Abstract: A mobile communications handset (12) is capable of connection through two different networks (2, 27). When it is out of contact with its preferred local wireless access system (27), the handset will seek a hand-over to the cellular network (2), and will become registered as a “roaming” handset currently connected to the cellular network (2). The cellular network (2) reports this location information to the call server (28), as it would to the HLR of any normal visiting handset, so that incoming calls to the PSTN (6) destined for the user (12) can be routed by way of the cellular network. Outgoing calls are handled as conventional cellular telephony calls. When contact with a local wireless access system (27) is re-established, the contact information is passed to the call server 28, which reports to the cellular network (2) that a handover has occurred.

Abstract: Signals, such as television signals, are distributed from a head-end station via a fibre network. The signals are amplitude modulated on carriers at different frequencies, and the different carriers combined to form a composite analogue signal. In the head-end station the composite analogue signal is clipped to reduce the peak-to-mean ratio and the clipped composite signal is digitized. The resulting digital data is transmitted onto the fibre network and is received at an optical receiver. The optical receiver reconstitutes the composite analogue signal for reception by a termination. In one example the composite analogue signal has a bandwidth of one octave or less, and is digitized by sampling at a sampling rate below the Nyquist rate.

Abstract: In a data communication system a signal is coded with n-bit codewords, wherein n is an integer. The codewords are converted to a serial bit-stream and scrambled using a PRBS (Pseudo-Random Binary Sequence) from a PRBS generator (4). The PRBS sequence has a length n x m where m is an integer. At a receiver the serial data is descrambled using a corresponding binary sequence from a PRBS generator (5) matched to that in the transmitter. The descrambling data is decoded in a decoder (6) in synchronism with the binary sequence in the generator (5), thereby maintaining word alignment between the transmitter and the receiver.

Abstract: A system for distributing HDTV signals from a head station to a number of customer stations includes a single head-end optical source having a frequency f.sub.0 and a modulator arranged to receive light from the single optical source. The modulator modulates the light with a sub-carrier multiplex of n channels, where n is an integer greater than 2, the n channels having frequencies f.sub.1, f.sub.2 . . . f.sub.n. The frequencies are separated in frequency-space from each other and from f.sub.0. A broadband passive branched optical network is connected to the output of the modulator and arranged to distribute the modulated signal from the head station to a plurality of customer stations each having a coherent heterodyne receiver.

Abstract: A system for distributing interactive HDTV signals includes a head-end station and a number of customer stations. The head-end station includes at least one optical source. A bidirectional transmissive broadband passive branched optical network distributes HDTV signals from the head-end station to the customer stations. Each customer station includes an optical coupler arranged to couple the subscriber station to a respective arm of the optical network a coherent receiver including a local oscillator laser and a transmitter arranged to modulate light from the local oscillator laser with return data for transmission via the coupler onto the network. The head-end station also includes a broadband optical receiver arranged to receive and demodulate the return data received via the optical network.