Abstract: An embodiment is directed towards a network controller for controlling a telecommunications network (70) comprising a plurality of vehicles (250, 280, 330) each including a telecommunications device. The network controller comprises a network configuration database (20), containing data representing the configuration of the network (70); an assets database (30), containing for each vehicle (250, 280, 330) (i) data representing planned movements of the vehicle (250, 280, 330) and (ii) data representing parameters for acceptable variation in said route (260, 290, 350); and an information exchange requirement (IER) database (40), containing data representing expected future network loading. An optimization engine (50) is configured to calculate a set of routes (260, 310, 350) for the vehicles (250, 280, 330) that optimizes the availability of the telecommunications network (70) in the geographic area.

Abstract: A network controller for controlling a telecommunications network (70) comprises a plurality of vehicles (250, 280, 330) each including a telecommunications device. The network controller comprises a network configuration database (20), containing data representing the configuration of the network (70); an assets database (30), containing for each vehicle (250, 280, 330) (i) data representing planned movements of the vehicle (250, 280, 330) and (ii) data representing parameters for acceptable variation in said route (260, 290, 350); and an information exchange requirement (IER) database (40), containing data representing expected future network loading. An optimisation engine (50) is configured to calculate a set of routes (260, 310, 350) for the vehicles (250, 280, 330) that optimises the availability of the telecommunications network (70) in the geographic area.

Abstract: In a cell-based transmission protocol such as ATM, a Cyclic Redundancy Check code is used for error detection at a frame level, and a Hamming code is used for error correction at the cell level, to improve error protection, and reduce the need for retransmission. The method can be used as a modification to ATM Adaption Layers.

Abstract: Following failure of part of the network, a restoration process is carried out. A restoration route around the failed part is selected, and at least a portion of the capacity of links along the restoration route is allocated. The restoration route may be completed without delay. If it can be optimised subsequently, it will be changed, to eliminate any loops, or to use routes further away from the failed part, to avoid congestion close to the failed part.

Abstract: In a cell-based transmission protocol such as ATM, a Cyclic Redundancy Check code is used for error detection at a frame level, and a Hamming code is used for error correction at the cell level, to improve error protection, and reduce the need for retransmission. The method can be used as a modification to ATM Adaption Layers.

Abstract: For restoration of a network a plurality of possible alternative routes are determined. Messages are passed between nodes along the alternative routes to determine a spare capacity of each link in the alternative routes. An alternative route is selected from the possible alternative routes on the basis of a database of the determined link spare capacities for each of the possible alternative routes, built up at a chooser node at one side of the failed part of the network.