Abstract: A method of implementing multiple radio access technologies, RATs, by a multi-RAT wireless communication network and a wireless communication apparatus. The multi-RAT wireless communication network transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus, a signal relating to a second RAT using a first RAT. The wireless communication apparatus uses a first radio communication module configured to support the first RAT to receive the signal, and activates a second radio communication module configured to support the second RAT from a power saving in order to perform a function. The first RAT generally has lower power consumption in use at the wireless communication apparatus than that of the second RAT.

Abstract: A method of implementing multiple radio access technologies, RATs, by a multi-RAT wireless communication network and a wireless communication apparatus. The multi-RAT wireless communication network transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus, a signal relating to a second RAT using a first RAT. The wireless communication apparatus uses a first radio communication module configured to support the first RAT to receive the signal, and activates a second radio communication module configured to support the second RAT from a power saving in order to perform a function. The first RAT generally has lower power consumption in use at the wireless communication apparatus than that of the second RAT.

Abstract: A method of implementing multiple radio access technologies, RATs, by a multi-RAT wireless communication network and a wireless communication apparatus. The multi-RAT wireless communication network transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus, a signal relating to a second RAT using a first RAT. The wireless communication apparatus uses a first radio communication module configured to support the first RAT to receive the signal, and activates a second radio communication module configured to support the second RAT from a power saving in order to perform a function. The first RAT generally has lower power consumption in use at the wireless communication apparatus than that of the second RAT.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network of devices including a sensor and a coordinator: the sensor comprising sensing means operable to detect values of a parameter; transmission and reception means for wireless communication with other devices in the network; and sensor control means operable to control a sleep pattern of the sensor; and the coordinator comprising transmission and reception means for wireless communication with other devices in the network; wherein the sensor transmission means is operable to transmit value information as to the parameter values and the coordinator transmission means is operable to transmit an indication of a suitable sensor sleep pattern taking into account the value information.

Abstract: A method of allocating resources in a wireless sensor network, the network having functions including medical monitoring of a patient using multiple network devices having sensors, the method including steps of: sensing, by a network device in the network, a life parameter of the patient; recognizing the existence of an emergency condition with respect to the parameter; the network device sending a request for streaming towards a coordinator of the network; the coordinator receiving (S12) the request along with any other requests from other devices in the network; and the coordinator granting (S14, S16) each the request by scheduling one of: a streaming allocation with highest priority for a network device which is in an emergency condition; a streaming allocation of medium priority for a network device sensing a life parameter which is not in an emergency condition; and a streaming allocation of lowest priority for a network device which is not sensing any life parameter of the patient and which is not in an

Abstract: In a wireless sensor network having a plurality of mobile sensor nodes (62, 63, 64, 65), a sink (70) is provided and re-positioned as required by assigning the role of sink to one of the mobile sensors at a time. Re-positioning involves finding candidate sinks in the vicinity of a current sink, a temporary sink or a central candidate in the network; judging the suitability of each candidate, for example by estimating the data throughput likely to be achieved if each candidate is selected as the new sink; and transferring the role of sink to the best candidate found. The temporary sink or central candidate may be selected with the aid of a positioning system (80) of the network. Suitability of a candidate sink may take into account a desired transmission rate of each sensor node in the vicinity of a candidate, this desired rate being found from a 3-D look-up table of each sensor.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless communication system comprising one or more base stations each configured to provide a corresponding coverage in use, a particular one of the base stations providing coverage to one or more in-coverage terminals, there being one or more out-of-coverage terminals outside the coverage provided by the particular base station, the method comprising: determining whether a condition related to direct device-to-device wireless communication between the in-coverage terminals and the out-of-coverage terminals is satisfied; and if the condition is satisfied, changing at least one of the coverage of the particular base station and the coverage of another one of the base stations, so as to provide coverage to one or more of the out-of-coverage terminals.

Abstract: A method of implementing multiple radio access technologies, RATs, by a multi-RAT wireless communication network and a wireless communication apparatus. The multi-RAT wireless communication network transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus, a signal relating to a second RAT using a first RAT. The wireless communication apparatus uses a first radio communication module configured to support the first RAT to receive the signal, and activates a second radio communication module configured to support the second RAT from a power saving in order to perform a function. The first RAT generally has lower power consumption in use at the wireless communication apparatus than that of the second RAT.

Abstract: A scheme to reduce the problem of radio interference between wireless devices such as MTC devices in a multi-RAT scenario. Wireless devices are configured (S10) for interference reporting in accordance with their capabilities. Information is collected, not only on interference measurements reported by the wireless devices, but also on device signatures (S12) and transmission patterns (S14) for the purpose of attributing interference, suffered by a reporting device, to one or more offending devices (S16). One or more mitigation techniques is then applied to the offending device and/or the reporting device (S20-S24). The scheme provides an additional stability mechanism for existing interference mitigation and co-existence schemes by using device management and avoiding potential conflicts across diverse systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless network of devices including a network device and a coordinator; the coordinator comprising transmission and reception means for wireless communication; and the network device comprising transmission means and reception means for wireless communication; and control means operable to selectively cause the device to communicate according to two different channel access schemes, a higher throughput scheme and a lower throughput scheme; wherein a trigger is provided in the network for a switch from the lower throughput scheme to the higher throughput scheme, wherein the trigger is determined taking into account the network device's transmission requirements. The transmission requirements may be based on a network according to the present invention, wherein the transmission requirements are defined based on one or more of the following factors: data waiting in the network device's buffer, emergency status of a device, urgency status of a device and battery level.

Abstract: In a wireless communication network, a Device-to-Device (D2D) link is set up using a modified Random Access (RACH) procedure. The conventional RACH procedure is modified to enable a D2D-capable UE (11) to indicate its capability to other UEs (12), to receive additional information from a base station (20), and to enable the handshake procedure used to establish a D2D link. Broadcast system information may additionally be modified to enable D2D links between UEs (11, 12) in the same or different coverage areas, taking into consideration the RRC UE states (RRC_Connected or RRC_Idle). The proposed modifications to the broadcast system information include: an indication of D2D link opportunities with other UEs under a different coverage area to that of the D2D capable UE; and RACH parameters in the coverage area of the D2D capable UE, to indicate the listening period for the D2D link.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless communication system comprising one or more base stations each configured to provide a corresponding coverage in use, a particular one of the base stations providing coverage to one or more in-coverage terminals, there being one or more out-of-coverage terminals outside the coverage provided by the particular base station, the method comprising: determining whether a condition related to direct device-to-device wireless communication between the in-coverage terminals and the out-of-coverage terminals is satisfied; and if the condition is satisfied, changing at least one of the coverage of the particular base station and the coverage of another one of the base stations, so as to provide coverage to one or more of the out-of-coverage terminals.

Abstract: A sensor for use in a wireless sensor network of devices, comprising: sensing means operable to detect values of a parameter; control means operable to determine a suitable sleep pattern of the sensor taking into account the detected values and a transmitter operable to transmit an indication of the suitable sleep pattern to a further device in the wireless sensor network.

Abstract: A method of declaring an emergency condition in a wireless sensor network, the wireless sensor network comprising a plurality of devices (10, 11, 12) including sensors (11) arranged for monitoring at least one living body or other entity, the method comprising steps of: sensing a value of parameter related to the living body by one of the sensors (11); wirelessly transmitting information by said sensor to another device (10) in the network; determining existence or non-existence of an emergency condition affecting said living body by using said sensed value or said transmitted information; and declaring existence or non-existence of the emergency condition to at least one other device (e.g. 10) in the network. The determining step may be carried out in any of the sensor (11), a coordinator (10) of the wireless sensor network, or a central monitor (12) in communication with the coordinator.

Abstract: A method of allocating resources in a wireless sensor network, the network having functions including medical monitoring of a patient using multiple network devices having sensors, the method including steps of: sensing, by a network device in the network, a life parameter of the patient; recognising the existence of an emergency condition with respect to the parameter; the network device sending a request for streaming towards a coordinator of the network; the coordinator receiving (S12) the request along with any other requests from other devices in the network; and the coordinator granting (S14, S16) each the request by scheduling one of: a streaming allocation with highest priority for a network device which is in an emergency condition; a streaming allocation of medium priority for a network device sensing a life parameter which is not in an emergency condition; and a streaming allocation of lowest priority for a network device which is not sensing any life parameter of the patient and which is not in an

Abstract: A sensor for use in a wireless sensor network of devices, comprising: sensing means operable to detect values of a parameter; control means operable to determine a suitable sleep pattern of the sensor taking into account the detected values and a transmitter operable to transmit an indication of the suitable sleep pattern to a further device in the wireless sensor network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless network of devices including a network device and a coordinator; the coordinator comprising transmission and reception means for wireless communication; and the network device comprising transmission means and reception means for wireless communication; and control means operable to selectively cause the device to communicate according to two different channel access schemes, a higher throughput scheme and a lower throughput scheme; wherein a trigger is provided in the network for a switch from the lower throughput scheme to the higher throughput scheme, wherein the trigger is determined taking into account the network device's transmission requirements. The transmission requirements may be based on a network according to the present invention, wherein the transmission requirements are defined based on one or more of the following factors: data waiting in the network device's buffer, emergency status of a device, urgency status of a device and battery level.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network of devices including a sensor and a coordinator: the sensor comprising sensing means operable to detect values of a parameter; transmission and reception means for wireless communication with other devices in the network; and sensor control means operable to control a sleep pattern of the sensor; and the coordinator comprising transmission and reception means for wireless communication with other devices in the network; wherein the sensor transmission means is operable to transmit value information as to the parameter values and the coordinator transmission means is operable to transmit an indication of a suitable sensor sleep pattern taking into account the value information.

Abstract: In a wireless sensor network having a plurality of mobile sensor nodes (62, 63, 64, 65), a sink (70) is provided and re-positioned as required by assigning the role of sink to one of the mobile sensors at a time. Re-positioning involves finding candidate sinks in the vicinity of a current sink, a temporary sink or a central candidate in the network; judging the suitability of each candidate, for example by estimating the data throughput likely to be achieved if each candidate is selected as the new sink; and transferring the role of sink to the best candidate found. The temporary sink or central candidate may be selected with the aid of a positioning system (80) of the network. Suitability of a candidate sink may take into account a desired transmission rate of each sensor node in the vicinity of a candidate, this desired rate being found from a 3-D look-up table of each sensor.