Abstract: A computer apparatus comprises a master module and a slave module such that the master module is able to send a functional request to the slave module for the execution by the slave module of a requested function. The master module comprises dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) means operable to establish a DVS control scheme for the master processing module, and DVS liking means operable to relate the DVS control scheme to the slave processing module.

Abstract: DVS control is established by determining a voltage frequency profile for a processing resource completing a task within a timing deadline. The voltage frequency profile is determined by way of constraining the available operating frequency to a number of discrete permitted operating frequencies. In one embodiment, acceptance of the voltage frequency profile is carried out by determining if the processing resource will carry out a task within an acceptable time period. In one embodiment, this is assessed by reference to a worst case cycle count for the task concerned.

Abstract: Spread spectrum receiver architectures and methods are described for reducing interference, particularly the interference observed at a user-end terminal in a W-CDMA 3G mobile communications system. Interpath interference which arises due to non-zero cross and auto correlation of more than one spreading code is suppressed by estimating a transmitted signal stream, or a plurality of such signal streams in the case of a plurality of multipath components, respreading this estimated signal and subtracting non-orthogonal interference contributions from a received signal. The techniques provide an improved bit error rate or equivalently, enhanced capacity for a digital mobile communications network.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the relative timing of a spreading sequence and a sampled input signal for a spread spectrum receiver correlator, the spreading sequence having an associated spreading sequence chip clock, the input signal being sampled at sample clock intervals, the method comprising: delaying the sampled input signal by an integral number of sample clock intervals to provide a fine relative timing adjustment; and delaying the spreading sequence by an integral number of spreading sequence chip clock periods to provide a coarse relative timing adjustment.

Abstract: A spread spectrum receiver architecture comprising: a spread spectrum signal sampler; a sample delay stage, coupled to the spread spectrum sampler, to provide a set of spread spectrum samples having a plurality of different delays on a delayed sample bus; a plurality of scramble code generators to provide a plurality of scramble codes on a scramble code bus; and a plurality of correlators, each comprising a correlator module coupled to the delayed sample bus and comprising at least one spreading code generator coupled to the scramble code bus, and each said correlator having at least one correlation output.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processing apparatus utilising dynamic scaling of voltage (DVS), and in particular although not exclusively to a controller for such apparatus. The invention is especially applicable to software defined radio (SDR), but is not so limited and may be applied to other re-configurable electronic systems. The present invention provides a controller for a processing apparatus having a plurality of processing resources, at least some of said resources having controllable supply voltage and/or frequency; the controller comprising: means for scheduling operations on said resources, at least some of said operations having a predetermined deadline by which the operation must be performed; means for determining a voltage and/or frequency profile for a said operation having a said deadline; and means for instructing the resources to perform said operations according to said schedule and said profile.

Abstract: A digital mobile phone network infrastructure includes a plurality of radio base stations in communication with a plurality of mobile communications devices over a radio interface. In a method according to the invention packetized streamed media data is buffered within the network infrastructure and this data is then sent to a mobile communications device when traffic across the radio interface is low. The data may be transmitted at a lower than usual quality of service. Preferably the mobile communications device buffers the streamed data until reception is complete before the data stream is played to a user. Aspects of the invention also include a mobile communications device and a streamed media data controller for implementing the method. The method allows more efficient use of a network capacity and in particular allows the provision of high quality multimedia bulletins to mobile phone users at times of peak loading.

Abstract: This invention is generally concerned with reduced power consumption signal processing methods and apparatus, and in particular with techniques for jointly controlling power supply voltage and clock frequency in a receiver to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: Spread spectrum receiver architectures and methods are described for reducing interference, particularly the interference observed at a user-end terminal in a W-CDMA 3G mobile communications system. Interpath interference which arises due to non-zero cross and auto correlation of more than one spreading code is suppressed by estimating a transmitted signal stream, or a plurality of such signal streams in the case of a plurality of multipath components, respreading this estimated signal and subtracting non-orthogonal interference contributions from a received signal. The techniques provide an improved bit error rate or equivalently, enhanced capacity for a digital mobile communications network.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with methods of using mobile phones to locate trapped or buried victims of natural or man-made disasters. In an embodiment of the method a mobile phone sends an alert request signal to an emergency alert controller which then broadcasts an emergency alert message to all the other mobile communications devices in the same cell or sector as the first, alert requesting phone. In response all these other mobile communications devices each output an emergency alert response such as a very loud audio tone or rf beacon signal.

Abstract: A flexible rake receiver architecture provides a rake receiver processing system 200 including at least two programmable spreading sequence blocks 224, 226 connected via a multiplexer 232 to one input of a partial correlator module 236. A second input of the partial correlator module is connected to a second multiplexer 234 to allow selection of one of a plurality of delayed IQ samples. A plurality of scramble code generators 202 is connected to a scramble code bus 208 and each spreading sequence block 224, 226 is provided with a corresponding multiplexer 220, 222 to allow selection of an input from one of the scramble code generators. A plurality of registers 242 allows adaptive configuration of the rake receiver under control of a processor 260.

Abstract: A digital mobile phone network infrastructure includes a plurality of radio base stations in communication with a plurality of mobile communications devices over a radio interface. In a method according to the invention packetised streamed media data is buffered within the network infrastructure and this data is then sent to a mobile communications device when traffic across the radio interface is low. The data may be transmitted at a lower than usual quality of service. Preferably the mobile communications device buffers the streamed data until reception is complete before the data stream is played to a user. Aspects of the invention also include a mobile communications device and a streamed media data controller for implementing the method. The method allows more efficient use of a network capacity and in particular allows the provision of high quality multimedia bulletins to mobile phone users at times of peak loading.