Abstract: There is provided a method of determining a timing estimate for use in synchronizing a femtocell base station to a macrocell base station, the method in the femtocell base station comprising determining an uplink timing estimate from a signal transmitted from a mobile device to the macrocell base station, the mobile device being served by the macrocell base station; determining a downlink timing estimate from a signal transmitted from the macrocell base station; and determining a timing estimate for use in synchronizing the femtocell base station to the macrocell base station from the downlink timing estimate and the uplink timing estimate.

Abstract: A method of controlling admission of a user equipment to a cell of a multi-mode base station, being a base station arranged to operate as a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells comprising at least a first cell and a second cell, and the method comprising: determining information relating to the first cell, and controlling admission of a user equipment to the second cell in dependence on the information relating to the first cell.

Abstract: A method of operating a base station such that the method comprises determining whether there are any mobile devices that are not associated with the base station that require protection from interference caused by downlink transmissions of the base station and setting a maximum permitted transmission power for the base station based on the result of the step of determining. A base stations operating according to this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling admission of a user equipment to a cell of a multi-mode base station, being a base station arranged to operate as a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells comprising at least a first cell and a second cell, and the method comprising: determining information relating to the first cell, and controlling admission of a user equipment to the second cell in dependence on the information relating to the first cell.

Abstract: Interference cancellation circuitry is provided for reconstructing a wirelessly transmitted modulated signal in a receiver using output of a decoder for calculating per-bit probabilities corresponding to bit-by-bit estimates of a coded message from which one bit hard decisions and multi-bit soft decision can be derived. A soft modulator reconstructs the transmitted modulated signal by calculating a weighted superposition depending upon the hard decisions and at least one combined value computed by combining two or more of the multi-bit soft decisions corresponding to different bits of the coded message. A soft modulation method using combined value(s) in a weighted superposition of hard decisions and computer program code for calculating the combined values and regenerated modulated signal are also provided. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of operating a base station such that the method comprises determining whether there are any mobile devices that are not associated with the base station that require protection from interference caused by downlink transmissions of the base station and setting a maximum permitted transmission power for the base station based on the result of the step of determining. A base stations operating according to this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Interference cancellation circuitry is provided for reconstructing a wirelessly transmitted modulated signal in a receiver using output of a decoder for calculating per-bit probabilities corresponding to bit-by-bit estimates of a coded message from which one bit hard decisions and multi-bit soft decision can be derived. A soft modulator reconstructs the transmitted modulated signal by calculating a weighted superposition depending upon the hard decisions and at least one combined value computed by combining two or more of the multi-bit soft decisions corresponding to different bits of the coded message. A soft modulation method using combined value(s) in a weighted superposition of hard decisions and computer program code for calculating the combined values and regenerated modulated signal are also provided. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of operating a base station such that the method comprises determining whether there are any mobile devices that are not associated with the base station that require protection from interference caused by downlink transmissions of the base station and setting a maximum permitted transmission power for the base station based on the result of the step of determining. A base stations operating according to this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of method of estimating a quality of a signal, the method in a first device comprising measuring a signal transmitted from a second device to a third device; determining a value of a metric from an autocorrelation function of the measured signal; and determining an estimate of the quality of the signal from the determined metric.

Abstract: Method, base station and computer program product for controlling access to the base station, the base station being arranged to serve a zone, the zone comprising a first cell implementing an access mode as one of an open access mode, a hybrid access mode, and a closed access mode. Operating conditions of the zone served by the base station are determined and then the access mode of the first cell is controlled based on the determined operating conditions of the zone served by the base station.

Abstract: Method, multi-mode base station and computer program product for controlling communication between a user equipment (UE) and the multi-mode base station, the multi-mode base station being arranged to operate as a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells comprising a first cell using a first radio access technology and a second cell using a second radio access technology. The UE is operating in the first cell. Operating conditions of the first and second cells are monitored, and based on the monitored operating conditions of the first and second cells, it is determined that making a handover of the UE to the second cell would provide a performance improvement. In response to determining that making a handover of the UE to the second cell would provide a performance improvement, a handover is made of the UE to the second cell, thereby providing the performance improvement.

Abstract: There is provided a method of determining a timing estimate for use in synchronizing a femtocell base station to a macrocell base station, the method in the femtocell base station comprising determining an uplink timing estimate from a signal transmitted from a mobile device to the macrocell base station, the mobile device being served by the macrocell base station; determining a downlink timing estimate from a signal transmitted from the macrocell base station; and determining a timing estimate for use in synchronizing the femtocell base station to the macrocell base station from the downlink timing estimate and the uplink timing estimate.

Abstract: There is provided a method of refining a timing estimate used to synchronize a femtocell base station to a macrocell base station. The method in the femtocell base station comprises estimating a multipath power delay profile from signals received from the macrocell base station, detecting the earliest path in the multipath power delay profile and determining a correction to the timing estimate from the earliest path detected in the multipath power delay profile.

Abstract: A method of operating a base station such that the method comprises determining whether there are any mobile devices that are not associated with the base station that require protection from interference caused by downlink transmissions of the base station and setting a maximum permitted transmission power for the base station based on the result of the step of determining. A base stations operating according to this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a base station, the method comprising determining whether there are any mobile devices that are not associated with the base station that require protection from interference caused by downlink transmissions of the base station; and setting a maximum permitted transmission power for the base station based on the result of the step of determining.

Abstract: There is provided a method of method of estimating a quality of a signal, the method in a first device comprising measuring a signal transmitted from a second device to a third device; determining a value of a metric from an autocorrelation function of the measured signal; and determining an estimate of the quality of the signal from the determined metric.

Abstract: Method, base station and computer program product for controlling access to the base station, the base station being arranged to serve a zone, the zone comprising a first cell implementing an access mode as one of an open access mode, a hybrid access mode, and a closed access mode. Operating conditions of the zone served by the base station are determined and then the access mode of the first cell is controlled based on the determined operating conditions of the zone served by the base station.

Abstract: Method, multi-mode base station and computer program product for controlling communication between a user equipment (UE) and the multi-mode base station, the multi-mode base station being arranged to operate as a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells comprising a first cell using a first radio access technology and a second cell using a second radio access technology. The UE is operating in the first cell. Operating conditions of the first and second cells are monitored, and based on the monitored operating conditions of the first and second cells, it is determined that making a handover of the UE to the second cell would provide a performance improvement. In response to determining that making a handover of the UE to the second cell would provide a performance improvement, a handover is made of the UE to the second cell, thereby providing the performance improvement.

Abstract: A method of controlling admission of a user equipment to a cell of a multi-mode base station, being a base station arranged to operate as a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells comprising at least a first cell and a second cell, and the method comprising: determining information relating to the first cell, and controlling admission of a user equipment to the second cell in dependence on the information relating to the first cell.

Abstract: There is provided a method of method of estimating a quality of a signal, the method in a first device comprising measuring a signal transmitted from a second device to a third device; determining a value of a metric from an autocorrelation function of the measured signal; and determining an estimate of the quality of the signal from the determined metric.