Abstract: A source node estimates not only the schedule time offset of the destination node but also the clock drift of the destination node. In this way, the source node may choose very accurately the transmission start time of an information packet to this destination node so that typically only one very short preamble needs to be transmitted. The estimation of time offset and clock drift between two nodes is achieved through tone or more previous transmissions between these two nodes, in particular, information relating to these parameters is transmitted from the destination node to the source node in reply to a preamble transmitted by the source node to the destination node.

Abstract: A wireless communication terminal includes a SIM card and a memory card equipped with respective radio transceivers for allowing a terminal-independent and network-independent radio communication between both cards. Server and client applications on the controllers of the transceivers allow the SIM to manage the memory card. The memory card tries to become connected to the SIM. If connection is successful, the SIM authenticates the memory card and then configures it, in secure mode, to set the access policy to the memory card itself.

Abstract: To reduce energy consumption in a duty-cycled asynchronous wireless communication network values of operation parameters, i.e. duration of the awake interval and duration of the sleep interval, of routing nodes of the network are determined and set. The network is partitioned into clusters so that each cluster comprises one cluster-head node. The energy consumption of a cluster is a function of the probability of busy channel when nodes of the cluster attempt transmission, the probability of communication collision during transmission, the duration of the awake interval and the duration of the sleep interval of its cluster-head node. Reduction of the energy consumption is carried out under predetermined values of the probability of busy channel and of the probability of communication collision and under predetermined constraint for the probability of successful transfer of data packets within the cluster and for the average delay of transfer of data packets within the cluster.

Abstract: A radio coverage extender is provided for extending the radio range of a wireless network node embedded in a user terminal, for example a ZigBee node integrated on the SIM card of a mobile phone. The radio coverage extender may include: a radio signal repeater operable to receive radio signals from the wireless network node and to retransmit the received signals externally to the user terminal, and a power supply module operable to scavenge electrical energy from electromagnetic fields in which it happens to be immersed and to store the scavenged electrical energy for supplying the stored power to the radio signal repeater. The radio coverage extender is adapted to be included in a user terminal, for example it can be a flexible, pliable film attachable to a user terminal battery.

Abstract: To reduce energy consumption in a duty-cycled asynchronous wireless communication network values of operation parameters, i.e. duration of the awake interval and duration of the sleep interval, of routing nodes of the network are determined and set. The network is partitioned into clusters so that each cluster comprises one cluster-head node. The energy consumption of a cluster is a function of the probability of busy channel when nodes of the cluster attempt transmission, the probability of communication collision during transmission, the duration of the awake interval and the duration of the sleep interval of its cluster-head node. Reduction of the energy consumption is carried out under predetermined values of the probability of busy channel and of the probability of communication collision and under predetermined constraint for the probability of successful transfer of data packets within the cluster and for the average delay of transfer of data packets within the cluster.

Abstract: A source node estimates not only the schedule time offset of the destination node but also the clock drift of the destination node. In this way, the source node may choose very accurately the transmission start time of an information packet to this destination node so that typically only one very short preamble needs to be transmitted. The estimation of time offset and clock drift between two nodes is achieved through tone or more previous transmissions between these two nodes, in particular, information relating to these parameters is transmitted from the destination node to the source node in reply to a preamble transmitted by the source node to the destination node.

Abstract: A wireless network includes permanently powered routing nodes and intermittently operating routing nodes. A polling procedure is used for transferring routing and data information packets from a permanently powered routing node to an intermittently operating routing node. In particular, when the permanently powered routing node has to transmit an information packet to the intermittently operating routing node, it stores the information packet in a memory; it waits until the intermittently operating routing node is able to receive information packets; and then it transmits the information packet to the intermittently operating routing node, and when the intermittently operating routing node has to transmit an information packet to the permanently powered routing node, it transmits immediately the information packet to the permanently powered routing node.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of networked nodes spatially distributed within a monitored area and adapted to interact with a mobile entity entering and moving through the area, the plurality of nodes including at least one area entrance node adapted to detect the mobile entity upon entering the monitored area, and a transaction node for accomplishing a transaction with the mobile entity; a transaction processing center in communication relationship with the nodes for processing data required for the transaction and for providing the data to the transaction node. A node selection unit is adapted to dynamically select the transaction node among the plurality of nodes based on an estimation of the speed of movement of the mobile entity.

Abstract: A system for automating parking payment including user terminals having wireless communication equipment allowing access to a wireless communication network and including readers/writers of electronic tags, electronic tags to be carried by the users on their vehicles and into which the users can input information concerning a parking event by means of their terminals; and a parking service management center connected to said network.

Abstract: A wireless communication terminal includes a SIM card and a memory card equipped with respective radio transceivers for allowing a terminal-independent and network-independent radio communication between both cards. Server and client applications on the controllers of the transceivers allow the SIM to manage the memory card. The memory card tries to become connected to the SIM. If connection is successful, the SIM authenticates the memory card and then configures it, in secure mode, to set the access policy to the memory card itself.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card for a mobile terminal incorporates a radio transceiver module intended for communications that do not pass through the mobile network. To allow using, for the chip of the IC card and the radio transceiver module, the same chips as would be used for conventional IC cards and transceivers not integrated together, the IC card further includes a finite state machine chip interconnecting the IC card chip and the chip(s) of the transceiver module so that they have access to the card contacts establishing connection between the card and the terminal.

Abstract: A system for automating parking payment including user terminals having wireless communication equipment allowing access to a wireless communication network and including readers/writers of electronic tags, electronic tags to be carried by the users on their vehicles and into which the users can input information concerning a parking event by means of their terminals; and a parking service management center connected to said network.

Abstract: A subscriber identification card performing radio transceiver functionality for long-range applications incorporates a radio transceiver including an antenna formed on a card surface, an RF module and a base-band module. The antenna and the transceiver operate in the microwave/millimetre waves frequency range. This allows meeting the dimensional constraints imposed by the plug-in size and attaining a long-range operation. At least the base-band module might be integrated within the same chip executing standard security related functions for the terminal.

Abstract: A method of managing an OFDM transmission system, for instance a millimetre-wave WLAN, wherein a plurality of sets of samples including at least one set (X1, X2, . . . XN) of generally non-zero samples is subject to an integral transform transmitted in the integral-transformed format and subject to a complementary integral transform to reconstruct the at least one set of generally non-zero samples. The method includes the step of assigning non-overlapping sets of samples to a plurality of terminals.