Abstract: A method and a system are described for adapting a service provided by a base station in a cellular communication network to mobile stations in its coverage area. The base station is supplied with energy from a renewable energy generator and/or from a back-up battery supply. The back-up battery supply is at least partially charged by the renewable energy generator. The service is adapted in terms of coverage and/or capacity provided to the mobile stations as a function of the stored energy in the back-up battery supply and/or as a function of a forecast regarding the amount of energy supplied by the renewable energy generator over a time period.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 1, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 20, 2013
Assignee:
Vodafone Group, PLC
Inventors:
David Valerdi Rodriguez, Miguel Arranz Arauzo
Abstract: A mobile telecommunications network includes a radio access network comprising base stations and one or more additional access points. An access point is connected to a network core by an IP transport broadband connection. The access point is configured to appear to the mobile terminal as a conventional base station—that is, for example, it communicates with the mobile terminal using GSM or UMTS transport protocols and does not require any modification to a standard GSM or UMTS mobile terminal. Access Points may not be under the direct control of the network provider, and so are more susceptible to security threats. The described system allows the network provider to verify that the access point through which a mobile terminal is about to communicate is a legitimate and trusted base station and/or is at a particular location. Differential charging may be performed in dependence upon a subscriber's location.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 19, 2007
Date of Patent:
December 27, 2011
Assignee:
Vodafone Group, PLC
Inventors:
Alan Law, Paul Edwards, Peter Howard, Jonathon Batkin, Jose Luis Carrizo Martinez
Abstract: A method and apparatus for handover in a wireless communication device between wireless domains is described. In one example, a signal employing a short-range wireless protocol is detected at the wireless communication device. For example, the short-range wireless protocol may be a near-field communication (NFC) protocol, a radio frequency identification (RFID) protocol, an optical protocol, a BLUETOOTH protocol, and the like known in the art. A handover is requested from the first wireless domain to the second wireless domain in response to the detected signal. In one example, the signal may be broadcast by an access control system to a building and may be configured to control access to the building. In this manner, precise delineation of the handover boundary between wireless domains is provided.
Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing satellite signals from a first satellite navigation system and a second satellite navigation system is described. In one example, at least one first pseudorange between a satellite signal receiver and at least one satellite of the first satellite navigation system is measured. At least one second pseudorange between the satellite signal receiver and at least one satellite of the second satellite navigation system is measured. A difference between a first time reference frame of the first satellite navigation system and a second time reference frame of the second satellite navigation system is obtained. The at least one first pseudorange and the at least one second pseudorange are combined using the difference in time references.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 18, 2005
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2006
Assignees:
Global Locate, Inc., Vodafone Group, PLC