Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a virtual terminal formed from one or more independent devices, a terminal management entity for managing the virtual terminal. The devices may be independent physical devices (smartphones, tablet computers), virtual machines/modules of physical devices, or a combination of both. The virtual terminal and terminal management entity communicate via a base station and/or access point. The terminal management entity creates a service ID for a service to be provided to the virtual terminal, the service ID being shared by the one or more independent devices, each having its own device ID. The TME forms an association of the virtual terminal with the network through use of a multi-homing transport protocol such as SCTP, the association supporting the service by using the service ID. For service delivery, paging and handover purposes the devices of the virtual terminal are treated as a single entity by the TME.

Abstract: A wireless local area network, WLAN, comprising: access points arranged to maintain wireless links with terminals each arranged to initiate a wireless link with an access point, and to associate with an access point during a service session. A central association server is connected to each of the access points, and is arranged to gather information from a plurality of the terminals via the wireless links between terminals and access points, determine, based on the gathered information, with which access point a terminal which has initiated a wireless link should associate during its service session, and notify the terminal, via the access point with which the terminal initiated the wireless link, of the access point so determined.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a virtual terminal formed from one or more independent devices, a terminal management entity for managing the virtual terminal. The devices may be independent physical devices (smartphones, tablet computers), virtual machines/modules of physical devices, or a combination of both. The virtual terminal and terminal management entity communicate via a base station and/or access point. The terminal management entity creates a service ID for a service to be provided to the virtual terminal, the service ID being shared by the one or more independent devices, each having its own device ID. The TME forms an association of the virtual terminal with the network through use of a multi-homing transport protocol such as SCTP, the association supporting the service by using the service ID. For service delivery, paging and handover purposes the devices of the virtual terminal are treated as a single entity by the TME.

Abstract: A method of tracking electromagnetic field, EMF, exposure of a user, comprising storing an aggregate EMF exposure value for the user, the aggregate EMF exposure value indicating EMF exposure due to use of one or more devices by the user; obtaining an estimate of EMF exposure associated with use of a particular one of the devices by the user; revising the aggregate EMF exposure value for the user in dependence upon the estimated EMF exposure; comparing the aggregate EMF exposure value to a threshold; and transmitting a signal related to use of the one or more devices if the aggregate EMF exposure value exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A method of tracking electromagnetic field, EMF, exposure of a user, comprising storing an aggregate EMF exposure value for the user, the aggregate EMF exposure value indicating EMF exposure due to use of one or more devices by the user; obtaining an estimate of EMF exposure associated with use of a particular one of the devices by the user; revising the aggregate EMF exposure value for the user in dependence upon the estimated EMF exposure; comparing the aggregate EMF exposure value to a threshold; and transmitting a signal related to use of the one or more devices if the aggregate EMF exposure value exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A traffic congestion estimation method used for a WLAN comprising wireless terminals (10, 11, 12) and access points (20, 21, 22). Based on measuring how busy the wireless channel of certain access point is, and the single user transmission rate resulted from a specific radio link, an association indicator is derived and a centralized association server (30) notifies a terminal (10, 11, 12) initiating a wireless link of the most suitable access point (20, 21, 22) to be associated with. The centralized association server (30) aims at maximizing each client's potentially achievable data rate. With the intelligent management of clients' association pattern, the clients' QoE is improved and network's congestion problems are relieved.

Abstract: A method is provided in handover of a user equipment in a communications system from communicating with a donor node via a relay node, to communicating with a target node, the donor node being operable to transmit downlink data to the relay node in a series of sequentially marked donor packets, the relay node being operable to then transmit the downlink data to the user equipment in a series of sequentially marked relay packets. The method includes receiving a handover request at the donor node and, upon receipt, beginning buffering of the donor packets in a temporary buffer at the donor node, transmitting a status message from the relay node to the donor node indicating a first of the relay packets not received by the user equipment, transmitting an update message from the donor node to the relay node indicating the first donor packet buffered in the temporary buffer.