Abstract: In a cellular communications network, it may be desirable for a large number of basestations to share one or a small number of scrambling codes. When a basestation identifies a desired scrambling code, which is also being used by another nearby basestation, steps are taken such that a location area update is triggered whenever a mobile communications device moves from a coverage area of the nearby basestation into a coverage area of said basestation. Further, the basestation establishes a first cell, using the desired scrambling code, and also establishes a second cell also served by the basestation, using a second scrambling code. By ensuring that mobile devices are preferentially served by the second cell, the possibility of interference with the nearby basestation is reduced.

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: 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 neighbour cell list is formed, for use in a basestation of a cellular communications network. For each of a plurality of neighbour cells, a value of a first component is assigned, depending on whether or not the basestation can detect signals transmitted from said neighbour cell. A value of a second component is assigned, depending on a history of successful or unsuccessful handover attempts to said neighbour 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 neighbour cell in the neighbour 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: 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: 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 downlink power is set for transmissions from a basestation of a cellular communications network, the cellular communications network comprising a group of such basestations. A target value for a signal strength with which the transmissions should be received, and a target value for a pathloss, based on measured values for pathlosses between basestations of the group, are both set. The downlink power is calculated, based on the target value for the signal strength, and on the target value for the pathloss.

Abstract: Methods of operation of an access point are disclosed. These methods may involve authenticating a user equipment device in the access point. Access points configured for operating in accordance with the methods are also disclosed. Additionally, methods of operation of user equipment devices, and user equipment devices themselves configured for operating, in conjunction with the access points are disclosed. Still further, core network nodes configured to operate with the access points are disclosed.

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 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: A basestation, for use in a cellular communications network, has a mechanism for reporting its transmit power. When the transmit power of the basestation is outside a reportable range, it reports an adjusted transmit power within the reportable range, and also transmits an adjustment factor, by which the adjusted transmit power differs from the transmit power. The basestation is also configured to adapt its power settings based on a reported transmit power of at least one other basestation, and is further configured to detect the reported transmit power of the at least one other basestation and to detect an adjustment factor transmitted separately by the at least one other basestation, and to adapt its power settings based on a sum of the reported transmit power and the adjustment factor.

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 authorisation. A remote service, accessible over a Wide Area Network such as the interne, 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 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 basestation for a cellular communication system has an interface, for connection to a computer network, and also includes an oscillator, for generating wireless transmit and receive frequencies. A controller receives timestamped response messages from a time server over the computer network, each response message being subject to a network propagation delay, which is a sum of a minimum network propagation delay and a jitter component. For each received response message an apparent network propagation delay is determined as a function of a difference between a first timestamp applied by the time server and a second timestamp based on a clock derived from said oscillator. A subset of the received response messages are selected, whose network propagation delays include minimal jitter components. The frequency accuracy of the oscillator is then determined based on changes over time in the apparent network propagation delays of the selected received response messages.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms relating to a basestation for a cellular communication system, and in particular to a method and a system for determining the location of the basestation, are disclosed. Methods are provided for use in a basestation of a mobile communications network, or in the network itself, for determining information about the position of the basestation itself, and/or for determining the position of mobile devices having a connection to the basestation. According to other aspects of the invention, there are provided basestations and network nodes for performing these methods.

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: Techniques and mechanisms relating to a basestation for a cellular communication system, and in particular to a method and a system for determining the location of the basestation, are disclosed. Methods are provided for use in a basestation of a mobile communications network, or in the network itself, for determining information about the position of the basestation itself, and/or for determining the position of mobile devices having a connection to the basestation. According to other aspects of the invention, there are provided basestations and network nodes for performing these methods.

Abstract: A wireless access device is operable in a mode in which its maximum transmit power is set to a value that means that the device has a range of less than 1 metre. This allows the device to operate as a basestation in a cellular communications network, even in locations in which it is not specifically licensed, because the power level is so low that it will not cause interference on the licensed frequencies. The wireless access device is designed such that a handheld portable device can be maintained in a close spatial relationship to it.

Abstract: A base station for a cellular wireless communications network has a first interface, enabling connection with a remote communications device using a cellular wireless communications protocol in the cellular wireless communications network. The base station also has a second interface, enabling connection over a wide area network, and a third interface, enabling connection over a local area network. Software enables communication over the wide area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a core network of the cellular wireless communications network. Software can also enable the remote communications device to communicate with a device in the local area network, or with a server in the wide area network, without using the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.