Abstract: A communication signal multiplexing apparatus includes first and second optical receivers, with the second optical receiver configured to receive an optical analog radio signal and to convert it into a corresponding electrical analog radio signal having a carrier frequency and the first optical receiver configured to receive an optical digital communication signal and to convert it into a corresponding electrical digital communication signal having a frequency spectrum. Further, a first electrical filter apparatus is configured to receive the electrical digital communication signal, and comprises a low-pass filter having a cut-off frequency lower than the carrier frequency of the electrical analog radio signal, and applies the low-pass filter to the electrical digital communication signal.

Abstract: A method (200) of controlling compensation of chromatic dispersion in an optical transport network. The method comprises determining (202) whether a residual dispersion, RD, of a first path (3) within the network is within a defined RD range and if the RD of the first path is outside the defined RD range the method comprises identifying (204) a first tuneable dispersion compensation module, TDCM, crossed by the first path (3), configured to apply a respective value of dispersion compensation.

Abstract: A method (200) of controlling compensation of chromatic dispersion in an optical transport network. The method comprises determining (202) whether a residual dispersion, RD, of a first path (3) within the network is within a defined RD range and if the RD of the first path is outside the defined RD range the method comprises identifying (204) a first tuneable dispersion compensation module, TDCM, crossed by the first path (3), configured to apply a respective value of dispersion compensation.

Abstract: A method performed by a UE (10) for evaluating validity of a radio link, wherein the UE (10) is operating in a wireless communication network, and wherein the UE (10) receives a signal on the radio link. The UE (10) determines (401) that the received signal comprises a time synchronization message and a security extension associated with the time synchronization message. The UE (10) further determines (402) that the radio link is valid if a security mechanism related to the security extension indicates that the time synchronization message is valid. The UE (10) further determines (403) that the radio link is non-valid if the security mechanism related to the security extension indicates that the time synchronization message is non-valid.

Abstract: An access network for communication with a wireless device (100), the access network comprising a plurality of antennas each configured to provide a cell for radio frequency communication with the wireless device, and a plurality of sets of optical elements (40) configured for optical communication with the wireless device (100). The access network comprises a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus is operative to connect to the wireless device with both the radio frequency communication and optical communication, and connect to the wireless device with the radio frequency communication at least in a downlink direction, and connect to the wireless device with the optical communication at least in an uplink direction.

Abstract: A path computation engine, PCE, (100) for an optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links.

Abstract: An optical link for a communication network, the optical link having an optical fibre link, a downstream transmitter, a downstream receiver, an upstream transmitter and an upstream receiver. The upstream and downstream transmitters are configured to transmit a respective pilot tone on a respective optical carrier and are configured to tune a frequency of the pilot tone within a preselected frequency range. The upstream and downstream receivers are configured respectively to determine an upstream notch frequency, fnotch-US, and a downstream notch frequency, fnotch-DS, of respective detected photocurrents from at least one respective pilot tone frequency at which the respective detected photocurrent is equal to or lower than a photocurrent threshold. The optical link also includes processing circuitry configured to receive the upstream and downstream notch frequencies and configured to estimate a propagation delay difference of the optical link depending on the upstream and downstream notch frequencies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing communications. In one aspect, a method comprises receiving first data from a first device and receiving second data from a second device, wherein the first data has a longer latency constraint than the second data. The method also comprises sending the first data over a network link to a processing node for processing the first data.

Abstract: A method of data replication between a first data center and a second data center, wherein the first data center has a data set to be replicated, the method comprising: determining (501) whether a first path from the first data center to the second data center is suitable for the data set to be replicated, by: transmitting (502) test data along the first path, taking (503) latency measurements for the test data along the first path; and determining a latency parameter of the first path using the latency measurements; and determining (504) if the latency parameter of the test data is less than a maximum latency threshold. If the latency parameter is less than the maximum latency threshold, the method performs (505) replication of the data set using the first path.

Abstract: A method of allocating transport resources to beams in a network area, wherein the beams comprise beam formed radio channels (505, 507, 513, 515) between antenna points (509, 511, 517) and wireless devices (501, 503) in the network area. The method comprises receiving candidate beam information relating to a plurality of candidate beams for use in future communications between antenna points and wireless devices (201); and allocating transport resources to one or more antenna points in the network area based on the candidate beam information (203).

Abstract: Communication signal multiplexing apparatus (100) comprising: a first optical receiver (102) configured to receive an optical analog radio signal and to convert it into a corresponding electrical analog radio signal having a carrier frequency; a second optical receiver (104) configured to receive an optical digital communication signal and to convert it into a corresponding electrical digital communication signal having a frequency spectrum; first electrical filter apparatus (106) configured to receive the electrical digital communication signal, comprising a low-pass filter having a cut-off frequency lower than the carrier frequency of the electrical analog radio signal, and configured to apply the low-pass filter to the electrical digital communication signal; signal combining apparatus (108) configured to combine the low-pass filtered electrical digital communication signal with the electrical analog radio signal to form a combined electrical signal; and an optical transmitter (110) configured to generate

Abstract: A method for managing traffic of a plurality of packets in a plurality of packet flows transmitted using a time-slotted interface. The packet flows traverse a plurality of switches of a transport network according to an assigned path from a source node to a destination node. The method comprises determining an end-to-end latency of a plurality of packets traversing a current switch in packet flows and assigning priority values to the packets traversing the current switch, wherein a priority value of a packet depends on the determined end-to-end latency of said packets. The method further comprises allocating a time slot in an output interface of the current switch to the packet having the highest priority value among the packets competing for said time slot.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing communications. In one aspect, a method comprises receiving first data from a first device and receiving second data from a second device, wherein the first data has a longer latency constraint than the second data. The method also comprises sending the first data over a network link to a processing node for processing the first data.

Abstract: A path computation engine, PCE, (100) for an optical communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links.

Abstract: An optical link for a communication network, the optical link having an optical fibre link, a downstream transmitter, a downstream receiver, an upstream transmitter and an upstream receiver. The upstream and downstream transmitters are configured to transmit a respective pilot tone on a respective optical carrier and are configured to tune a frequency of the pilot tone within a preselected frequency range. The upstream and downstream receivers are configured respectively to determine an upstream notch frequency, fnotch-US, and a downstream notch frequency, fnotch-DS, of respective detected photocurrents from at least one respective pilot tone frequency at which the respective detected photocurrent is equal to or lower than a photocurrent threshold. The optical link also includes processing circuitry configured to receive the upstream and downstream notch frequencies and configured to estimate a propagation delay difference of the optical link depending on the upstream and downstream notch frequencies.

Abstract: A method of data replication between a first data center and a second data center, wherein the first data center has a data set to be replicated, the method comprising: determining (501) whether a first path from the first data center to the second data center is suitable for the data set to be replicated, by: transmitting (502) from the first data center to the test data along the first path, taking (503) latency measurements for the test data along the first path; and determining a latency parameter of the first path using the latency measurements; and determining (504) if the latency parameter of the test data is less than a maximum latency threshold. If the latency parameter is less than the maximum latency threshold, the method performs (505) replication of the data set using the first path.

Abstract: A method of scheduling transmission of a data flow in a data center network comprising a plurality of network nodes and links. The method comprising, at a network controller receiving (14) a transmission request for a data flow, obtaining (15) a tolerated time interval for the data flow, and scheduling (16) transmission of the data flow within the tolerated time interval and without contention with other transmissions.

Abstract: A method of allocating transport resources to beams in a network area, wherein the beams comprise beam formed radio channels (505, 507, 513, 515) between antenna points (509, 511, 517) and wireless devices (501, 503) in the network area. The method comprises receiving candidate beam information relating to a plurality of candidate beams for use in future communications between antenna points and wireless devices (201); and allocating transport resources to one or more antenna points in the network area based on the candidate beam information (203).

Abstract: A method for switching data signals transmitted over a transport network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a plurality of input data signals of a first signal type wherein the plurality of data signals of the first signal type comprises data signals exchanged between a Radio Equipment and a Radio Equipment Controller and aggregating the plurality of input data signals into an aggregated first data signal. The method also comprises receiving a second data signal of a second signal type different to the first signal type, and multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal to form a combined data signal. The method further comprises forwarding the combined data signal to the transport network. Multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal comprises, for a frame of the combined data signal, allocating the first data signal to a portion of the frame reserved for the first data signal, and allocating the second data signal to a remaining portion of the frame.

Abstract: Configuring a node (410, A-I, L-O) of a synchronization network, involves determining information about synchronization sources of a plurality of synchronization trails for passing synchronization information from the synchronization source (A, L, O, PRC) to the node to provide a synchronization reference. After determining automatically (210, 250, 330, 335, 340) synchronization transmission characteristics of trails (EP, FG, GH, HM, MN, OF, FI, IH) which use packet-based communication, the trails are compared automatically (240, 370), using their source information and their synchronization transmission characteristics, for selecting winch of these trails to use for providing the synchronization reference for the node (N).