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.

Abstract: An exemplary method of communicating includes storing a locating neighbor list that corresponds to a mobile station being in a communication range of a selected picocell. Upon receiving a current neighbor list, a determination is made whether the current neighbor list corresponds to the stored, locating neighbor list. If there is sufficient correspondence, that indicates that the mobile station is in a communication range of the picocell.

Abstract: A method of communicating in a picocell within a macrocell includes automatically setting an uplink transmit power of a mobile station to avoid uplink interference between the picocell and the macrocell. A disclosed example includes determining an allowable interference from the picocell to the macrocell. A path-loss between a mobile station and a macrocell is determined. An uplink transmit power of the mobile station for communicating in the picocell is determined based upon the determined allowable interference and the determined path-loss.

Abstract: A wireless communication system has at least one picocell within a macrocell. A method of communicating in that system includes using a set of predefined cell codes for respectively identifying macrocells. At least one predefined cell code is used for identifying all picocells within a macrocell to the macrocell. A picocell code distinct from the predefined cell codes is used for uniquely identifying a picocell to a mobile station with the macrocell. The mobile station is able to translate between the predefined cell code used by the macrocell to identify all picocells and the picocell code used to uniquely identify the picocell to the mobile station.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of transmitting user data in a TDMA system in which the number of channels is increased by partitioning at least one time-slot in a TDMA frame into at least two sub-time-slots. Each sub time-slot may be allocated to a different user. User data may be transmitted in each time slot in a burst structure, user data being transmitted in each sub time-slot in a corresponding burst structure. User data may be transmitted in each time slot in a burst structure having n bits and wherein each time slot is partitioned into m sub time slots, user data being transmitted in each sub time-slot in a corresponding burst structure having n/m bits.

Abstract: A communications system 1 includes an underlay network 2, which a cellular communications network implemented using UMTS technology, and an overlay home cell 8 set up by a user using a base station router 7, or other similar access device. A call may be transferred from the home cell 8 to a cell of the underlay network 2 and vice versa. If these operate at different tariffs, the user may find that handover between them results in extra charges for an on-going call. The user terminal 10 is enabled so as to allow the user to determine if handover should be performed, and thus retain control of costs incurred in making a call. The user terminal 10 may give an alert if there is a risk of imminent handover, allowing the user to take avoiding action if desired, or the user may configure preferences to control under what conditions handover may be performed.

Abstract: A method is provided of a base station for wireless telecommunications changing scrambling code to be applied to pilot signals for transmission. The method comprises automatically: identifying a need to change scrambling code, selecting a new scrambling code for use, reprogramming the base station to use the scrambling code, and using the new scrambling code for subsequent pilot signal transmissions.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (20) allows for using base station router devices (30, 32) for in building communications using a mobile station (22). Automatically registering a base station router device and automatically configuring at least an initial parameter for a frequency, transmit power and definition code of the base station router device facilitates easy installation of such devices. In one example, the initial parameters are determined by a communication server associated with a wireless communication network. In another disclosed example, at least one of the initial parameters is automatically determined by the base station router device.

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: The state of a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of nodes is monitored. Each node is at a time in one of a number of node states dependent upon a predetermined set of rules and local conditions at that node. The value of a parameter is determined where the value of the parameter is dependent upon the entropy of the node states in the network.

Abstract: A method for locating a mobile device in a wireless communications system comprised of a plurality of base stations is provided. The method comprises associating the mobile device with a first base station of the plurality of base stations. Thereafter, a paging signal is delivered from a subset of base stations associated with the first base station to the mobile device. The subset of base stations may correspond to a network active set of base stations associated with the mobile device. Thereafter, when a signal from one of the base stations in the subset of base stations is received, indicating that the mobile device responded to the paging signal from the one base station, then the mobile device is located and may be associated with the one base station for future paging attempts.

Abstract: A maximum transmission power level to be used by a radio telecommunications base station in communicating with a mobile user terminal is selected. The base station communicates with neighboring base stations to determine distances to the neighboring base stations, and sets the maximum transmission power level at a level such as to enable communications with mobile user terminals located at most a fraction of the distance from the base station towards the nearest neighboring base station.

Abstract: In the GPRS, a method of decoding uplink status having reduced interleaving depth in a RLC/MAC block is proposed; for RT-EGPRS users, all of the uplink flag bits are provided in the first burst of the four bursts; and for EGPRS users, nine bits of the uplink status flags are provided in the first burst of the RLC/MAC block and the remaining bits in the next three bursts. On receiving the first nine bits, a mobile performs an autocorrelation to identify the USF whether it belongs to the EGPRS or to the RT-EGPRS group.

Abstract: A telecommunications system comprises a plurality of networks. At least one of the networks is a network for wireless telecommunications. Each network comprises a network controller, and the system also comprises a user controller. The user controller negotiates with the network controllers for of transport for a service to the user. The user controller agrees contracts for transport with at least two networks, in respect to each of which the probability of providing transport is less than one.

Abstract: Channels are allocated to base stations in a telecommunications network for communications with mobile user terminals. Interference is measured on each channel used by a respective base station. The measured interference value for that channel and base station is added to an interference record. Channels are allocated to the base stations for further communications dependent upon the recorded interference.

Abstract: The system includes a network having a base controller (30) and a mobile station (32). The base controller (30) has a packet measurement order unit (34) which causes a package measurement reporter (68) in the mobile station to provide a measurement report. This report is stored in a buffer (44) and compared with reference values on a reference unit (48). If a change of cell is warranted, a packet cell change order unit (50) issues a command which is recorded by packet cell change unit (58) of the mobile station to retune the transmitter and receiver (54 and 56) to a new cell. The mobile station also has a unit (64) which generates a package cell change request to the base controller (30) to initiate a package cell change order from the unit (50) when a change is warranted.

Abstract: A maximum transmission power level to be used by a radio telecommunications base station in communicating with a mobile user terminal is selected. The base station communicates with neighboring base stations to determine distances to the neighboring base stations, and sets the maximum transmission power level at a level such as to enable communications with mobile user terminals located at most a fraction of the distance from the base station towards the nearest neighboring base station.

Abstract: The state of a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of nodes is monitored. Each node is at a time in one of a number of node states dependent upon a predetermined set of rules and local conditions at that node. The value of a parameter is determined where the value of the parameter is dependent upon the entropy of the node states in the network.

Abstract: In the GPRS, a method of decoding uplink status having reduced interleaving depth in a RLC/MAC block is proposed; for RT-EGPRS users, all of the uplink flag bits are provided in the first burst of the four bursts; and for EGPRS users, nine bits of the uplink status flags are provided in the first burst of the RLC/MAC block and the remaining bits in the next three bursts. On receiving the first nine bits, a mobile performs an autocorrelation to identify the USF whether it belongs to the EGPRS or to the RT-EGPRS group.

Abstract: A method of sending text messages by forwarding text messages intended for a first terminal to a second terminal is provided. The first terminal is a terminal of a mobile telecommunications network. The method comprises sending a control signal from the first terminal to routing circuitry indicating that text messages intended for the first terminal are to be forwarded to the second terminal. Text messages are then forwarded to the second terminal in consequence.