Abstract: A method and system is provided that may be used to dynamically modify membership of a collaboration group participating in a collaboration session using dynamic situational information associated with collaboration session and/or collaboration group member candidates. The dynamic situational information may include collaboration session information, environmental information and context information. A change in collaboration session purpose may trigger a modification of group membership in accordance with a concomitant change in group membership criteria. A change of situational information associated with any group member candidate may trigger the modification of group membership, to add or delete the candidate from the group.

Abstract: A portable memory module, which comprises an interface allowing the module to be connected to and disconnected from an electronic device by a user of the module such that the electronic device is in close physical proximity to the module when connected thereto; memory storing an identifier of the module; an emitter; and a processing entity configured to encode the identifier of the module into a signal that is transmitted via the emitter as a wireless beacon. The memory contains information that allows the module to be identified by an entity connected to the electronic device. The wireless beacon is configured to enable a location of the module to be determined by a detection sub-system. When the module is connected to the electronic device and the identity of the module is transmitted to a network entity via the electronic device, the location of the module can be used by the network entity to establish the location of the electronic device.

Abstract: A method of performing fast base station switching for hand off is provided that involves the use of a tunnel from a serving base station to a target base station. During a hand off, packets are forwarded by the serving base station to the target base station using the tunnel. A hierarchical hand off method is also provided that uses a diversity hand off method for a hand off between base stations of different zones, and uses a non-diversity handoff, such as the fast base station switching method, for a hand off between base stations in the same zone.

Abstract: A method of processing a communication request destined for an intended recipient, comprising: determining an interrupt worthiness of the communication request; determining an interruptability of the intended recipient; determining at least one delivery feature based on the interrupt worthiness of the communication request and the interruptability of the intended recipient; and causing delivery of the communication request over a communication system in accordance with the at least one delivery feature.

Abstract: Network entity, method and computer-readable storage medium for use in a network that includes an arrangement of cell sites, each cell site being configured to provide wireless services to users within a respective coverage region. The network entity comprises an input configured to receive position information regarding occurrence of an event at an event site, and a processing entity configured to determine on a basis of the position information regarding occurrence of the event and policy information regarding the network, whether the event warrants coverage region reconfiguration and, if so, to generate a message commanding an adjustment to the coverage region of at least one cell site. An output is configured to release the message towards the at least one cell site, whereby application of the adjustment to the coverage region of the at least one cell site enables an increase in traffic to be accommodated in a vicinity of the event site.

Abstract: Network entity, method and computer-readable storage medium for use in a network that includes an arrangement of cell sites, each cell site configured to provide wireless services within a respective coverage region. The network entity may include an input configured to receive position information regarding occurrence of an event at an event site, and a processing entity configured to determine, based on the position information regarding occurrence of the event and policy information regarding the network, whether the event warrants coverage region reconfiguration and, if so, to generate a message commanding an adjustment to the coverage region of at least one cell site. An output is configured to release the message towards the at least one cell site, whereby application of the adjustment to the coverage region of the at least one cell site enables an increase in traffic to be accommodated in a vicinity of the event site.

Abstract: Network entity, method and computer-readable storage medium for use in a network that includes an arrangement of cell sites, each cell site configured to provide wireless services within a respective coverage region. The network entity may include an input configured to receive position information regarding occurrence of an event at an event site, and a processing entity configured to determine, based on the position information regarding occurrence of the event and policy information regarding the network, whether the event warrants coverage region reconfiguration and, if so, to generate a message commanding an adjustment to the coverage region of at least one cell site. An output is configured to release the message towards the at least one cell site, whereby application of the adjustment to the coverage region of the at least one cell site enables an increase in traffic to be accommodated in a vicinity of the event site.

Abstract: Providing power management to sensing nodes in a sensor network may include a plurality of sensing nodes, each sensing node connected through a power management device to an external power source, such as a powered node of another network, for managing power from the external power source to the sensing node. Multiple power management devices allow for a sensor network of fixed or mobile wireless sensing nodes or sensor gateways to make use of power from an external source such as an another network. An intelligent power management device connected to at least one of the sensing nodes may provide for power policy management.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing power management to sensing nodes in a sensor network. A system may include a plurality of sensing nodes, each sensing node connected through a power management device to an external power source, such as a powered node of another network, for managing power from the external power source to the sensing node. Beneficially, a plurality of power management devices allow for a sensor network of fixed or mobile wireless sensing nodes or sensor gateways to make use of power from an external source such as an another network e.g. an existing emergency lighting system or other similar powered building system. Thus for example, a sensor or group of sensing nodes and their associated power management devices may be integral with or co-located in proximity to powered nodes of these other networks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a first response mission at an incident scene, such as an accident site, a natural or human-made disaster site, or any other first response site. One system comprises a portable patient module to be associated with a patient at the incident scene and configured to transmit wireless signals. The system also comprises a processing system comprising at least one receiver to receive the wireless signals and a processing entity configured to process data derived from the wireless signals to determine an action to be performed with respect to the patient, such as transmission of a message conveying information regarding the patient to a first responder at the incident scene, establishment of communication between a first responder at the incident scene and a clinician remote from the incident scene to discuss the patient, or transmission of a message to initiate preparation of resources at a healthcare facility remote from the incident scene for arrival of the patient.

Abstract: A system for more optimally providing a service, such as a communications service, in an institutional setting by use of smart context-aware approaches. The system comprises an environmental context processing engine configured to transform sensed data indicative of activity relevant to provision of said service into data indicative of an environmental context in which said activity is deemed to have occurred; a situational context processing engine configured to transform the data indicative of the environmental context into data indicative of a situational context in which said activity is deemed to have occurred; and a decision making engine configured to apply data indicative of an institutional context to the data indicative of the situational context in order to determine an action to be taken in accordance with provision of said service.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a first response mission at an incident scene, such as an accident site, a natural or human-made disaster site, or any other first response site. One system comprises a plurality of portable modules for the incident scene and configured to transmit wireless signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a first response mission at an incident scene, such as an accident site, a natural or human-made disaster site, or any other first response site. One system is for locating a plurality of portable modules at an incident scene. The system comprises a plurality of receivers transportable to the incident scene. The system also comprises a processing entity configured to: determine a location of a first one of the portable modules based on first data derived from a wireless signal transmitted by the first one of the portable modules and received by at least three receivers of the plurality of receivers; and determine a location of a second one of the portable modules based on the location of the first one of the portable modules and second data derived from a wireless signal transmitted by the second one of the portable modules and received by the first one of the portable modules.

Abstract: A method of controlling RF interference in a healthcare establishment. The method comprises receiving data regarding a wirelessly detectable tag associated to a first piece of equipment within the healthcare establishment; determining whether the first piece of equipment is positioned relative to a second piece of equipment within the healthcare establishment such that an RF interference constraint is violated, based at least in part on the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag; and responsive to the RF interference constraint being violated, causing a variation in RF power transmitted by at least one of the first piece of equipment and the second piece of equipment. In this way, wireless communication equipment can be used in the healthcare establishment without deleterious effects on sensitive medical equipment.

Abstract: A method of processing a communication request destined for an intended recipient, comprising: determining an interrupt worthiness of the communication request; determining an interruptability of the intended recipient; determining at least one delivery feature based on the interrupt worthiness of the communication request and the interruptability of the intended recipient; and causing delivery of the communication request over a communication system in accordance with the at least one delivery feature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a first response mission at an incident scene, such as an accident site, a natural or human-made disaster site, or any other first response site. One system comprises a portable patient module to be associated with a patient at the incident scene and configured to transmit wireless signals. The system also comprises a processing system comprising at least one receiver to receive the wireless signals and a processing entity configured to process data derived from the wireless signals to determine an action to be performed with respect to the patient, such as transmission of a message conveying information regarding the patient to a first responder at the incident scene, establishment of communication between a first responder at the incident scene and a clinician remote from the incident scene to discuss the patient, or transmission of a message to initiate preparation of resources at a healthcare facility remote from the incident scene for arrival of the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a first response mission at an incident scene, such as an accident site, a natural or human-made disaster site, or any other first response site. One system is for locating a plurality of portable modules at an incident scene. The system comprises a plurality of receivers transportable to the incident scene. The system also comprises a processing entity configured to: determine a location of a first one of the portable modules based on first data derived from a wireless signal transmitted by the first one of the portable modules and received by at least three receivers of the plurality of receivers; and determine a location of a second one of the portable modules based on the location of the first one of the portable modules and second data derived from a wireless signal transmitted by the second one of the portable modules and received by the first one of the portable modules.

Abstract: A portable memory module, which comprises an interface allowing the module to be connected to and disconnected from an electronic device by a user of the module such that the electronic device is in close physical proximity to the module when connected thereto; memory storing an identifier of the module; an emitter; and a processing entity configured to encode the identifier of the module into a signal that is transmitted via the emitter as a wireless beacon. The memory contains information that allows the module to be identified by an entity connected to the electronic device. The wireless beacon is configured to enable a location of the module to be determined by a detection sub-system. When the module is connected to the electronic device and the identity of the module is transmitted to a network entity via the electronic device, the location of the module can be used by the network entity to establish the location of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a first response mission at an incident scene, such as an accident site, a natural or human-made disaster site, or any other first response site. One system comprises a plurality of portable modules for the incident scene and configured to transmit wireless signals.

Abstract: A network element is configured to implement scheduled high-power Point-To-Point (PTP) and low-power Point-To-MultiPoint (TMP) transmissions. The high-power PTP and low-power PTMP transmissions may be scheduled as bursts on an 802.16 network to occur in both the downlink subframe and uplink subframe on a given frequency channel in the wireless network. The use of an air interface for both types of communications allows the PTP and PTMP communications to be scheduled relative to each other in a unified manner to increase quality of service and minimize interference between the backhaul PTP and access PTMP networks, even though the PTP and PTMP communications take place on the same channel using the same underlying wireless technology. Buffers may be used to store data received in a PTP downlink burst prior to transmission in a PTMP downlink burst, and may be used to store data received in an uplink PTMP burst prior to transmission in an uplink PTP burst.