Abstract: A dynamic channel allocation method and system for use in a wireless network operates by monitoring at least the allocated channel allocated to a particular network node to generate one or more channel metrics relating to radio conditions on the channel. The metrics generated are Received signal power, signal to noise ratio of transmissions on the network and long-term mean square of the equaliser error used in each terminal. The generated metrics are communicated back to the cell access point or the network control server over a signalling channel, and a new frequency is allocated to the cell if it is determined from the metrics that the presently allocated channel is suffering interference. The signalling channel is preferably an ATM VPI/VCI pair, such that signalling messages are transmitted as ATM cells which can be communicated across the wireless channel using the sane signalling frame as is used for payload cells.

Abstract: A dynamic channel allocation method and system for use in a wireless network operates by monitoring at least the allocated channel allocated to a particular network node to generate one or more channel metrics relating to radio conditions on the channel. The metrics generated are Received signal power, signal to noise ratio of transmissions on the network and long-term mean square of the equaliser error used in each terminal. The generated metrics are communicated back to the cell access point or the network control server over a signalling channel, and a new frequency is allocated to the cell if it is determined from the metrics that the presently allocated channel is suffering interference. The signalling channel is preferably an ATM VPI/VCI pair, such that signalling messages are transmitted as ATM cells which can be communicated across the wireless channel using the sane signalling frame as is used for payload cells.

Abstract: The transmit power of the subscriber terminals in a wireless network can be controlled by measuring the received power of a signal transmitted from an access point to a subscriber terminal at the subscriber terminal and then using the measured value as an index into a look-up table of transmit power attenuator settings. The use of a simple look-up table reduces the implementation complexity, since no complicated calculations must be performed to achieve effective power control.

Abstract: Propagation delay compensation in a wireless network comprising a central access point and multiple subscriber terminals is achieved by defining a registration time slot in which new subscriber terminals must first transmit network registration signals to the access point. The subscriber terminals by default transmit at the start of the time slot, and the access point times the delay from the start of the slot to the receipt of the subscriber terminal registration request, and then transmits this information back to the subscriber terminal. In all subsequent transmissions the subscriber terminal uses this information to delay its transmissions to compensate for differences in signal propagation delay between each subscriber terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for providing wireless backhaul channels for use in a cellular radio network is disclosed wherein any of the subscriber terminals can be used as a backhaul terminal thus dispensing with the need for a dedicated backhaul terminal. In the preferred embodiment, the backhaul channel is integrated with the data channels provided for network payload communications, with the backhaul data being allocated the highest data priority and a traffic scheduler allocating the backhaul data time slots for transmission accordingly. This has the advantage that the bandwidth required for backhaul can be dynamically assigned to cope with the network loading at any time.