Abstract: Management of receiver sensitivity in a packet based wireless communication system is achieved by controlling a clear channel sensing process which determines if the channel is clear for use, governed by a sensitivity to use of the channel. The sensitivity of the clear channel sensing process is effected by monitoring transmission performance over a plurality of emissions, and making adjustments to the sensitivity based on comparison of that performance with a performance criterion.

Abstract: A controller for allocating a radio resource block to a user device in a cell of a cellular network, includes a device for identifying a plurality of edge user devices within range of a first base station, a device for identifying, from the plurality of edge user devices, a first edge user device with which the first base station intends to communicate and a second edge user device presently communicating with a second base station in a neighboring cell, and a device for allocating a communication channel to the first edge user device by assigning a resource block for communications between the first edge user device and first base station. The resource block is one that will provide the highest transmission rate for the first edge user device, while differing from any resource blocks already allocated for communication between the second edge user device and the second base station.

Abstract: A device and method for wirelessly communicating over a transmission channel with one or more wireless devices. The device comprises a wireless network interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a wireless signal via the wireless network interface, if strength of the received signal is greater than a first threshold, determine that the channel is busy, and, if the strength of the received signal is not greater than the first threshold, but is greater than a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, determine whether the received signal is intended for the device and if so, determine that the channel is busy.

Abstract: A device and/or method for dynamically adjusting a CCA threshold in an addressable unit that is suitable for communication in a wireless network, the method performed in the addressable unit and comprising autonomously increasing the CCA threshold with successful data transmissions and/or autonomously decreasing the CCA threshold with unsuccessful data transmissions.

Abstract: In a 3GPP LTE-A support for Mobile Type Communications, that is, M2M communications scheme, improvements of the random access are necessary to prevent random channel overload. Enhanced backoff in the presence of overload is such a mechanism, Counting the number of devices seeking RACH based on the number of received random access requests or else responses, and allocating Random Access resources on the basis of the number of requests, is another. Further, a channel aware resource allocation approach provides a way of determining, from the received requests, delay-tolerance of the M2M devices, based on which they are prioritized in accessing the random channel. Even within the prioritized devices, a smaller subset thereof may be prioritized further, according to radio conditions, to provide better access to those with higher SNR RBs.

Abstract: There is provided a method and device for managing a wireless network comprising a wireless access point for communicating over a transmission channel with one or more wireless stations. The method comprises the wireless access point monitoring network performance and, if the network performance is below a limit, issuing an instruction to one of the wireless stations to operate in a mode to more reliably determine when the transmission channel is clear.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of managing resources in a cell cluster of a wireless network is disclosed. The cell cluster comprises a plurality of cells, each cell having an inner region and an outer region.

Abstract: A device and method of scheduling data transmission in a communication system comprising receiving at a first network node a request for data transmission to the first network node and scheduling a data transmission originating at first network node so that the end of the data transmission substantially coincides with or is earlier than the expected end of the data transmission to first network node. The first network node is an access point or a station.

Abstract: Management of receiver sensitivity in a packet based wireless communication system is achieved by controlling a clear channel sensing process which determines if the channel is clear for use, governed by a sensitivity to use of the channel. The sensitivity of the clear channel sensing process is effected by monitoring transmission performance over a plurality of emissions, and making adjustments to the sensitivity based on comparison of that performance with a performance criterion.

Abstract: A device and/or method for dynamically adjusting a CCA threshold in an addressable unit that is suitable for communication in a wireless network, the method performed in the addressable unit and comprising autonomously increasing the CCA threshold with successful data transmissions and/or autonomously decreasing the CCA threshold with unsuccessful data transmissions.

Abstract: A method for allocating communication channels to access points in a communications network comprising: identifying, amongst the access points, one or more interference-prone pairs of access points, wherein each interference-prone pair comprises a first access point and a second access point that are currently using the same or overlapping communication channels to communicate with their respective client user devices, determining the number N of non-overlapping channels that are available for allocating to the access points; allocating the N non-overlapping channels between the access points in such a way as minimize the number of interference-prone pairs of access points; and where an access point cannot be allocated any one of the N channels without it comprising part of an interference-prone pair, selecting a particular one of the N channels to allocate to the access point based on a selection criterion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a wireless communication method in an access point of a wireless network is disclosed. The access point comprises at least one wireless interface operable to communicate on one of a plurality of channels. The method comprises monitoring each of the plurality of channels, wherein monitoring a monitored channel from the plurality of channels comprises switching the wireless interface to the monitored channel; receiving a plurality of indications, each transmitted by a second access point on the monitored channel and indicating an aggregate traffic level calculated by the respective second access point; and storing an indication of the highest aggregate traffic level received for the monitored channel; comparing the stored highest aggregate traffic levels for the plurality of channels; selecting as a communication channel, the channel from the plurality of channels having the smallest stored highest aggregate traffic level; and communicating over the communication channel.

Abstract: In an embodiment a wireless communication method in an access point of a wireless network is disclosed. The access point comprises a wireless network interface configured to be switchable between a plurality of wireless communication channels.

Abstract: A device and method for wirelessly communicating over a transmission channel with one or more wireless devices. The device comprises a wireless network interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a wireless signal via the wireless network interface, if strength of the received signal is greater than a first threshold, determine that the channel is busy, and, if the strength of the received signal is not greater than the first threshold, but is greater than a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, determine whether the received signal is intended for the device and if so, determine that the channel is busy.

Abstract: An access point for facilitating connection of one or more wireless user devices to a first communications channel and operable to allocate resources to said user devices, the access point comprising a user device authenticator for determining whether a user device is in possession of pre-determined user device authentication information for obtaining access to the first communications channel, the access point having first and second modes of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation, the entirety of said resources is available for use by all user devices and in the second mode of operation, a portion of the resources is reserved for user devices that are in possession of the device authentication information; the access point being configured to switch the mode of operation when one or more mode switch criteria are met, wherein one of the mode switch criteria is based on the current demand for resources.

Abstract: A method for implementing an uplink MU-MIMO protocol comprising: transmitting a sounding announcement from a base station to a plurality of wireless user stations; receiving, at the base station, a respective sounding signal from two or more of the wireless user stations; determining the duration of a period by which each wireless user station from which a sounding signal has been received should offset its data transmission relative to the other wireless user stations from which a sounding signal has been received; sending control announcement information to each wireless user station from which a sounding signal has been received, the control announcement information including a spatial transmission scheme and timing correction information defining the period for which those user stations are to offset their data transmission from one another; receiving data from the wireless user stations; and processing the received data using the timing correction information and spatial transmission scheme.

Abstract: A user device including a receiver for establishing a communications link with a wireless network and an access point selecting module for selecting an access point to use in establishing the communications link, the access point selecting module configured to: identify a plurality of access points within range of the user device and for each one of the identified access points; determine a maximum rate of data throughput that is achievable if using the access point to connect to the network; determine the value of a load parameter for the access point, wherein the value of the load parameter is indicative of apparent demand for resources that the access point is currently experiencing; determine a relative potential capacity of the access point by weighting the maximum rate of data throughput by the load parameter and select an access point to connect to the wireless network.

Abstract: A method for allocating communication channels to access points in a communications network comprising: identifying, amongst the access points, one or more interference-prone pairs of access points, wherein each interference-prone pair comprises a first access point and a second access point that are currently using the same or overlapping communication channels to communicate with their respective client user devices, determining the number N of non-overlapping channels that are available for allocating to the access points; allocating the N non-overlapping channels between the access points in such a way as minimise the number of interference-prone pairs of access points; and where an access point cannot be allocated any one of the N channels without it comprising part of an interference-prone pair, selecting a particular one of the N channels to allocate to the access point based on a selection criterion.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method of identifying interference in a wireless network is disclosed. The wireless network comprises a first base station and a second base station. The method comprises detecting an increase in an error rate in a wireless connection between the first base station and a first wireless device; comparing a reference signal power received by the first wireless device from the first base station with a threshold value; and determining that the increase in error rate is due to interference from a wireless connection between the second base station and a second wireless device if the reference signal power is greater than the threshold.

Abstract: In a 3GPP LTE-A support for Mobile Type Communications, that is, M2M communications scheme, improvements of the random access are necessary to prevent random channel overload. Enhanced backoff in the presence of overload is such a mechanism, Counting the number of devices seeking RACH based on the number of received random access requests or else responses, and allocating Random Access resources on the basis of the number of requests, is another. Further, a channel aware resource allocation approach provides a way of determining, from the received requests, delay-tolerance of the M2M devices, based on which they are prioritised in accessing the random channel. Even within the prioritised devices, a smaller subset thereof may be prioritised further, according to radio conditions, to provide better access to those with higher SNR RBs.