node in a communication path between a client station and a web content server determines or estimates a power consumption level associated with particular web content requested by the client station. The client station is preferably a wireless communications device operating on battery power. Based on the current battery level in the device, the battery type or total capacity, user preferences and determined or estimated power consumption level, the node sends a power consumption notification to the client station, either prior to or simultaneously with the transmission of the web content. The notification message alerts the user to the possibility of their battery being drawn down to a low level if they download the content, and thus allows the user to abort the download to preserve battery capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for switching backhaul communication links is disclosed. The method comprises monitoring communication traffic flowing across a primary backhaul communication link. When a problem is detected with the primary backhaul communication link, the traffic is shifted from the primary backhaul communication link onto a secondary backhaul communication link. The traffic may be shifted based upon voice traffic types. The traffic may be shifted based upon voice traffic types and data traffic types.

Abstract: At a first site, a first antenna exchanges first communications with wireless devices, and exchanges the first communications with a first base station. The first base station exchanges the first communications with a service node. At a second site, a second antenna exchanges second communications with other wireless devices, and exchanges the second communications with a first surface wave interface. The first surface wave interface exchanges the second communications with a second surface wave interface at the first site. The second surface wave interface exchanges the second communications with a second base station at the first site. The second base station exchanges the second communications with the service node. The service node processes the first and second communications to provide a communication service to the wireless devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining whether a server-based application will execute in an acceptable manner and thereafter providing this information to a user. After receiving a request for service relating to a particular application, the method retrieves the operational requirements for the application, which include the service admission control, content admission control, network admission control, and data admission control formula and the performance boundaries. Next, the values of the parameters required to evaluate the operational requirements are retrieved. The values of content admission control, network admission control, and data admission control are then calculated and used in the service admission control formula to determine the service admission control value for the application. Thereafter, the service admission control value is compared to the application's performance boundaries to determine the manner in which application will execute.

Abstract: A network node in a communication path between a client station and a web content server determines or estimates a power consumption level associated with particular web content requested by the client station. The client station is preferably a wireless communications device operating on battery power. Based on the current battery level in the device, the battery type or total capacity, user preferences and determined or estimated power consumption level, the node sends a power consumption notification to the client station, either prior to or simultaneously with the transmission of the web content. The notification message alerts the user to the possibility of their battery being drawn down to a low level if they download the content, and thus allows the user to abort the download to preserve battery capacity.

Abstract: A system and method that allows a consumer to monitor the electrical power usage in a residence is disclosed. The electrical use may be monitored at the service level, the circuit level, or at the group level. The electrical usage is communicated to a power monitoring system using a power line communications network (PLC). The monitored electrical usage can be accessed by both the utility supplying the electricity and by the consumer or owner of the residence.

Abstract: A correlated weather and communication performance measurement system includes a processing system and a communication interface. The communication interface receives performance data and weather data. The performance data indicates communication performance for a wireless communication system. The weather data indicates weather conditions for a geographic area including the wireless communication system. The processing system correlates in time the communication performance and the weather conditions for the wireless communication system, determines service levels that apply to the weather conditions, compares the service levels that apply to the weather conditions to the communication performance correlated in time to the weather conditions, and generates validation data based on the comparison to validate the service levels.

Abstract: A correlated weather and communication performance measurement system includes a processing system and a communication interface. The communication interface receives performance data and weather data. The performance data indicates communication performance for a plurality of communication systems. The weather data indicates weather conditions for a geographic area including the communication systems. The processing system processes the performance data and the weather data to generate correlated data that correlates in time the communication performance and the weather conditions for each of the communication systems. The communication systems comprise at least one of extremely high-frequency wireless systems and free space optical systems.

Abstract: A communication device comprising a processing system, a network interface system, a wireless interface system, and a wireline interface system. The processing system is configured to exchange information with a communication network at user-controllable time intervals, provide retrieved information to at least one of a wireless communication device and a wireline communication device based on a user profile, and dynamically adjust the information exchange based on a network capacity. The network interface system is configured to exchange information retrieval messages with the communication network and exchange the information with the communication network under control of the processing system. The wireless interface system is configured to exchange information with the wireless communication device under control of the processing system. The wireline interface system is configured to exchange information with the wireline device under control of the processing system.