Abstract: A method and apparatus for radio frequency (RF) fingerprint distribution is provided herein. In particular, when a mobile node wishes to access a restricted-access base station, the mobile node will access a database containing RF fingerprint identification information for the RF environment surrounding the restricted-access base station. When the RF environment matches the RF fingerprint, the mobile node will know that it can access the restricted-access base station.

Abstract: A communication system (100) comprises a core network (109) for routing data to and from radio networks. A first radio network supports a first air interface standard (e.g. UMTS) and comprises a first controller, such as an RNC (107), which can receive a handover preference message from the core network (109) and which can determine a handover in response to the handover preference message. The second radio network supporting a second air interface standard (e.g. GSM) and comprises a second controller, such as a BSC 111, which can receive the handover preference message from the core network (109) and which can determine a handover in response to the handover preference message. An interlayer handover controller sets a handover preference indication such that the first controller biases handover decisions towards a remote station being supported by the first radio network and the second controller biases handover decisions towards the remote station being supported by the second radio network.

Abstract: A cellular communication system comprises an access point (101) which supports an underlay cell of a first cell on an underlay frequency using another frequency. A proximity detector (113) detects user equipment (109) in response to a wireless transmission therefrom, which uses a different transmission technology from a transmission of the cellular communication system. In response to the proximity detection, the access point (101) temporarily transmits a pilot signal on the first cell frequency. The user equipment (109) is then switched to the access point (109) and the underlay frequency in response to a detection indication from the user equipment (109) indicating that the pilot signal has been detected. Following the switch the access point (101) terminates the transmission of the pilot signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for radio frequency (RF) fingerprint distribution is provided herein. In particular, when a mobile node wishes to access a restricted-access base station, the mobile node will access a database containing RF fingerprint identification information for the RF environment surrounding the restricted-access base station. When the RF environment matches the RF fingerprint, the mobile node will know that it can access the restricted-access base station.

Abstract: A communication unit for a radio communication system comprises a receiver for receiving data over an air interface. The receiver can operate in a first diversity mode and a second diversity mode. The first diversity mode may specifically correspond to no receive diversity being employed and the second diversity mode may correspond to signals from two or more fully or partially de-correlated antennas being combined. The communication unit comprises a data unit which determines a first data characteristic for a section of data to be received over the air interface. A switching unit is arranged to switch between the first diversity mode and the second diversity mode in response to the first data characteristic. The invention may allow improved performance and e.g. reduced power consumption by allowing an improved adaptation of diversity operation. In particular, an improved trade-off between power consumption and performance may be achieved in many embodiments.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a first radio network supporting a first air interface standard and a second radio network supporting a second air interface standard. The second radio network comprises a network interface 401 which receives a handover request message from the first radio network to hand over a remote station 101 to the second network. A handover preference processor 405 receives a handover preference message including a preference indication for a radio network for the remote station. A load processor 409 determines a load indication for the second radio network and a load threshold processor 407 determines a handover load threshold for the remote station in response to the preference indication. A handover evaluation processor 403 determines whether to accept the handover in response to a comparison of the load indication and the handover load threshold.

Abstract: A cellular communication system employs an air interface time frame structure comprising time frames divided into a plurality of timeslots. In the system, a timeslot configuration processor (115) comprises a timeslot configurator (203) which configures timeslots of the time frames as a first service type or a second service type. The first and second service type can be circuit switched or packet switched service types. A first processor (205) converting a first timeslot from the first service type to the second service type. The cellular communication system then supports at least one service of the second service type in the first timeslot. A second processor (207) converts the first timeslot from the second type to the first type in response to a first service type usage characteristic for a cell supporting the at least one service and a second service type usage characteristic for a plurality of cells.

Abstract: A cellular communication system comprises an access point (101) which supports an underlay cell of a first cell on an underlay frequency using another frequency. A proximity detector (113) detects user equipment (109) in response to a wireless transmission therefrom, which uses a different transmission technology from a transmission of the cellular communication system. In response to the proximity detection, the access point (101) temporarily transmits a pilot signal on the first cell frequency. The user equipment (109) is then switched to the access point (109) and the underlay frequency in response to a detection indication from the user equipment (109) indicating that the pilot signal has been detected. Following the switch the access point (101) terminates the transmission of the pilot signal.

Abstract: A cellular communication system comprises a first base station (103) supporting user equipments (101) in a first cell. A user equipment (101) is supported in the first cell by the first base station (103) and is arranged to transmit previous cell switch candidate data to the first base station (103). The previous cell switch candidate data comprises an indication of at least one cell switch candidate for at least one base station supporting the user equipment prior to the first base station (103). The first base station is arranged to receive the previous cell switch candidate data transmitted from the user equipment (101). The previous cell switch candidate data may be used for different purposes such as synchronization of cells or generation of suitable cell switch candidate lists, such as neighbour cell lists. In particular, the approach may allow an improved automated or semi-automated generation of neighbour cell lists for a dynamically changing cell layout.

Abstract: A packet data transmission protocol that uses transmission windows includes a packet control unit (PCU) (4, 8) that transmits (100) blocks of data packets from a first transmission window. A user equipment (UE) (2) sends (102) a negative acknowledgement to the PCU if the packets are not received properly, whereupon the PCU construct (106) a dummy radio link control (RLC) block (60), including at least header information upon event of an established (104) trigger (60) event. The PCU sends (108) the dummy RLC block at a more robust coding rate to prevent a RLC stall condition.

Abstract: A communication unit for a radio communication system comprises a receiver for receiving data over an air interface. The receiver can operate in a first diversity mode and a second diversity mode. The first diversity mode may specifically correspond to no receive diversity being employed and the second diversity mode may correspond to signals from two or more fully or partially de-correlated antennas being combined. The communication unit comprises a data unit which determines a first data characteristic for a section of data to be received over the air interface. A switching unit is arranged to switch between the first diversity mode and the second diversity mode in response to the first data characteristic. The invention may allow improved performance and e.g. reduced power consumption by allowing an improved adaptation of diversity operation. In particular, an improved trade-off between power consumption and performance may be achieved in many embodiments.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a first radio network supporting a first air interface standard and a second radio network supporting a second air interface standard. The second radio network comprises a network interface 401 which receives a handover request message from the first radio network to hand over a remote station 101 to the second network. A handover preference processor 405 receives a handover preference message including a preference indication for a radio network for the remote station. A load processor 409 determines a load indication for the second radio network and a load threshold processor 407 determines a handover load threshold for the remote station in response to the preference indication. A handover evaluation processor 403 determines whether to accept the handover in response to a comparison of the load indication and the handover load threshold.

Abstract: A communication system (100) comprises a core network (109) for routing data to and from radio networks. A first radio network supports a first air interface standard (e.g. UMTS) and comprises a first controller, such as an RNC (107), which can receive a handover preference message from the core network (109) and which can determine a handover in response to the handover preference message. The second radio network supporting a second air interface standard (e.g. GSM) and comprises a second controller, such as a BSC 111, which can receive the handover preference message from the core network (109) and which can determine a handover in response to the handover preference message. An interlayer handover controller sets a handover preference indication such that the first controller biases handover decisions towards a remote station being supported by the first radio network and the second controller biases handover decisions towards the remote station being supported by the second radio network.

Abstract: A cellular communication system includes base stations supporting macro cells and with unique cell scrambling codes within a region. The system further includes access points supporting underlay cells and with shared cell scrambling codes within the region. One or more of the access points or base stations comprise transmit means for transmitting an indication of at least a first shared scrambling code to a remote station. The shared scrambling code is shared by a plurality of access points. The remote station is arranged to receive the first shared scrambling code and to determine if a first signal using the first shared scrambling code is received. If the first signal is detected, a handover controller initiates a handover of the remote station to at least a first access point of the plurality of access points sharing the first shared scrambling code.

Abstract: A wireless data system (200) and a method (300) of communicating digital data to a handheld wireless device (202) are provided. The wireless data system (200) includes a plurality of handheld wireless devices (202) capable of receiving digital data comprised of a first digital data portion and at least one second digital data portion. The wireless data system (200) also includes a wireless network (209) capable of transmitting (318) the first digital data portion to the plurality of handheld wireless devices (202), a data server (212) for creating the digital data, the data server capable of communicating with the wireless network, and at least one broadcast transmitter (215) communicating with the data server, the at least one broadcast transmitter broadcasting (321) the at least one second digital data portion to the plurality of handheld wireless devices.

Abstract: A wireless data system (200) and a method (400) of communicating digital data to one or more handheld wireless devices (202) are provided. The method (400) comprise the steps of removing (402) at least one data segment from the digital data to form a first digital data portion (300) and replacing (406) the at least one data segment with an at least one position holder (303, 305) embedded into the first digital data portion. The method further includes forming (409) at least one second digital data portion including the at least one data segment, communicating (413) the first digital data portion (300) to a wireless network (209), and communicating (419) the at least one second digital data portion to a broadcast transmitter (215). The method broadcasts (422) the first digital data portion (300) from the wireless network (209) and broadcasts (425) the at least one second digital data portion from the broadcast transmitter (215).