Abstract: The present invention provides methods of managing interference in a wireless communication system. The methods may include receiving information indicative of a portion of an interfering signal received by a first wireless communication device, decoding the portion of the interfering signal, and providing at least one back-off instruction destined for a second wireless communication device based on the decoded portion of the interfering signal.

Abstract: A base station, a method and a computer program product are disclosed. The base station is operable, in concert with other base stations within a group, to support wireless communications with user equipment. The base station comprises: transmission logic operable to generate a cell having a coverage area supporting wireless communications with user equipment; reception logic operable to receive load information indicative of a user equipment communications load experienced by base stations within said group; and coverage area adjustment logic operable to determine changes required to said coverage area to change a user equipment communications load experienced by at least one base station within said group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling the transmit power of a mobile station (UEX) served by a small cell (C1). In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of, and the apparatus comprises means for, detecting a measurement event anticipating the forthcoming fulfillment of a handover condition towards a neighboring macro cell (C2) by the mobile station, and thereupon step-wise increasing the transmit power level of the mobile station so as to reach a transmit power target (P_Target) when the handover condition is eventually fulfilled by the mobile station. The transmit power target is for compensating for an estimated downlink path loss for the mobile station in the macro cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of managing interference in a wireless communication system. The methods may include receiving information indicative of a portion of an interfering signal received by a first wireless communication device, decoding the portion of the interfering signal, and providing at least one back-off instruction destined for a second wireless communication device based on the decoded portion of the interfering signal.

Abstract: A telecommunications network node and methods are disclosed. The method is for generating, by genetic programming, evolved algorithms for adjusting base station transmission power to control coverage of a cell to assist in providing desired base station operating characteristics.

Abstract: A method is provided of evolving algorithms for network node control in a telecommunications network by genetic programming to (a) generate algorithms (b) determining fitness level of the algorithms based on a model of the telecommunications network and (c) select the algorithm that meet a predetermined fitness level or number of generations of evolution. The model is updated and the steps (a), (b) and (c) are repeated automatically to provide a series of algorithms over time adapted to the changing model of the network for possible implementation in the network.

Abstract: A method, a network access node and a computer program product are disclosed. The method of estimating a distance between at least one network access node and a network node of a wireless communications network, comprises: measuring total path losses between the at least one network access node and the network node on at least two different frequencies; determining frequency-dependent path losses of transmissions by the at least one network access node on the at least two different frequencies; and estimating a distance between the network node and the at least one network access node using the total path losses and the frequency-dependent path losses on the at least two different frequencies. By measuring the total path losses between network nodes on different frequencies and using frequency-dependent path losses determined for those frequencies, it is possible to estimate the distance between network nodes.

Abstract: A base station, a method and a computer program product are disclosed. The base station is operable, in concert with other base stations within a group, to support wireless communications with user equipment. The base station comprises: transmission logic operable to generate a cell having a coverage area supporting wireless communications with user equipment; reception logic operable to receive load information indicative of a user equipment communications load experienced by base stations within said group; and coverage area adjustment logic operable to determine changes required to said coverage area to change a user equipment communications load experienced by at least one base station within said group.

Abstract: A base station, a method and a computer program product are disclosed. The base station is operable, in concert with other base stations within a group, to support wireless communications with user equipment. The base station comprises: transmission logic operable to generate a cell having a coverage area supporting wireless communications with user equipment; reception logic operable to receive load information indicative of a user equipment communications load experienced by base stations within said group; and coverage area adjustment logic operable to determine changes required to said coverage area to change a user equipment communications load experienced by at least one base station within said group.

Abstract: A method for automatically configuring a neighbor cell list, NCL, for a base station in a cellular wireless network, comprises receiving measurement reports for neighbor cells from a plurality of mobile stations. The reports are grouped by the neighbor cell with which each is associated. Neighbor cells are selected for inclusion in the NCL depending on the number of reports in their respective group.

Abstract: A method is provided in a small cell base station comprising multiple antennas of controlling reception pattern by selecting a subset of the antennas for use.

Abstract: A femto cell device comprises: a receiver for receiving transmissions from a user terminal in an active call with a macro cellular network node; an analyzer for determining a radio frequency (RF) signature characterizing the transmissions received from the user terminal; an authorizer arranged to use the RF signature to determine if the user terminal is authorized to use the femto cell device; and a communicator for informing the core network that the femto cell device is a valid candidate handover target for the user terminal when the user terminal is determined by the authorizer to be authorized to use the femto cell device.

Abstract: A method of providing location information to a network application, a location server, a method of providing a trigger notification, a femto base station and a computer program product are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and network nodes of a wireless telecommunications system are disclosed. One method of controlling transmissions with a base station of a wireless telecommunications system comprises the steps of: determining a set of neighbouring base stations, each base station in the set of neighbouring base stations utilising an identical carrier and scrambling code to support transmissions with that base station; and allocating base stations in the set of neighbouring base stations different spreading codes for transmissions with those base stations. By allocating each base station in the set of base stations sharing the same carrier and scrambling code different spreading codes, interference in transmissions between the base stations can be controlled.

Abstract: A method of reducing interference from neighbouring cells, by optimising transmission Primary Scrambling Codes (PSC) within a small cell of a mobile telecommunications system, comprising: performing a network listening operation in the small cell to monitor transmissions of neighbouring cells, and determining scrambling codes and timing offsets of such transmissions; and providing, either (1) by means of a cross-correlation matrix determined in an initial characterising step, or (2) by means of a real-time cross-correlation process, a Primary Scrambling Code and a timing offset, in dependence on the cross-correlation values of determined codes and timing offsets of the neighbouring cells with codes and offsets that may be used by the small cell, does and offsets for the small cell which have a reduced likelihood of interference with transmissions of the neighbouring cells.

Abstract: A method is provided of selecting carrier frequency band of a femtocell base station that provides a femtocell and resides within a macrocell provided by a macrocell base station. The method comprises: the femtocell base station operating at the carrier frequency band of the macrocell, detecting that a user terminal connected to the macrocell base station at an carrier frequency band of the macrocell is in or close to the femtocell, and the femtocell base station switching its carrier frequency band to one not allocated to the macrocell.

Abstract: A user equipment identification detector for use in a wireless telecommunication network. The user equipment is operable to communicate with network nodes provided in the wireless telecommunication network. The detector comprises a proximity sensor and an interrogation unit. The proximity sensor is operable to detect placement of the user equipment within a predetermined detection region. The interrogation unit is operable to request an indication of identity from the user equipment detected in the predetermined detection region and communicate the indication of identity to a user equipment identification unit.

Abstract: A method is provided of triggering transfer of connection by radio with a user terminal from a macrocell base station to a femtocell base station. The method comprises: the femtocell base station sending a triggering signal to the user terminal at the carrier frequency of the macrocell, the user terminal reacting by seeking to transfer the connection to the femtocell base generator station.

Abstract: A transmit power control technique within a wireless communication system includes adjusting a transmit power used by a picocell base station unit based upon a position of the picocell within a macrocell. When a picocell base station unit is located relatively close to a macrocell base station or center of the macrocell, the transmit power of the picocell base station unit is increased to avoid downlink interference from the macrocell base station for mobile stations communicating within the picocell. When a picocell base station unit is located relatively close to an edge of a macrocell, the transmit power of the picocell base station is decreased to avoid interference caused by the picocell base station unit for mobile stations communicating within the macrocell in the vicinity of the picocell.

Abstract: A wireless communication server device facilitates overlay network communications in an underlay network environment. A database portion is configured to store information regarding overlay network devices within the underlay network environment. An overlay device management portion is configured to communicate with overlay devices and to provide operation information to the overlay devices. An underlay network communication portion is configured to communicate with at least one underlay network device at least to facilitate communications between a mobile station and a selected overlay device.