Abstract: A communication system comprises access points (203, 205) communicating via directional beams and a first and second wireless modem (111, 701) for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication links to access points (203, 205). The first and second wireless modems (111, 701) are located on a vehicle (103) and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links. A common network element (705) supports communication over both links and a connection control circuit (1001) switches between the links. It further transmits an address resolution message over a link when switching to that link with the message comprising identification data for the common network element (705).

Abstract: A wireless communication system supports communication between an end node of a vehicle and a correspondent node via a fixed network and wireless modems located with the vehicle. The fixed network comprises a mobility anchor being a common mobility anchor for the wireless modems and performing individual mobility management for each wireless modem, the mobility management for a wireless modem including determining communication paths from the mobility anchor to the wireless modem. A multipath proxy couples a proxy connection for the correspondent node to a plurality of subflows, each subflow being associated with one wireless modem and with the communication path determined by the mobility anchor, at least two of the subflows having communication paths via different wireless modems. The wireless modems are arranged to connect the end node and the plurality of subflows.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a fixed network comprising access points for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A wireless modem of a vehicle comprises a first search circuit searching for a beacon transmission in a first frequency channel. A first data receiver extracts data from a detected beacon signal including: an indication of a first access point transmitting the beacon signal; a first load value indicative of a loading of the first access point; and an indication of a second access point having overlapping coverage with the first access point. Another receiver extracts data from a second beacon signal transmitted by the second access point in a second frequency channel including a second load value indicative of a loading of the second access point. A controller selects a target access point dependent on the first and second load values, and initializes a link setup with the target access point.

Abstract: A method of mitigating start-of-packet interference in a millimetre waveband wireless mesh communications network which comprises a first plurality of network node devices each having a transceiver unit which includes a beamforming antenna device, and a second plurality of millimetre waveband wireless communications links each of which interconnects a respective pair of the transceiver units of the network node devices, the method comprising: allocating respective baseband centre frequencies to pairs of transceivers of the network node devices, which baseband centre frequencies are for use with respective communications links of the network, each such allocated baseband centre frequency being offset from at least one other allocated baseband centre frequency by a respective predetermined offset amount; and at a first transceiver of a selected pair of transceivers, encoding a data packet using an encoding signal having the baseband centre frequency allocated to the selected pair of transceivers, to generate an

Abstract: A communication system comprises an access point communicating via a directional beam and a first and second wireless modem for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication link to the first access point. The first and second wireless modems are located on a vehicle and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links A proximity detector detects proximity of the first wireless modem to the first access point. A switch controller switches data of a data flow from the first mm wave radio communication link to the second mm wave radio communication link in response to the detection of the proximity of the first wireless modem to the first access point.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). The wireless modems (111, 701) forms links to two different access points (109). A ink manager (1101) is arranged to terminate a second mm wave radio communication link in response to a link failure a first mm wave radio communication link, and to initialize setup of a third mm wave radio communication link in response to the termination of the second mm wave radio communication link.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). The air interface communication may use a frequency channels selected from a set of available frequency channels and using a transmission scheme from a set of available transmission schemes. The access points (109) transmit a first beacon data set in a frequency channel using a common transmission scheme and a second beacon data set using a different transmission scheme which is also used for data communication.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node of a vehicle and a remote correspondent node via a fixed network which comprises a plurality of wireless access points with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle comprises wireless modems employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points. At least one first access point is arranged to transmit atmospheric water content data for an area to the wireless modems. A link management controller of the vehicle is arranged to perform the link management in response to the atmospheric water content data. For example, mm wave radio communication links may be initialized or terminated based on the atmospheric water content data.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node of a vehicle and a remote correspondent node via a fixed network which comprises a plurality of wireless access points with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle comprises wireless modems employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points. The access points communicate in a frequency channel alternately selected from one of two disjoint sets and a first wireless modem (111) is constrained to communicate using a frequency channel from the first set and a second wireless modem (701) is constrained to communicate using a frequency channel from the first set. A data session controller (705) communicates data of the data session over links provided by the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem.

Abstract: A method of mitigating start-of-packet interference in a millimetre waveband wireless mesh communications network which comprises a first plurality of network node devices each having a transceiver unit which includes a beamforming antenna device, and a second plurality of millimetre waveband wireless communications links each of which interconnects a respective pair of the transceiver units of the network node devices, the method comprising: allocating respective baseband centre frequencies to pairs of transceivers of the network node devices, which baseband centre frequencies are for use with respective communications links of the network, each such allocated baseband centre frequency being offset from at least one other allocated baseband centre frequency by a respective predetermined offset amount; and at a first transceiver of a selected pair of transceivers, encoding a data packet using an encoding signal having the baseband centre frequency allocated to the selected pair of transceivers, to generate an

Abstract: A technique for providing a synchronised clock signal across a wireless mesh network is described. The technique includes choosing one of a plurality received radio frequency signals to provide a synchronisation signal to which a local clock signal can be synchronised.

Abstract: A method of maintaining data packet forwarding information in a first network node of a wireless mesh communications network having a plurality of network nodes interconnected by wireless communications links is disclosed. The method includes receiving respective activity indicators for neighbour network nodes connected with the first network node by respective wireless communications links, and determining respective link indicators for the outgoing wireless communications links of the first network node, each such link indicator being indicative of a data packet transmission characteristic for the link concerned.

Abstract: A technique for providing a synchronized clock signal across a wireless mesh network is described. The technique includes choosing one of a plurality received radio frequency signals to provide a synchronization signal to which a local clock signal can be synchronized.

Abstract: A processing element comprises a plurality of function units (16) operable to execute respective functions in dependence upon received instructions in parallel with one another. An instruction controller includes an instruction register (41) having a plurality of register entries, each of which is operable to store an instruction word therein, and a plurality of instruction pipelines (42). Each of the pipelines (42) is associated with a function unit (16), and is operable to deliver instructions to the function unit concerned for execution thereby. Each pipeline also includes a timing controller operable to receive timing information for a received instruction, and to determine an initial location in the pipeline into which the instruction is to be loaded, and an instruction handler operable to receive an instruction for the function unit associated with the instruction pipeline concerned, and to load that instruction into the initial location determined by the timing controller.

Abstract: A processing element comprises a plurality of function units (16) operable to execute respective functions in dependence upon received instructions in parallel with one another. An instruction controller includes a plurality of instruction pipelines (42). Each of the pipelines (42) is associated with a function unit (16) of the processing element, and is operable to deliver instructions to the function unit concerned for execution thereby. Each pipeline also includes a timing controller operable to receive timing information for a received instruction, and to determine an initial location in the pipeline into which the instruction is to be loaded, and an instruction handler operable to receive an instruction for the function unit associated with the instruction pipeline concerned, and to load that instruction into the initial location determined by the timing controller.

Abstract: A technique for providing a synchronised clock signal across a wireless mesh network is described. The technique includes choosing one of a plurality received radio frequency signals to provide a synchronisation signal to which a local clock signal can be synchronised.

Abstract: A technique for providing a synchronised clock signal across a wireless mesh network is described. The technique includes choosing one of a plurality received radio frequency signals to provide a synchronisation signal to which a local clock signal can be synchronised.

Abstract: A method of maintaining data packet forwarding information in a first network node of a wireless mesh communications network having a plurality of network nodes interconnected by wireless communications links is disclosed. The method includes receiving respective activity indicators for neighbour network nodes connected with the first network node by respective wireless communications links, and determining respective link indicators for the outgoing wireless communications links of the first network node, each such link indicator being indicative of a data packet transmission characteristic for the link concerned.

Abstract: A processing element comprises a plurality of function units (16) operable to execute respective functions in dependence upon received instructions in parallel with one another. An instruction controller includes a plurality of instruction pipelines (42). Each of the pipelines (42) is associated with a function unit (16) of the processing element, and is operable to deliver instructions to the function unit concerned for execution thereby. Each pipeline also includes a timing controller operable to receive timing information for a received instruction, and to determine an initial location in the pipeline into which the instruction is to be loaded, and an instruction handler operable to receive an instruction for the function unit associated with the instruction pipeline concerned, and to load that instruction into the initial location determined by the timing controller.

Abstract: A processing element comprises a plurality of function units (16) operable to execute respective functions in dependence upon received instructions in parallel with one another. An instruction controller includes an instruction register (41) having a plurality of register entries, each of which is operable to store an instruction word therein, and a plurality of instruction pipelines (42). Each of the pipelines (42) is associated with a function unit (16), and is operable to deliver instructions to the function unit concerned for execution thereby. Each pipeline also includes a timing controller operable to receive timing information for a received instruction, and to determine an initial location in the pipeline into which the instruction is to be loaded, and an instruction handler operable to receive an instruction for the function unit associated with the instruction pipeline concerned, and to load that instruction into the initial location determined by the timing controller.