Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: In a basestation of a cellular communications network, steps are taken to identify at least one situation, in which a user equipment device is liable to experience a rapid deterioration in a quality of a link with the base station. Measurement information is collected, related to the radio conditions experienced by a user equipment device in said situation, and at least one handover parameter is automatically adjusted in the basestation based on the collected information.

Abstract: A wireless access point may be in the form of a femtocell basestation in a cellular network. In order to establish a connection into the cellular network, an identity token is required for authorization. A remote service, accessible over a Wide Area Network such as the internet, can register with the access point. When a connected user attempts to connect to the remote service, information derived from the identity token is inserted into the data traffic. Where the identity token identifies the access point, the remote service can return location-specific information. Where the identity token identifies the connected user, the remote service can return subscriber-specific information. The access point can insert information derived directly from the identity token, or it can use the identity token to access a service identity registry, and can then insert the service identity into the data traffic.

Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: A cellular basestation can select its own mobility parameters in order to achieve desirable effects in terms of the overall network performance. When a cellular basestation forms part of a group of such basestations on a single local area network, it can receive information from the other basestations in the group, for example relating to the loading on the other basestations, and can use this information in order to set mobility parameters. Where the basestation receives loading information from other basestations in the group, it can set mobility parameters so that a user equipment device becomes less likely to select a more highly loaded cell, and more likely to select a less highly loaded cell.

Abstract: A femtocell base station in a telecommunications network identifies, for each user device served by the base station, which other base stations in the network that user device is authorized to access. The base station also determines a group identity for each of a plurality of possible neighbor cell base stations in the network. Based on this information, the base station identifies at least one possible handover target cell base station for each user device served by the base station, based on the identified other base stations in the network that user device is authorized to access; and based on the identified group identity for each of a plurality of possible neighbor cell base stations in the network.

Abstract: A femtocell basestation selects its carrier frequency by detecting a carrier used by at least one other basestation in its network, and selecting its own carrier frequency such that it partially overlaps with the detected carrier. The downlink power of the femtocell basestation is set based on the degree of overlap between the selected carrier and the detected carrier, so that a user equipment having a connection to the other basestation is forced to search for the selected carrier.

Abstract: There is described a method of controlling a basestation in a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising, within the basestation, autonomously and dynamically adapting a maximum value for a total transmit power of the basestation, such that interference between the basestation and other access points in the vicinity is minimized.

Abstract: A basestation receives a table containing information about a plurality of other basestations of the cellular communications network. The basestation and the plurality of other basestations are connected to a local area network. The operation of receiving the table includes receiving the table over the local area network from one of the other basestations. The table contains information for use by the basestation in automatically configuring itself. In the event that the basestation changes its configuration, the basestation updates said table with changed information and rebroadcasts the updated table to the other basestations.

Abstract: A basestation forms part of a group of basestations within a cellular communications network, and selects an identifying code for use in identifying transmissions from the basestation. The basestation receives from a management node a first list of identifying codes and a second list of identifying codes, wherein the identifying codes of the first list can appear in neighbor cell lists of basestations outside said group, and wherein the identifying codes of the second list can not appear in neighbor cell lists of basestations outside said group. The basestation determines whether there is at least one identifying code either in the first list of identifying codes or the second list of identifying codes that is not used by any other basestation in said group.

Abstract: A basestation for a cellular wireless communications network is able to configure itself for operation in the network, by selecting appropriate operating frequencies (in the case of GSM network) or scrambling codes (in the case of a UMTS network), and appropriate transmit powers. This makes it practical for a large number of such basestations to be deployed in a network, within customers' premises, without requiring network intervention in each case.

Abstract: A basestation, for use in a cellular communications network, is adapted to provide a cellular communications service in at least one active cellular communications network by transmitting signals on system downlink channels of the active network and by receiving signals on system uplink channels of the active network. The basestation is also adapted to receive signals on system downlink channels of the active network. Further, the basestation is adapted to receive signals on system downlink channels of at least one additional network, although it is unable to transmit signals on system downlink channels of the additional network. The additional network may operate in accordance with a different cellular standard from the active network, and/or may be operated by a different cellular network operator from the active network.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cellular basestation, and in particular to a basestation for a cellular communications network, that can conveniently be used to provide a cellular service, for example within a home or office.

Abstract: A neighbor cell list is formed, for use in a basestation of a cellular communications network. For each of a plurality of neighbor cells, a value of a first component is assigned, depending on whether or not the basestation can detect signals transmitted from said neighbor cell. A value of a second component is assigned, depending on a history of successful or unsuccessful handover attempts to said neighbor cell. The values of the first and second components are combined to form a weighting parameter, for use in determining a handover priority to be given to said neighbor cell in the neighbor cell list.

Abstract: A basestation for a cellular communications system includes back-to-back software stacks for terminating messages from a mobile station intended for the core network, and for recreating the messages in a form suitable for transmission to the core network, and further for terminating messages from the core network intended for a mobile station, and for recreating the messages in a form suitable for transmission to the mobile station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cellular basestation, and in particular to a basestation for a cellular communications network, that can conveniently be used to provide a cellular service, for example within a home or office.

Abstract: There is described a method of controlling a basestation in a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising, within the basestation, autonomously and dynamically adapting a maximum value for a total transmit power of the basestation, such that interference between the basestation and other access points in the vicinity is minimized.

Abstract: A base station in a cellular network, such as a femtocell access point, has a first coverage area, and is located in a second coverage area associated with a second base station. The base station operates to detect a possibility of interference based on estimated first path losses, between the base station and points in the first coverage area, and a second path loss, between the base station and a user equipment that is attached to the second base station.

Abstract: In a femtocell basestation of a cellular communications network, there is a potential difficulty that the basestation may be unable to select a scrambling code for its transmissions, without the risk of interference with other basestations using the same scrambling code. The femtocell basestation receives from a management system a list comprising at least one allowed scrambling code for femtocell basestations, and also detects, in information broadcast by at least one macrocell basestation, at least one allowed scrambling code available in an area containing the basestation. If it is determined that use of each scrambling code that is allowed and is available in an area containing the basestation would cause interference with another femtocell basestation, a parameter is set to ensure that a user equipment would perform a location update when moving between the coverage areas of said basestation and the other femtocell basestation. The parameter may be a MIB and/or SIB value tag.