Abstract: An access point for use in a point to multipoint wireless network comprises a sector antenna and an antenna array of antenna elements, the antenna elements not including the sector antenna, and the antenna elements being arranged to receive signals from the same sector as the sector antenna. A first beamformer is configurable to form a first beam from signals received at the antenna array and a selector switch is switchable to at least a first state in which signals received at the sector antenna are connected to a first receiver, and a second state in which signals received from the first beamformer are connected to the first receiver. A scheduler is configured to set the selector switch to the first state for at least a first receive timeslot and to the second state for at least a second receive timeslot.

Abstract: An access point (1) for use in a point to multipoint wireless network comprises a sector antenna (8) and an antenna array of antenna elements (7), the antenna elements not including the sector antenna, and the antenna elements being arranged to receive signals from the same sector as the sector antenna. A first beamformer (10) is configurable to form a first beam (11) from signals received at the antenna array and a selector switch (5) is switchable to at least a first state in which signals received at the sector antenna (8) are connected to a first receiver (2), and a second state in which signals received from the first beamformer (10) are connected to the first receiver (2). A scheduler is configured to set the selector switch (5) to the first state for at least a first receive timeslot and to the second state for at least a second receive timeslot.

Abstract: An access point (1) for use in a point to multipoint wireless network comprises a sector antenna (8) and an antenna array of antenna elements (7), the antenna elements not including the sector antenna, and the antenna elements being arranged to receive signals from the same sector as the sector antenna. A first beamformer (10) is configurable to form a first beam (11) from signals received at the antenna array and a selector switch (5) is switchable to at least a first state in which signals received at the sector antenna (8) are connected to a first receiver (2), and a second state in which signals received from the first beamformer (10) are connected to the first receiver (2). A scheduler is configured to set the selector switch (5) to the first state for at least a first receive timeslot and to the second state for at least a second receive timeslot.

Abstract: A method of synchronising first and second clocks coupled respectively to ingress and egress interfaces 6,7 of a packet network 1, the method comprising calculating a minimum packet Transit Time over the network 1 in each of successive time intervals, and varying the frequency of the second clock so as to track variations in the minimum packet Transit Time.

Abstract: A method of synchronising first and second clocks coupled respectively to ingress and egress interfaces 6,7 of a packet network 1, the method comprising calculating a minimum packet Transit Time over the network 1 in each of successive time intervals, and varying the frequency of the second clock so as to track variations in the minimum packet Transit Time.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for determining the relative time alignment between a first time base in a first interface and a second time base in a second interface. Packets of different sizes are sent in either or both directions and their propagation delays are determined in an alignment control section at the destination. The calculated propagation delays may then be used to improve the alignment of the “slave” time base.

Abstract: A timing source is provided for sending timing information via a packet network. The source comprises a first clock for generating the timing information and a packet forming section for forming a sequence of packets. An output section in the form of a packet launch control section transmits the packets via the network as packet bursts, each of which comprises a plurality of packets with the intervals between consecutive packets of each burst being less than the intervals between consecutive packets. A time-stamping section inserts into each packet a transmission time derived from the timing information generated by the clock.

Abstract: A timing source is provided for sending timing information via a packet network. The source comprises a clock for generating the timing information and a packet-forming section for forming a sequence of packets for transporting the timing information to a destination node. A time-stamping section inserts into each packet of the sequence a transmission time derived from the clock and acts as an output section for forwarding the packets to the network at the respective transmission times. In one mode, the packet forming section forms all of the packets of the sequence with the largest size which the packet network is capable of transporting. In another mode, the packets of the sequence have a distribution of sizes which may be fixed or which may vary in response to traffic conditions.

Abstract: A method of preparing packets for injection into a packet network at an ingress interface of the packet network, for transmission over the network. The method comprises, at the ingress interface, receiving at least two parallel, constant bit rate streams of data, and separately packetising the constant bit rate streams to generate respective packet flows for forwarding to a packet sender. The frequency of at least one of the packet flows with respect to another packet flow is set so as to reduce the degree of correlation between the packet flows, and the packet flows sent to the same or different egress interfaces over the packet network.

Abstract: A method of synchronising first and second clocks coupled respectively to ingress and egress interfaces 6,7 of a packet network 1, the method comprising calculating a minimum packet Transit Time over the network 1 in each of successive time intervals, and varying the frequency of the second clock so as to track variations in the minimum packet Transit Time.