Abstract: A femto cell is located within a macro cell of a wireless communication system. A method of identifying the femto cell comprises: determining at least one timing difference, the at least one timing difference being observed for communications between a wireless communication unit and each of a femto cell and at least one macro cell; and comparing the at least one observed timing difference to reference timing difference data. The identity of the femto cell may allow the location of the femto cell to be set as a geographical location for a wireless communication device that is within the footprint of the femto cell. The identity of the femto cell may allow hand in of an ongoing call, from the macro cell to the femto cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to an asynchronous wireless communication system, such as a UMTS system. The various base stations of an asynchronous wireless communication system do not typically have known timing offsets Tb(i), and these timing offsets vary with time. The invention allows the calculation of the difference dTb(i,j) between timing offsets Tb(i), Tb(j) for pairs of base stations B(i), B(j), using the timing of signals received by one or more wireless communication units. Having eliminated the timing offsets between the base stations as a variable, geo-location techniques from synchronous networks may then be used to locate wireless communication units in the asynchronous wireless communication system.

Abstract: Estimating a location of a first mobile communication unit (220) in a cellular wireless communications system (200) comprises comparing a first signature from the first mobile communication unit with known signatures. The first signature may comprise control information, a set of observable cells and received power level information for the first mobile communication unit (220). A location estimate is provided from the known location of a known signature in a database (410), if that known signature matches the first signature. The comparison may be a correlation to determine the degree of matching. Context information may link two or more known signatures in the database (410), the known signatures having been obtained in temporal succession from one mobile device (258) in use in the system. The context information may be used in the comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving indoor/outdoor classification information for call data for a wireless communication network. The method comprises identifying a set of subscriber call data records relating to vehicular calls, deriving a physical channel measurement threshold value based at least partly on physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records identified as relating to vehicular calls, and classifying subscriber call data records for the wireless communication network as indoor subscriber call data records and outdoor subscriber call data records based at least partly on a comparison of physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records with the derived physical channel measurement threshold value.

Abstract: A method of deriving cell characteristic values for cells within a wireless communication network. The method for determining a set of cells for which cell characteristic values are to be derived, and using a genetic algorithm to derive cell characteristic values for the set of cells based at least partly on measurement data obtained by wireless communication subscriber units within the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A method of deriving signal strength attenuation characteristic values for cells within a wireless communication network. The method for determining a set of cells for which signal strength attenuation characteristic values are to be derived, and using a genetic algorithm to derive signal strength attenuation characteristic values for the set of cells based at least partly on signal strength information for signal strength measurements obtained by wireless communication subscriber units within the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A system (200) and method (500) are provided for storing communication session data and geolocation information derived from a wireless mobile communications system (210). A record of data for each communication session taking place in at least one geographical region of the mobile radio communications network (210) is stored (510) in a first storage area (220). Each record of data is accessed (520), and a subset of the data for each communication session is stored (530) in a second storage area (250). Geo-location information is derived (540) for each communication session, and stored in the second storage area (250) The method and system may allow much more rapid access to subsets of data, and if necessary to the original records.

Abstract: A modular data processing system (200) for processing communication session data from a cellular mobile communications system (210) comprises at least two autonomous data processing units (340). The autonomous data processing units (340) are arranged in parallel, and are operable simultaneously. Each data processing unit (340) receives and processes raw communication session data from an associated set of controllers of the cellular mobile communications system (210). At least one data collection subsystem (215) supplies the raw communication session data to the at least two autonomous data processing units (340), for calls made within the coverage area of the set of controllers associated with the data processing unit. Processed data may be available more rapidly with the invention. The invention is scalable, and the system may expand as a cellular mobile communications system grows.

Abstract: A moisture detection system for use on a hospital bed includes a person support surface comprising a core layer and a ticking layer. The ticking layer has an inner surface facing the core layer and an outer surface. In one embodiment the moisture detection system also includes a moisture detection sheet which has at least one moisture sensor connected thereto. The sheet is configured to be mounted to at least one of A) the core layer, B) external to the outer surface and C) between the ticking layer and the core layer. A controller is in communication with the moisture detection sensor, and with at least one pre-existing pressure sensor. In another embodiment the moisture detection system includes a detection sheet comprising a fabric which is configured to sense moisture, pressure or both. A controller is in communication with the detection sheet.

Abstract: A method and system for a cellular mobile communication system (900) are provided. The location of a mobile communication unit (905) in the cellular wireless communications system (900) can be estimated from: a first estimate of position, based on received signal power difference for signals received by the mobile communication unit (905) from at least two base stations (910); and a second estimate of the position of the mobile communication unit (905), from further information. A likelihood function for each estimate is weighted. The weighted first and second likelihood functions are combined, and one or more locations are selected as the estimated location. Propagation model parameters may be iteratively updated and/or refined, using location estimates obtained for large numbers of calls in the cellular mobile communication system (900).

Abstract: A method for deriving pathloss estimation values within a cellular communication network. The method comprises receiving pathloss data obtained from a plurality of wireless communication units located within the cellular communication network, receiving location information corresponding to the plurality of wireless communications units, associating received pathloss data with individual sectors within a coverage area of the cellular communication network based at least partly on the location information for the respective wireless communications unit, and deriving pathloss estimation values for individual sectors within the cellular communication network based at least partly on the received pathloss data.

Abstract: A moisture detection and alarming system connected to a person-support apparatus has been described. The system comprises a moisture detection sheet connected to at least one pressure sensor, at least moisture sensor and a controller. The pressure sensor can be configured to send a signal to the controller. The controller can be configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor and determine the presence of a person supported on the person support apparatus. If a person is supported on the person-support apparatus then a moisture sensor is activated by the controller to sense the moisture content on a mattress pad. If the moisture content on the mattress pad is out of a predefined range then an alarming unit can be activated. The controller may further be connected to at least one of a hospital network, communication station and nurse call system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless mobile communication system (400), such as a mobile telephone network. Network configuration data may contain inaccuracies, such as an error in the location of a base station (432, 434). These inaccuracies may lead to errors in estimating the location of a mobile communication unit (410). The invention creates probability density functions for the location of a mobile communication unit, based on communications with the mobile communication network (430). A confidence score may be calculated for each probability density function. A combined function can then be derived from the individual confidence scores. Maximization of the combined function may then lead to a corrected value for a network parameter of the network configuration data. Corrected network configuration data leads to more accurate measurements of the location of mobile communication units. In addition, upgrades to the antennae and base stations can be planned more effectively.

Abstract: A geolocation data acquisition system (200) and method (400) for acquiring communication session data from a mobile radio communications network (210). A data extraction module (222, 226) extracts call session data continuously from a network of call processors (224, 228), each call processor supporting mobile communication units in an associated geographical region of the coverage area of the mobile radio communications network. The data extraction module (222, 226) provides the extracted data to one of several storage areas (260). In each storage area, a record is created of the communication session data for each call made within the coverage area of an associated set of call processors (224, 228). The records stored in each storage area (260) comprise the data available for all communication sessions in the geographical region associated with the corresponding set of call processors (224, 228).

Abstract: A method for deriving timing information for a femto cell of a wireless communication system comprises a wireless communication unit of the system receiving observed timing data for a femto cell within a macro cell, and observed timing data for the macro cell. Timing difference values between timing offsets for the femto cell and timing offsets for the macro cell are used to determine a central reference timing difference value for the femto cell. The central reference timing difference value is set as reference timing information for the femto cell. A network element and computer program product for implementing the method of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit (410) is provided. The communication unit (410) communicates with a wireless communication network (430) of a wireless communication system (400). A probability density function is derived for the location of the wireless communication unit (410), from measured information and/or information about the wireless communication network (430). The probability density function is sampled to provide spatial and probability information about each of at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit (410). A wireless communication system (400) and a method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system (400) are also provided.

Abstract: Estimating a location of a first mobile communication unit (220) in a cellular wireless communications system (200) comprises comparing a first signature from the first mobile communication unit with known signatures. The first signature may comprise control information, a set of observable cells and received power level information for the first mobile communication unit (220). A location estimate is provided from the known location of a known signature in a database (410), if that known signature matches the first signature. The comparison may be a correlation to determine the degree of matching. Context information may link two or more known signatures in the database (410), the known signatures having been obtained in temporal succession from one mobile device (258) in use in the system. The context information may be used in the comparison.

Abstract: A method and system for a cellular mobile communication system (900) are provided. The location of a mobile communication unit (905) in the cellular wireless communications system (900) can be estimated from: a first estimate of position, based on received signal power difference for signals received by the mobile communication unit (905) from at least two base stations (910); and a second estimate of the position of the mobile communication unit (905), from further information. A likelihood function for each estimate is weighted. The weighted first and second likelihood functions are combined, and one or more locations are selected as the estimated location. Propagation model parameters may be iteratively updated and/or refined, using location estimates obtained for large numbers of calls in the cellular mobile communication system (900).

Abstract: A modular data processing system (200) for processing communication session data from a cellular mobile communications system (210) comprises at least two autonomous data processing units (340 ). The autonomous data processing units (340 ) are arranged in parallel, and are operable simultaneously. Each data processing unit (340) receives and processes raw communication session data from an associated set of controllers of the cellular mobile communications system (210). At least one data collection subsystem (215) supplies the raw communication session data to the at least two autonomous data processing units (340), for calls made within the coverage area of the set of controllers associated with the data processing unit. Processed data may be available more rapidly with the invention. The invention is scalable, and the system may expand as a cellular mobile communications system grows.

Abstract: A system (200) and method (500) are provided for storing communication session data and geolocation information derived from a wireless mobile communications system (210). A record of data for each communication session taking place in at least one geographical region of the mobile radio communications network (210) is stored (510) in a first storage area (220). Each record of data is accessed (520), and a subset of the data for each communication session is stored (530) in a second storage area (250). Geo-location information is derived (540) for each communication session, and stored in the second storage area (250) The method and system may allow much more rapid access to subsets of data, and if necessary to the original records.