Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each of said links (3) is to one other node only (2). Each node (2) is arranged such that transmission or reception of a signal at any particular frequency by a node (2) takes place on only one link (3) at a time.

Abstract: A method for a carrier phase recovery apparatus in a multiple-link hopping radio system includes hopping among a plurality of radio links to receive bursts of radio signals on the plurality of radio links and determining channel information for each radio link from a received burst on the radio link. Further, the method includes storing the determined channel information and using the determined channel information for the radio link to reliably recover the carrier phase of a next received burst on the radio link.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving via an antenna (13) a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal via an antenna (13); and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3) which share at least one of a receiver (10) of the receiving means and a transmitter (11) of the transmitting means. Each of the links (3) is to one other node (2) only.

Abstract: A support structure (10) for supporting a plurality of antennas (11) has a plurality of antenna supports (13) each for supporting at least one antenna (11). Each antenna support (13) is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation. At least one antenna support (13) is selectively rotatable with respect to the or each other antenna support (13) such that an antenna (11) supported by said at least one antenna support (13) rotates therewith.

Abstract: A join process is disclosed for a wireless mesh topology network. In the network, nodes have multiple spatial coverage sub-sectors together covering a larger sector angle and a node can establish connection with other nodes located in directions covered by its sub-sectors. The join process adds a joining node to the network and includes having the joining node listen to sub-sectors at a specific receiving frequency for a defined time. Thereafter, the network node changes its sub sectors and its receiving frequencies according to a defined timing and sequence. Active network nodes transmit organized invitation data packets on defined sectors, frequencies and timing, based on relative location and relative angle orientation deduced from sub-sectors already in use for existing internal network communication. This reduces frequency interference in the network and reduces time required for the join process.

Abstract: A method for an adaptive equalization apparatus in a multiple-link hopping radio system includes hopping among a plurality of radio links to receive variable-length bursts of radio signals on the plurality of radio links and equalizing amplitude and phase variations of a slow channel for each radio link from a received burst on the radio link. Further, the method includes storing the estimated tap coefficients pertinent to each radio link and using the tap weights of the current burst of the radio link to reliably pre-compensate the channel amplitude and phase distortion of a next received burst on the radio link.

Abstract: In transceiver apparatus, there is a plurality of sets (A-H) of substantially unidirectional antennae. Each set of antennae has a single radio subsystem for providing a radio output signal for transmission by one of the antennae in the set and for receiving a signal received by one of the antennae to provide an output signal from the radio subsystem. Each of the plurality of radio subsystems has a switch. The switch is operated to switch the output of the radio subsystem to a selected one of the antennae in the set for transmission of a radio signal by said selected antenna and to switch an input of the radio subsystem to a selected one of the antennae in the sets such that a signal received by said selected antenna is passed as an input to the radio subsystem.

Abstract: A communications system (1) has a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has a receiver (10) for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means and a transmitter (11) for wireless transmission of a signal. Each code (2) further has means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node if said signal includes information for anode node. Each node (2) has a substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission link (3) to at least one other node. The communications system (1) has high spectral efficiency compared to a broadcast cellular system and allows high data transfer rates to be achieved.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for assigning timeslot numbers to timeslots used for transmission and reception of signals between nodes in a network (1) of nodes (A-H). Each node (A-H) is able to communicate with at least one other node (A-H) by a transmission link (2) between said each node (A-H) and said at least one other node (A-H). At least some of the nodes (A-H) have a respective transmission link (2) to each of plural other nodes (A-H). Each transmission of a signal over a link (2) from a first node (A-H) to a second node (A-H) takes place during a timeslot. The method includes the steps of assigning timeslot numbers to each timeslot in sequence in ascending order of the number of available choices of timeslot number at each timeslot.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for forming a network (1) of nodes (A-H) from a plurality of nodes (A-H) and a plurality of potential transmission links (2) between respective nodes (A-H). Methods are also disclosed for adapting an initial mesh communications network configuration to a final mesh communications network communications configuration. Methods are also disclosed such that at least some of the changes to the initial mesh communications network configuration that are required as part of the adaptation to the final mesh communications network configuration form a group of changes such that all of the changes within the group can occur substantially simultaneously. Various other methods useful in or to a mesh communications network (1) are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each of said links (3) is to one other node only (2). Each node (2) is arranged such that transmission or reception of a signal at any particular frequency by a node (2) takes place on only one link (3) at a time.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has a substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission link (3) with at least one other node (2) such that each node (2) can transmit a signal to at least one other node (2). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each link (3) between respective pairs of nodes (2) is associated with a distinct time slot.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each of said links (3) is to one other node (2) only. The links (3) are arranged such that at least some of the nodes (2) are not linked only to the nearest neighbor node(s) (2).

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving via an antenna (13) a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal via an antenna (13); and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3) which share at least one of a receiver (10) of the receiving means and a transmitter (11) of the transmitting means. Each of the links (3) is to one other node (2) only.