Abstract: A method for switching off a communication network is provided. The communication network includes a plurality of access points coordinated by a master device, where each access point manages a wireless network known as a fronthaul network, and where a station is able to associate itself with a fronthaul network of the communication network. At least one item of information relating to each associated station is obtained from each access point, and, for each station, it is determined as to whether it is present or absent according to association information. A phase of switching off at least one fronthaul network is initiated when all the stations are determined as being absent from the communication network.

Abstract: A method for associating a new gathering node in a distributed wireless communication network, each gathering node includes at least one access-point radio-frequency interface and/or a user node of a so-called gathering wireless network associated with the communication network, the method being performed by a management node of the network and including the steps of receiving a message which include information that a new gathering node is to be associated, sending a command activating a so-called association radio-frequency interface, receiving a message indicating that a new gathering node is associated with an existing gathering node, determining a first validation of association of the new gathering node, and, if the association is validated, then sending, to the new gathering node, information on parameterisings includes information necessary for an association of the new node with the gathering wireless network of the network.

Abstract: A wireless communication network that includes a backhaul network interconnecting node devices for extending a radio coverage of a wireless fronthaul network by using a plurality of access points of the wireless fronthaul network, the communication channel is used for interconnecting said node devices. A node device of the backhaul network makes an evaluation of the transmission conditions of its radio environment; calculates a score representing a quality of transmission via this communication channel; transmits to said master node device a message requesting change of communication channel of the backhaul network when at least one other communication channel has obtained a better score than the communication channel selected by the master node device. On reception of the message, master node device obtains scores for the other node devices, and decides to change, or not, communication channel used in the backhaul network according to the scores obtained.

Abstract: A method for managing by management equipment including a first access point of a first network and a second access point of a second network, the first network having functionalities superior to the second network, each access point sending beacons, a station being able to process the beacons sent by the first and second access points or being able to process only the beacons sent by the second access point, the second access point performs the steps of: receiving an association request coming from a station, checking whether the station is able to process the beacon sent by the first access point, rejecting the association request if the station is able to process the beacons sent by the first access point, and associating the station if the station is not able to process the beacons sent by the first access point.

Abstract: A communication device is described comprising at least one first radio configured to be active when the device is in operation; at least one second radio configured to be selectively active or deactivated when the device is in operation; a processor and a memory containing code which when executed by the processor causes the device to: detect the association of a client device with an access point of an active radio from the at least one first radio and at least one second radio; determine whether the client device supports a second deactivated radio from the at least one second radio and if so, activate said second deactivated radio. Additionally, a method associated with the device and a device and a method for deactivating a second radio are described.

Abstract: A method for selecting operational channels in a communication network including a plurality of gathering nodes connected together by cable links and wireless links. The method includes: for each branch, selecting and using at least one operational channel, and informing the other branches of the selection thereof, and determining whether there exists at least one selected operational channel in common between the branch and another; identifying at least one group of branches wherein each branch has at least one selected channel in common with another in the group and wherein each branch sees from a radio-propagation point of view at least one other branch in the set; for each group of branches identified, selecting at least one operational channel by realigning within the group the selections of at least one operational channel made by branch; for each group of branches, applying the channel selected by the group.

Abstract: A method for selecting operational channels in a communication network including a plurality of gathering nodes connected together by cable links and wireless links. The method includes: for each branch, selecting and using at least one operational channel, and informing the other branches of the selection thereof, and determining whether there exists at least one selected operational channel in common between the branch and another; identifying at least one group of branches wherein each branch has at least one selected channel in common with another in the group and wherein each branch sees from a radio-propagation point of view at least one other branch in the set; for each group of branches identified, selecting at least one operational channel by realigning within the group the selections of at least one operational channel made by branch; for each group of branches, applying the channel selected by the group.

Abstract: A method and a device for selecting a node in a local area network comprising nodes allowing an extension of wireless communication coverage, the nodes being interconnected by an access point interface of a backhaul subnetwork and a client interface of the backhaul subnetwork of another node, each node of the backhaul subnetwork emitting at least one wireless network called a fronthaul network, to associate itself with the local area network an item of equipment obtains, from each node allowing an extension of wireless communication coverage, information comprising at least one item of information representing the hierarchical level of the node and an item of information indicating whether the client interface of the backhaul subnetwork is connected to an access-point interface of the backhaul subnetwork of a node of a higher hierarchical level, selects, from the information obtained, the node allowing an extension of wireless communication coverage with which the equipment associates itself.

Abstract: A method for configuring a communication network including a gateway adapted for connecting the communication network to a wide area communication network and connected to a plurality of nodes implementing an access point functionality is described. The nodes are coordinated in a centralised manner by a current master node selected from the plurality of nodes. The current master node obtains a virtual MAC address and an IP address associated with the virtual MAC address, the IP address being reserved for configuring network services. It next configures a virtual network interface from the IP address associated with the virtual MAC address.

Abstract: For determining a temporal reference and/or at least one spatial reference, in a communication system comprising a plurality of gathering gateways configured to transmit beacons, a device performs for each beacon: obtaining (502) therefrom information on current geolocation of the gathering gateway that transmitted said beacon; obtaining (503) therefrom information representing a communication technology used for determining said current geolocation; and obtaining (504) therefrom information indicating whether said current geolocation was determined by internal means or by external means. The device then uses (509) the information thus obtained for determining the temporal reference for synchronizing in time and frequency said device and/or the spatial reference or references for determining the geolocation of said device.

Abstract: A wireless communication system has an access point managing a first wireless local area network. To transmit the frame, the access point: obtains data to be transmitted in multicast mode; obtains data to be transmitted in unicast mode; and constructs a physical-layer header including: in a common signalling field, an identification of each channel resource intended to be used for making the frame transmission, whether this be for the data to be transmitted in unicast mode or in multicast mode; and, in each field in a series of specific signalling fields, information representing an association between a channel resource identifier used and a unique identifier of the destination concerned or group of destinations concerned. Thus each destination can determine each channel resource to listen to in order to receive the data that are addressed to it, whether this be in unicast mode or in multicast mode.

Abstract: A wireless communication system has an access point managing a first wireless local area network. To transmit the frame, the access point: obtains data to be transmitted in multicast mode; obtains data to be transmitted in unicast mode; and constructs a physical-layer header including: in a common signalling field, an identification of each channel resource intended to be used for making the frame transmission, whether this be for the data to be transmitted in unicast mode or in multicast mode; and, in each field in a series of specific signalling fields, information representing an association between a channel resource identifier used and a unique identifier of the destination concerned or group of destinations concerned. Thus each destination can determine each channel resource to listen to in order to receive the data that are addressed to it, whether this be in unicast mode or in multicast mode.

Abstract: A wireless communication network that includes a backhaul network interconnecting node devices for extending a radio coverage of a wireless fronthaul network by using a plurality of access points of the wireless fronthaul network, the communication channel is used for interconnecting said node devices. A node device of the backhaul network makes an evaluation of the transmission conditions of its radio environment; calculates a score representing a quality of transmission via this communication channel; transmits to said master node device a message requesting change of communication channel of the backhaul network when at least one other communication channel has obtained a better score than the communication channel selected by the master node device. On reception of the message, master node device obtains scores for the other node devices, and decides to change, or not, communication channel used in the backhaul network according to the scores obtained.

Abstract: A method for associating a new gathering node in a distributed wireless communication network, each gathering node includes at least one access-point radio-frequency interface and/or a user node of a so-called gathering wireless network associated with the communication network, the method being performed by a management node of the network and including the steps of receiving a message which include information that a new gathering node is to be associated, sending a command activating a so-called association radio-frequency interface, receiving a message indicating that a new gathering node is associated with an existing gathering node, determining a first validation of association of the new gathering node, and, if the association is validated, then sending, to the new gathering node, information on parameterisings includes information necessary for an association of the new node with the gathering wireless network of the network.

Abstract: A method for switching off a communication network, the communication network includes a plurality of access points coordinated by a master device, each access point managing a wireless network known as a fronthaul network, a station being able to associate itself with a fronthaul network of the communication network. The method is implemented by the master device and comprises: obtaining from each access point at least one item of information relating to each associated station; determining, for each station, whether it is present or absent according to association information; and initiating a phase of switching off at least one fronthaul network when all the stations are determined as being absent from the communication network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a first access point managing a first wireless local area network and at least one second access point managing at least one respective wireless local area network. A CSMA/CA procedure is employed. The first access point is involved in a real-time sensitive transmission. Each access point implements an energy detection mechanism and a preamble detection mechanism in the context of the CSMA/CA procedure. The energy detection mechanism is implemented for accessing the primary channel and for accessing each secondary channel. The preamble detection mechanism is implemented for accessing the primary channel and optionally for accessing each secondary channel. A decision making unit instructs the first access point and each second access point to use the same primary communication channel. This improves the conditions under which the real-time sensitive transmission takes place.

Abstract: A wireless communication system has an access point managing a first wireless local area network. To transmit the frame, the access point: obtains data to be transmitted in multicast mode; obtains data to be transmitted in unicast mode; and constructs a physical-layer header including: in a common signalling field, an identification of each channel resource intended to be used for making the frame transmission, whether this be for the data to be transmitted in unicast mode or in multicast mode; and, in each field in a series of specific signalling fields, information representing an association between a channel resource identifier used and a unique identifier of the destination concerned or group of destinations concerned. Thus each destination can determine each channel resource to listen to in order to receive the data that are addressed to it, whether this be in unicast mode or in multicast mode.

Abstract: An access point of a wireless communication network to which a plurality of terminals are connected transmits frames triggering coordinated random access procedure, thus offering an opportunity of access to the medium of the wireless communication network for each terminal for which this frame is intended. Each terminal that seizes the opportunity for access to the medium performs an OFDMA uplink transmission in response to said frame. The access point includes (303, 308), in each frame triggering coordinated random access procedure, information representing a frequency resource selection method among a random selection method and a free selection method.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a first access point managing a first wireless local area network and at least one second access point managing at least one respective wireless local area network. A CSMA/CA procedure is employed. The first access point is involved in a real-time sensitive transmission. Each access point implements an energy detection mechanism and a preamble detection mechanism in the context of the CSMA/CA procedure. The energy detection mechanism is implemented for accessing the primary channel and for accessing each secondary channel. The preamble detection mechanism is implemented for accessing the primary channel and optionally for accessing each secondary channel. A decision making unit instructs the first access point and each second access point to use the same primary communication channel. This improves the conditions under which the real-time sensitive transmission takes place.

Abstract: To assist roaming of a mobile terminal from a first wireless LAN to a second wireless LAN respectively managed by first and second access points, the first access point (AP) makes measurements of communication quality with the mobile terminal and/or of operational load. By comparing the measurements with thresholds, the first AP can trigger a selection procedure assisted by a server or trigger an autonomous selection procedure, at the end of which the first AP transmits to the mobile terminal a weighted list of access points that are candidates for the roaming. In the assisted selection procedure, the first AP, in constructing the weighted list, takes into account instantaneous measurements of operational load on the candidate access points supplied by the server, and, in the autonomous selection procedure, the first AP, in constructing the weighted list, takes into account long-term statistics of operational load on the candidate access points.