Abstract: A method of operating User Equipment (110), UE, the UE being configured to connect to a wireless wide-area cellular telecommunications network (100), said telecommunications network comprising a plurality of radio access points (120, 130), and the method comprising the steps of: identifying, from the plurality of radio access points, a default radio access point for the UE; identifying, from the plurality of radio access points, an alternative default radio access point for the UE, wherein said identifying is performed based on the alternative default radio access point and the default radio access point having been simultaneously available to the UE for wireless connection and wherein the UE is instructed to connect to the default radio access point in preference to the alternative default radio access point; connecting the UE to the default radio access point (210); in response to the UE detecting a subsequent loss of connection with the default radio access point, the UE directly initiating only a connecti

Abstract: A method of operating an access point in a wireless telecommunications network, the access point configured to cooperate with other access points in the wireless telecommunications network to form a user-centric cluster, is disclosed. The method can include determining a master node suitability value for the access point representing the suitability of the access point to be a master node in a user-centric cluster; and transmitting the determined master node suitability value in a physical layer signal to a User Equipment (UE). A method of operating a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless telecommunications network, the wireless telecommunications network including a first access point configured to cooperate with other access points in the wireless telecommunications network to form a user-centric cluster, also is disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method of operating a wireless network access point of a wireless network. The method includes wirelessly exchanging management frames with a device to attach the device to the access point, thereby establishing: a wireless downlink data communication channel from the access point to the device, and a wireless uplink data communication channel from the device to the access point. The method further includes performing a wireless link test comprising: transmitting a test frame to the device on the downlink channel, the test frame having a length greater than each of the management frames, including a sequence of test data bits, and being configured to require a mirror response comprising the sequence of test data bits; monitoring for receipt of the mirror response on the uplink; and, if the mirror response is received, determining the test is passed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method of operating a wireless network access point of a wireless network. The method includes wirelessly exchanging management frames with a device to attach the device to the access point, thereby establishing: a wireless downlink data communication channel from the access point to the device, and a wireless uplink data communication channel from the device to the access point. The method further includes performing a wireless link test comprising: transmitting a test frame to the device on the downlink channel, the test frame having a length greater than each of the management frames, including a sequence of test data bits, and being configured to require a mirror response comprising the sequence of test data bits; monitoring for receipt of the mirror response on the uplink; and, if the mirror response is received, determining the test is passed.

Abstract: Examples describe a method of operating a distribution point unit (DPU) having a wireless backhaul connection, such as a 4G or 5G connection. The distribution point unit is reverse powered electrically by connected subscriber lines. The radio configuration (number of antennas, frequencies, etc) used by the wireless backhaul connection is switched according to the power available from the subscriber lines. Changes to the available power can trigger a switch to a new radio configuration. Higher capacities (data rates) can be achieved with higher power radio configurations, which can be switched over to if the available power is sufficient. Similarly, when the available power drops, a switch can be made to an appropriate lower powered radio configuration.

Abstract: In a system formed of user devices, a home access point routing device connected to an Internet Service Provider, performance issues such as contention and interference on the home network can be determined. The home access point is arranged to monitor IP Flow information for data sessions between user devices and remote servers over a wireless or powerline Ethernet home network and performance issues are determined by the home access point or by a management server.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an improved method of operating a mobile terminal or user equipment in a cellular telecommunications network to efficiently discover preferred cells, in particular a HeNB, prior to connecting. Whilst constant searching for a preferred cell can ensure it is found as soon as it is within range, this has a significant impact on resources at the UE, such as battery power, and can disrupt any existing services that might be running. The proposed method determines the probability of the UE being within range of a preferred cell based on measurements already available to the UE or by the network. Additional measurements can then be made as required, and made with increasing frequency as the probability of being within range of the preferred cell increases.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a “software only” hosted or cloud-based physical layer management (PLM) system. Another embodiment is directed to a hosted or cloud-based PLM system or Automated Infrastructure Management (AIM) system that uses a hardware appliance that is locally deployed in an enterprises network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a mobile application executing on a smartphone that is used to assist a technician in carrying out electronic work orders. In some embodiments, the mobile application uses a camera in the smartphone to take photos that are associated with one or more steps of the work order.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a network node, and a method of operating the network node, having one or more communications interfaces connectable to a first communications network and to a second communications network, the method including the network node accessing a service using the first communications network; analyzing data relating to the first communications network to identify a plurality of fault-indicative events; determining a rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time; and the network node accessing the service using the second communications network in response to a first trigger, wherein the first trigger is based on the rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a mobile application executing on a smartphone that is used to assist a technician in carrying out electronic work orders. In some embodiments, the mobile application uses a camera in the smartphone to take photos that are associated with one or more steps of the work order. In some embodiments, the mobile application is used to cause one or more LEDs associated with a step of the work order to be illuminated or otherwise visually actuated.

Abstract: In order to allow automatic installation of a newly-supplied wireless device (2) such that it can communicate with the internet (9) through an access point (7), the new device (2) is configured so that on initial installation it operates in access point mode. A remote service provider (4) is provided with authentication information (406) and generates to instructions to the access point (7) to monitor for a broadcast beacon from the target wireless device (2). When it detects the beacon, the access point (7) switches to client mode to establish a secured wireless network connection (8) between the access point (7) and the new wireless network device (2), with the access point (7) operating in a client mode. By reversing the roles in this way, the provider of the new device (2) can arrange for automatic connection to the access point (7) without having to programmed the device (2) with any password or other data relating to the customer's access network.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a network node, and a method of operating the network node, having one or more communications interfaces connectable to a first communications network and to a second communications network, the method including the network node accessing a service using the first communications network; analyzing data relating to the first communications network to identify a plurality of fault-indicative events; determining a rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time; and the network node accessing the service using the second communications network in response to a first trigger, wherein the first trigger is based on the rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time.

Abstract: A method of controlling wireless Internet access is disclosed. A problem with conventional wireless Internet access is that users of wireless Internet access devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptop computers are often presented with an indication of the availability of an Internet connection, but find when they try to use that connection that it is of a disappointing quality. In some cases, the disappointing quality is caused by a poor radio link between the wireless device and an access point. In order to alleviate the problem in those cases, a method of controlling wireless Internet access is disclosed in which the attachment of a wireless device to a wireless network triggers the access point providing that wireless network to send the wireless device a series of test frames.

Abstract: In order to allow automatic installation of a newly-supplied wireless device (2) such that it can communicate with the internet (9) through an access point (7), the new device (2) is configured so that on initial installation it operates in access point mode. A remote service provider (4) is provided with authentication information (406) and generates to instructions to the access point (7) to monitor for a broadcast beacon from the target wireless device (2). When it detects the beacon, the access point (7) switches to client mode to establish a secured wireless network connection (8) between the access point (7) and the new wireless network device (2), with the access point (7) operating in a client mode. By reversing the roles in this way, the provider of the new device (2) can arrange for automatic connection to the access point (7) without having to programmed the device (2) with any password or other data relating to the customer's access network.

Abstract: A network asset location system and methods of its use and operation are disclosed. In one aspect, the network asset location system includes a mobile application component executable on a mobile device including a camera and a display, the mobile application component configured to receive image data from the camera and display an image on the display based on the image data and overlay information identifying one or more network assets identifiable in the image data. The network asset location system also includes an asset management tracking engine configured to receive the image data and generate the overlay information including an identification of a location of at least one of the one or more network assets within the image.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an improved method of operating a mobile terminal or user equipment in a cellular telecommunications network to efficiently discover preferred cells, in particular a HeNB, prior to connecting. Whilst constant searching for a preferred cell can ensure it is found as soon as it is within range, this has a significant impact on resources at the UE, such as battery power, and can disrupt any existing services that might be running. The proposed method determines the probability of the UE being within range of a preferred cell based on measurements already available to the UE or by the network. Additional measurements can then be made as required, and made with increasing frequency as the probability of being within range of the preferred cell increases.

Abstract: Wireless access point devices having wireless networks operating in accordance with 802.11b/g 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi can be affected by out-of-band interference caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. The wireless access points detect such interference devices using a flow processor to monitor the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. When a cell is detected, the wireless access point scans for neighboring wireless networks of neighboring wireless access points which may also be affected by the interference generated by the LTE cell.

Abstract: In a system of wireless access point routing devices each creating a wireless network, a management server monitors the performance of the wireless networks to identify performance degradation. Any wireless networks experiencing performance degradation are grouped by region to determine whether a common cause for the degradation is present.

Abstract: A management server for managing a population of wireless access point devices by detecting out-of-band interference to the operation of the wireless access point Wi-Fi networks caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. A flow processor monitors the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. A mitigation action to change the operational behavior of the wireless access point is then generated and applied to mitigate the effect of the detected interference device on the Wi-Fi network. The management server further determines, using a data store containing the location of the wireless access points, whether other wireless access points will be affected by the presence of the interference device and sends mitigation actions to potentially affected devices.