Abstract: The present invention relates to communication via a series of bidirectional frames. A communication device is configured to communicate according to a protocol in which data is communicated via a series of frames, and every frame comprises: a downlink portion for transmissions by the communication device, said downlink portion comprising a control portion; and an uplink portion for transmissions to the communication device; and the duration of each frame is greater than one second.

Abstract: A communications network comprising: multiple base stations, each capable of communicating wirelessly with one or more wireless terminals; and a network core communicatively coupled to the base stations, the network core comprising: a data cache to which base stations can write data received from terminals, accessible from outside the network core in such a way that users external to the network core can write data to the data cache at times that are not scheduled by the network core; and a network controller capable of controlling the operation of the base stations, the network controller being configured to schedule the propagation to the terminals of data stored in the data cache by allocating base station transmission bandwidth for the transmission of the data to one or more of the terminals.

Abstract: A communication device for communicating with a plurality of terminals via a wireless network, the communication device being configured to, when it has a message to transmit to that plurality of terminals: select, from a multiple of available acknowledgement mechanisms, an acknowledgement mechanism for the terminals to use in acknowledging receipt of the message and communicate the selected acknowledgement mechanism to the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: A controller, implemented as a virtual machine, for operating in a communication network, the controller being configured to format data to be transmitted over the network into a series of frames, transfer the formatted data to a radio for transmission over the network, and control the radio to communicate the series of frames at a frame rate that is sufficiently low for there to be a delay of at least one second between data being received over the network by the radio and the controller having to control the radio to transmit a response to that data.

Abstract: A communication device for communicating with a plurality of terminals via a wireless network, the communication device being configured to, when it has a message to transmit to that plurality of terminals: select, from a multiple of available acknowledgement mechanisms, an acknowledgement mechanism for the terminals to use in acknowledging receipt of the message and communicate the selected acknowledgement mechanism to the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication via a series of bidirectional frames. A communication device is configured to communicate according to a protocol in which data is communicated via a series of frames, and every frame comprises: a downlink portion for transmissions by the communication device, said downlink portion comprising a control portion; and an uplink portion for transmissions to the communication device; and the duration of each frame is greater than one second.

Abstract: A communications network comprising: multiple base stations, each capable of communicating wirelessly with one or more wireless terminals; and a network core communicatively coupled to the base stations, the network core comprising: a data cache to which base stations can write data received from terminals, accessible from outside the network core in such a way that users external to the network core can write data to the data cache at times that are not scheduled by the network core; and a network controller capable of controlling the operation of the base stations, the network controller being configured to schedule the propagation to the terminals of data stored in the data cache by allocating base station transmission bandwidth for the transmission of the data to one or more of the terminals.

Abstract: A controller, implemented as a virtual machine, for operating in a communication network, the controller being configured to format data to be transmitted over the network into a series of frames, transfer the formatted data to a radio for transmission over the network, and control the radio to communicate the series of frames at a frame rate that is sufficiently low for there to be a delay of at least one second between data being received over the network by the radio and the controller having to control the radio to transmit a response to that data.

Abstract: A method of treating earthenware bodies to enhance resistance to freezing and to assist the application of decals and the like thereto comprises treating the bodies with a liquid medium containing a water-repellent material such as silicone. In a subsequent drying step, the bulk of the liquid medium is removed while leaving the water-repellent material deposited in the pores of the earthenware body. In this way, subsequent entry of water and freezing and cracking is resisted. It has also been discovered that the treatment also enchances the ability of the earthenware surface to receive decals and the like without the need for glazing and an additional firing step.