Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communications networks, and more specifically to method and apparatus relating to wireless backhaul for cellular wireless systems. Increasing data capacity of cellular wireless systems places increasing demands on the capacity of the two way connection, known as backhaul, between a cellular base station and a telecommunications network such as the PSTN backhaul, since this is the connection that has to convey the wireless-originating traffic to its destination, often in an entirely different network. Known backhaul links include leased lines, microwave links, optical fibre links or radio resources for relaying backhaul traffic between base stations. The fixed line solutions are expensive to implement and maintain, while the radio solutions suffer from interference from transmissions between base stations with transmissions from user equipment to base stations which are not communicating with other base stations.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are provided for transmitting and receiving space-time block coded data in a wireless communications system with co-operative relays. A source node transmits RF signals representing first and second sets of data symbols in respective first and second channels (in time frequency code or any combination) of a wireless communications system, the first and second sets of data symbols being for transmission from separate antennas respectively according to a space-time block code. A relay node receives the RF signals representing the first set of data symbols in the first channel and transmits RF signals representing the first set of data symbols in the second channel. A destination node received the RF signals representing the second set of data symbols from the source node and the RF signals representing the first set of data symbols from the relay node.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide an implementation for a multi-hop wireless backhaul network, in particular an aggregation node (AGN). The AGN includes a plurality of spatially switched antennas and a transceiver configured to operate on the plurality of spatially switched antennas in a time divisional multiplexing (TDM) fashion to establish active connections with other network nodes in a hierarchical manner. The AGN is further configured to perform a bi-directional relay function for backhaul traffic with the other network nodes using at least one virtual circuit having an allocated bandwidth for delay sensitive traffic. The AGN may serve to aggregate and relay/amplify circuit traffic between network nodes in the up stream and down stream directions. If the AGN is interposed within a circuit between two other nodes, the AGN can switch the circuit traffic between the end-nodes of the circuit.

Abstract: The capacity of a cellular wireless system is increased by operation of base stations or base station sectors arranged to re-use radio resource elements that are used by neighboring base stations or base station sectors, in conjunction with operation of relay stations, which are similarly arranged to re-use radio resource elements used by neighboring relay stations, and where the radio resource elements re-used by the relay stations are different to those used by the base stations. The relay stations provide coverage, particularly in the areas at the boundaries between the areas of coverage of base stations that suffer from interference between signals transmitted from the respective base stations. In addition, the relay stations generally increase the average available carrier to interference ratio compared with a system in which base stations alone are deployed.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method for wireless communication in a multi-hop network. A first preamble is transmitted using a first repetition cycle. Monitoring for a second preamble is done in a second repetition cycle. The first repetition cycle is different than the second repetition cycle.

Abstract: A power system is configured to provide a regulated voltage to an electrical load connected to a power source through at least one power line. The power system includes a first voltage control loop based on a remote sense signal indicative of voltage level at the load. The power system further includes a second voltage control loop based on a local sense signal indicative of a level of output voltage at the power source. The voltage level of the local sense signal is generally at a higher voltage level relative to the voltage level of the remote sense signal. Circuitry is configured to pass just the signal with the higher voltage level to ensure that the local sense control loop is a dominant control loop with respect to the remote sense control loop. This avoids effects on the power source from one or more failure modes that can occur in interconnections of the system.

Abstract: An electric power system includes a variable speed generator driven by an engine and an electrical energy storage device. The generator and the storage device are coupled to a variable voltage DC bus. An inverter converts DC electricity from the DC bus to AC electricity for one or more electrical loads. A detector is included to monitor electric current provided to the DC bus by the storage device and provide a corresponding signal. Control circuitry is responsive to this signal to regulate power output from the storage device to the DC bus.

Abstract: A local power generation system generates DC voltage at an inverter input, modulated to generate an AC power signal to a load. The inverter input voltage may be obtained from an engine generator, providing a rectified AC power signal. An energy storage device helps maintain DC voltage at the inverter input when load power draw increases or during engine startup or acceleration, for example, until the engine accommodates increased power demand. The system may also be used in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), in which the load draws power from a utility-provided AC power source until a fault condition appears. When the fault condition appears, the load switches its power draw from the utility-provided AC power source to the inverter output. The energy storage device is charged through a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter and through an inverter operating in rectifier mode to rectify a utility-provided AC power signal.

Abstract: A power system is configured to provide a regulated voltage to an electrical load connected to a power source through at least one power line. The power system includes a first voltage control loop based on a remote sense signal indicative of voltage level at the load. The power system further includes a second voltage control loop based on a local sense signal indicative of a level of output voltage at the power source. The voltage level of the local sense signal is generally at a higher voltage level relative to the voltage level of the remote sense signal. Circuitry is configured to pass just the signal with the higher voltage level to ensure that the local sense control loop is a dominant control loop with respect to the remote sense control loop. This avoids effects on the power source from one or more failure modes that can occur in interconnections of the system.

Abstract: A mobile telephony network comprises base stations operating according to a predetermined standard. A transfer node allows the transfer of data from a first base station to a second base station in the mobile telephone network. Data is sent from the first base station to a data receiver of the data transfer node via a first wireless communications channel complying with the said standard. The received data is transferred via an interface within the transfer node to a data sender of the data transfer node. The data sender sends the transferred data to the second base station via a second wireless communications channel complying with the said standard. The interface within the transfer node does not comply with the operating standard because it transfers data only within the node. Data may be sent from the second base station to the first base station via the node in similar manner.

Abstract: Allocate power so as to maximise the throughput of each user of a multi-user MIMO group, with the constraint that over time all users in the group have equal throughput. This differs from equal capacity per slot in that each user may be assigned multiple slots as well as unequal power. This is illustrated in FIG. 4. Total throughput is maximised on any given slot for any two users. Power is shared between the spatial modes such that the total number of slots used by the two users is minimised. The membership of the MIMO group may change between slots and thus throughput is not necessarily equalised on a slot by slot basis.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide an implementation for a multi-hop wireless backhaul network. These embodiments can advantageously be deployed in dense urban areas and/or co-located with wireless access nodes, such as base-stations of a cellular wireless communication system. Preferably wireless links between constituent network nodes are set-up hierarchically. A basic result of this is that peer-to-peer (child-to-child) communication is generally prohibited and circuits are forced to conform to a topology. The multi-hop wireless backhaul network may be used to carry delay sensitive, high-density last mile circuit traffic over Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) broadband radio links. Moreover, some embodiments of the invention provide a method of path-healing for re-routing of circuit traffic from circuits that have experienced catastrophic failures.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide an implementation for a multi-hop wireless backhaul network. These embodiments can advantageously be deployed in dense urban areas and/or co-located with wireless access nodes, such as base-stations of a cellular wireless communication system. Preferably wireless links between constituent network nodes are set-up hierarchically. A basic result of this is that peer-to-peer (child-to-child) communication is generally prohibited and circuits are forced to conform to a topology. The multi-hop wireless backhaul network may be used to carry delay sensitive, high-density last mile circuit traffic over Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) broadband radio links. Moreover, some embodiments of the invention provide a method of path-healing for re-routing of circuit traffic from circuits that have experienced catastrophic failures.

Abstract: The capacity of a cellular wireless system is increased by operation of base stations or base station sectors arranged to re-use radio resource elements that are used by neighbouring base stations or base station sectors, in conjunction with operation of relay stations, which are similarly arranged to re-use radio resource elements used by neighbouring relay stations, and where the radio resource elements re-used by the relay stations are different to those used by the base stations. The relay stations provide coverage, particularly in the areas at the boundaries between the areas of coverage of base stations that suffer from interference between signals transmitted from the respective base stations. In addition, the relay stations generally increase the average available carrier to interference ratio compared with a system in which base stations alone are deployed.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method for wireless communication in a multi-hop network. A first preamble is transmitted using a first repetition cycle. Monitoring for a second preamble is done in a second repetition cycle. The first repetition cycle is different than the second repetition cycle.

Abstract: A self-locking hook for supporting a load on a support surface is disclosed. The hook has a relatively rigid C-shaped body which includes a surface defining an opening for accommodating a support component and a connector having a load bearing or attachment point. The surface of the opening includes a first contact area and a second contact area. The load bearing or attachment point is attached to the body relative to the opening such that application of a load at the load bearing point while the first contact area is contacting a component rotates the body about the first contact area until the second contact area abuts the component. This self-locking feature allows the hook to be used effectively on component surfaces which are at almost any angle or slope relative to horizontal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communications networks, and more specifically to method and apparatus relating to wireless backhaul for cellular wireless systems. Increasing data capacity of cellular wireless systems places increasing demands on the capacity of the two way connection, known as backhaul, between a cellular base station and a telecommunications network such as the PSTN backhaul, since this is the connection that has to convey the wireless-originating traffic to its destination, often in an entirely different network. Known backhaul links include leased lines, microwave links, optical fibre links or radio resources for relaying backhaul traffic between base stations. The fixed line solutions are expensive to implement and maintain, while the radio solutions suffer from interference from transmissions between base stations with transmissions from user equipment to base stations which are not communicating with other base stations.

Abstract: An electric power system includes a variable speed generator driven by an engine and an electrical energy storage device. The generator and the storage device are coupled to a variable voltage DC bus. An inverter converts DC electricity from the DC bus to AC electricity for one or more electrical loads. A detector is included to monitor electric current provided to the DC bus by the storage device and provide a corresponding signal. Control circuitry is responsive to this signal to regulate power output from the storage device to the DC bus.

Abstract: A configurable organizer is described having releasably securable dividers or partitions for defining areas or compartments within the organizer for receiving items therein. The dividers are secured via retainers having retainer portions that are resiliently shiftable to permit insertion or removal of the retainer portions within openings in the organizer and to permit shifting to a natural outwardly biased position for retaining the dividers with the organizer. Support structures may also be provided to retard or prevent tilting or deflecting of the secured dividers. Additionally, the organizer may include a pair of trays having the openings for receiving the retainers and supports, and the trays may be adjustably and selectively moved relative to each other to expand or contract the organizer as desired, such as to conform to interior dimensions of a drawer.

Abstract: A self-locking hook for supporting a load on a substantially horizontal surface is disclosed. The hook has a relatively rigid C-shaped body which includes a surface defining an opening for accommodating a substantially horizontal component and a support having a load bearing or attachment point. The surface of the opening includes a first contact area and a second contact area. The load bearing or attachment point is attached to the body relative to the opening such that application of a load at the load bearing point while the first contact area is contacting a component rotates the body about the first contact area until the second contact area abuts the component. This self-locking feature allows the hook to be used effectively on both component surfaces which are slightly angled or sloped and with loads which are not perpendicular to the component surface.