Abstract: When a mobile station MS1 determines during communication through a first network (1), that a second network (7) is available that offers better operational parameters for the communication, the mobile station sends a handover announcement (S 5.3) to the first network to offer it an opportunity to improve the operational parameters for the communication through the first network. The first network (1) may in response offer updated operational parameters (S5.6) with a view to encouraging the communication to continue through the first network. A decision (S5.7) whether to make a handover to the second network can then be made by comparing the updated operational parameters for the first network with the operational parameters for the second network.

Abstract: A mobile station MS1 can communicate through a PLMN (2) and also through a number of local wireless networks e.g. WLAN (6) and WiMAX (7). When the user of MS1 wishes to run an application, for example an video player application, a suitable one of the networks is selected for the communication by obtaining data from the candidate networks using SIP INVITE messages that produce responses containing network parameter data for each of the candidate networks. The handset MS1 may also monitor local network traffic to determine network congestion and also check past history to determine whether many handovers have been made during previous sessions. The data is collated and checked with a service provider (10) so that a network selection decision can be made.

Abstract: In order to keep a pathway for time critical data packets (for example for VoIP calls) a dummy flow of data packets is established between a home hub router (20) and a broadband remote access server (25) being the first gateway to the IP network. Should a call be made from the telephone (23), the dummy flow is replaced for the duration of the call by the packets generated for the VoIP call. The dummy flow is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of data packets transmitted in order to ensure that a minimum bandwidth having a tolerable delay is available. The dummy flow works by causing non time critical (i.e. P2P data packet flows) to back off and no modification is required to routers and the like incorporated into the network.

Abstract: A connection between a communications terminal and a communications network is arranged such that on detection of imminent degradation or loss of such connection, the utilization of the connection is maximized in advance of such degradation. The network temporarily reallocates the maximum bandwidth that the terminal is capable of using to that terminal, which may result in a small temporary degradation of the bandwidth available to other terminals, and the terminal downloads the data most likely to be required next to a cache (in the case of specific web pages, identified by recent accession, bookmarks, or hyperlinks from the page currently being viewed), or a buffer (if the data is being streamed) using this extra bandwidth made available.

Abstract: The present invention relates to authenticating a mobile device using location information associated with the device. The present invention provides a mechanism for authenticating a mobile device based on location related information or a “logical location”, but without requiring an actual location. The mobile user device gathers tokens such as SIM data from other wireless devices using wireless communication between the user device and the other devices. A server determines whether these tokens match predetermined reference information, and if so authenticates the user device.

Abstract: A mobile station MS1 can communicate through a PLMN (2) and also through a number of local wireless networks e.g. WLAN (6) and WiMAX (7). When the user of MS1 wishes to run an application, for example an video player application, a suitable one of the networks is selected for the communication by obtaining data from the candidate networks using SIP INVITE messages that produce responses containing network parameter data for each of the candidate networks. The handset MS1 may also monitor local network traffic to determine network congestion and also check past history to determine whether many handovers have been made during previous sessions. The data is collated and checked with a service provider (10) so that a network selection decision can be made.

Abstract: In order to keep a pathway for time critical data packets (for example for VoIP calls) a dummy flow of data packets is established between a home hub router (20) and a broadband remote access server (25) being the first gateway to the IP network. Should a call be made from the telephone (23), the dummy flow is replaced for the duration of the call by the packets generated for the VoIP call. The dummy flow is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of data packets transmitted in order to ensure that a minimum bandwidth having a tolerable delay is available. The dummy flow works by causing non time critical (i.e. P2P data packet flows) to back off and no modification is required to routers and the like incorporated into the network.

Abstract: When a mobile station MS1 determines during communication through a first network (1), that a second network (7) is available that offers better operational parameters for the communication, the mobile station sends a handover announcement (S 5.3) to the first network to offer it an opportunity to improve the operational parameters for the communication through the first network. The first network (1) may in response offer updated operational parameters (S5.6) with a view to encouraging the communication to continue through the first network. A decision (S5.7) whether to make a handover to the second network can then be made by comparing the updated operational parameters for the first network with the operational parameters for the second network.