Abstract: A system for time synchronization of a network element including a GNSS receiver operative to receive at least one signal from at least one but less than four GNSS satellites, a locator operative to supply a location of a network element including the GNSS receiver to the GNSS receiver and a time synchronization calculator operative to time synchronize the network element with the GNSS satellites based on the at least one signal and the location.

Abstract: A system for time synchronization of a network element including a GNSS receiver operative to receive at least one signal from at least one but less than four GNSS satellites, a locator operative to supply a location of a network element including the GNSS receiver to the GNSS receiver and a time synchronization calculator operative to time synchronize the network element with the GNSS satellites based on the at least one signal and the location.

Abstract: A dipole antenna apparatus, and method of manufacture of such an apparatus, are provided. The antenna apparatus has a conductive plate extending in a first plane, and a pair of conductive elements arranged to form a dipole antenna, where the pair of conductive elements are located in a second plane parallel to the first plane. Each conductive element forms a conductive ring in the second plane that surrounds a non-conductive inner area. The first conductive element in the pair of conductive elements has a conductive bridge extending across the conductive ring to divide the non-conductive inner area into at least two portions. A conductive connection then extends from the conductive bridge to the conductive plate.

Abstract: An apparatus, method of operating the apparatus, and system comprising the apparatus are provided. The apparatus has a backhaul sub-node to provide a backhaul connection to a communications network and an access sub-node to provide an access cell to which user equipment can connect. In response to a configuration trigger a configuration procedure is performed, in which the backhaul sub-node gathers information about the network environment and transmits at least a portion of the information about the network environment to a network management node. The the network management node then generates an access sub-node configuration which it transmits to the access sub-node, where the configuration is dependent on the information about the network environment transmitted to the network management node by the backhaul sub-node.

Abstract: A technique is provided for controlling a beam pattern employed by an antenna apparatus. The antenna apparatus comprises an antenna array, and beamforming circuitry to employ a beam pattern in order to generate a beam using the antenna array to facilitate wireless communication with at least one further antenna apparatus. Beam pattern adjustment circuitry is then arranged to receive a control signal indicative of a motion being imparted to the antenna apparatus, and to adjust the beam pattern to be used by the beamforming circuitry in dependence on the control signal, so as to alter a width of the beam in order to mitigate variation in link quality of the wireless communication due to the motion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for configuring a communication link. Wherein the apparatus has a plurality of antenna elements to support RF communication using a plurality of frequency channels, a plurality of RF processing circuits, and configuration circuitry to apply a selected configuration from a plurality of different configurations, where each configuration identifies which RF processing circuit each antenna element coupled to, and which channel allocated to each RF processing circuit. The configuration circuitry arranged to a reinforcement learning process in order to dynamically alter which of the plurality of different configurations to apply a currently selected configuration. The reinforcement learning process maintaining a future rewards record having a plurality of entries, where each entry maintains, for an associated combination of link state and configuration, an estimated future rewards indication determined using a discounted rewards mechanism.

Abstract: A feeder terminal comprises backhaul communication circuitry connecting a communications network via a wireless backhaul, and providing an access base station with wireless backhaul access. Backhaul information circuitry determines congestion information relating to the wireless backhaul and communication circuitry enables communication with an access base station and provides the congestion information to the access base station. In response to a demand message from the access base station comprising quality of service requirements, the communication circuitry forwards the demand message to the communications network. Additionally, an access base station comprises communication circuitry enabling communication with a feeder terminal. The communication circuitry provides a quality of service demand message to the feeder terminal based on a quality of service requirement and receives congestion information relating to the wireless backhaul from the feeder terminal.

Abstract: A cellular communication apparatus includes antenna circuitry. A transceiver receives or transmits a signal using the antenna circuitry on a chosen channel of a portion of a radio spectrum. The portion of the radio spectrum is divided into one or more channels including the chosen channel each occupying a bandwidth of the portion of the radio spectrum. Control circuitry dynamically changes a configuration of the one or more channels of the radio spectrum and communication circuitry communicates the configuration of the one or more channels of the radio spectrum to one or more items of user equipment.

Abstract: There is provided a network comprising antenna circuitry to receive incoming signals and transmit outgoing signals. Remote modem circuitry, connected to the antenna circuitry by analog cabling, demodulates a first incoming signal of the incoming signals to produce first incoming data and control circuitry, remote from the remote modem circuitry and connected to the remote modem circuitry via digital cabling, controls a behaviour of the remote modem circuitry and receives the first incoming data from the remote modem circuitry.

Abstract: A communication apparatus, terminal apparatus, system and method are provided for performing wireless communication. The communication apparatus supports a plurality of component carriers, wherein one of the plurality of component carriers is designated as a current primary component and at least one of the plurality of component carriers is designated as a current secondary component carrier providing at least downlink communication. The communication apparatus comprises control circuitry for controlling a component carrier testing procedure for one or more component carriers. The testing procedure comprises, for each component carrier: establishing an uplink connection from the terminal apparatus to the communication apparatus using the component carrier; and determining a quality of the uplink connection for the component carrier.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for configuring the zone served by a base station providing wireless communication for a plurality of user equipment located in moving vehicles are disclosed. Motion reports are received from the user equipment, indicating a current location, a current direction of motion, and a current speed of the moving vehicles. The motion reports are received from at least one of: user equipment currently using the base station for wireless communication; user equipment currently within the zone served by the base station, but not using the base station for wireless communication; and/or user equipment currently using at least one neighbouring base station to the base station for wireless communication. A configuration for the zone served by the base station is then determined, based on the motion reports and on locations of the base station and of the at least one neighbouring base station. The configuration for the zone served by the base station is then applied to the base station.

Abstract: A wireless communication system for a moving vehicle, and a method of operation of a wireless communication system for a moving vehicle, are described. The wireless communication system comprises an antenna system configured to receive a received signal from a further antenna system and to transmit a transmitted signal to the further antenna system, communication control circuitry to control operation of the antenna system, and analysis circuitry. The analysis circuitry is configured to obtain at least one item of information from the received signal, and perform a Doppler adjustment process to determine, based on the at least one item of information, an adjusted transmitted frequency (ft) to be used for transmission of the transmitted signal from the antenna system, such that an observed frequency of the transmitted signal at the further antenna system is a predetermined uplink frequency (fUL).

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for performing timing adjustment within a wireless communication system for a moving vehicle. The wireless communication system has an antenna system for communicating with a further antenna system, and communication control circuitry for performing a sign-on procedure to seek to establish a communication link with the further antenna system. During the sign-on procedure, the communication control circuitry issues via the antenna system a connection setup signal for receipt by the further antenna within an identified timing window. The wireless communication system also has location specifying circuitry for identifying a current location of the wireless communication system, and distance computation circuitry for obtaining location information specifying a location of the further antenna system, and for determining a separation distance between the antenna. system and the further antenna system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for performing a handover analysis. The apparatus comprises base station location identifying circuitry to obtain base station location information for a plurality of base stations that provide a wireless network for communication with a moving vehicle. In addition, moving vehicle tracking circuitry is provided to obtain position and velocity information for the moving vehicle. Handover metrics computation circuitry is then used to generate at least one handover metric computed from the position and velocity information for the moving vehicle and the base station location information, for use in determining a target base station in said plurality to be used when performing a handover procedure to transition communication with the moving vehicle from the current base station in said plurality to the target base station.

Abstract: An apparatus is described, comprising circuitry to obtain base station location information for a plurality of base stations that provide a wireless network for communication with a moving vehicle, the plurality of base stations comprising a current base station and one or more other base stations, circuitry to obtain moving vehicle tracking information for the moving vehicle, circuitry to determine, based on the moving vehicle tracking information and the base station location information, transmission adjustment control information associated with each other base station, and an interface configured to transmit, for reception by the moving vehicle, the transmission adjustment control information associated with at least a selected other base station, to enable the moving vehicle to adjust a signal transmitted to the selected other base station when a handover procedure is performed to transition communication with the moving vehicle from the current base station to the selected other base station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of performing a configuration process in the apparatus are provided. The apparatus has a backhaul sub-node to provide a backhaul connection to a communications network which comprises a proxy system. It also has an access sub-node to provide an access cell to which user equipment can connect. In a configuration process the backhaul sub-node performs a backhaul sub-node auto-configuration process comprising connecting to a further network node, determining backhaul sub-node configuration parameters, and storing in the proxy system at least one configuration parameter for the access sub-node in dependence on the backhaul sub-node configuration parameters determined. When the access sub-node then issues an access sub-node auto-configuration request, the proxy system intercepts the access sub-node auto-configuration request and responds to the access sub-node in dependence on the at least one configuration parameter for the access sub-node stored.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided, the apparatus having a first antenna system providing a first sector of a telecommunications network, a second antenna system providing a second sector of the telecommunications network, a third antenna system for communicating with a base station of the telecommunications network to provide a first wireless backhaul path for the first and second sectors, and a fourth antenna system providing a wireless communication link to facilitate coupling of the apparatus into a mesh network of devices, the mesh network having at least one point of access into the telecommunications network, providing at least one further wireless backhaul path. Backhaul management circuitry is arranged, in at least one mode of operation, to control utilisation of the third and fourth antenna systems to provide backhaul connectivity to the telecommunications network for items of user equipment connected to the apparatus via the first and second antenna systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for improving connectivity for items of user equipment in a wireless network. The apparatus has a first antenna system for providing a first sector of a network, and a second antenna system for providing a second sector of the network. Further, the apparatus has a third antenna system for communicating with a base station of the network to provide a common wireless backhaul link for the first sector and the second sector. In addition, an interface is provided to an internet connection of a building in which the apparatus is deployed, and backhaul management circuitry is then arranged, in at least one mode of operation, to control utilisation of both the internet connection and the common wireless backhaul link to provide backhaul connectivity to the network for items of user equipment connected to the apparatus via the first and second antenna systems.

Abstract: A node and method are described for providing more flexible access to a wireless network. The node has scanning circuitry for performing a scanning operation to detect one or more wireless backhaul nodes and a performance characteristic associated with each of the one or more wireless backhaul nodes. This scanning operation is performed for each of a plurality of antenna directions. Filter circuitry is also provided to store a reference to the one or more wireless backhaul nodes, a value of the performance characteristic associated with the one or more wireless backhaul nodes, and an antenna position during the scanning operation, which are stored in a candidate list on the basis of a condition. The node also comprises data processing circuitry to select a selected wireless backhaul node from the candidate list based on the performance characteristic.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising a location receiver to receive a signal indicative of a location of the location receiver. A movement mechanism rotates the location receiver about an axis and provides an angle of the location receiver about the axis from a known point. Calculation circuitry produces an output value indicative of an absolute bearing of the known point about the axis, based on a plurality of given angles of the location receiver about the axis from the known point, and a plurality of associated locations of the location receiver indicated by the signal received when the location receiver is at each of the given angles.