Abstract: A system for controlling usage of a portage digital device (14) having an audio and/or image data recording or capture function (12). Operation of said data recording or capture function is inhibited when the portable digital device is located in a specific geographic location or region (10). A method of controlling usage of a portable digital device in a communications network, is also described which includes the steps of: receiving a signal over the network at the device; analysing the signal at the device to determine whether usage of the device should be controlled, and controlling usage of the device in accordance with the result of the analysis. The method also includes the steps of: providing a list of locations where control of the application is to be restricted; comparing information regarding the location of the device with the location: on the list, and if the location of the device is present in the list, producing a result indication that usage of the device is to be controlled.

Abstract: In a cellular radio system having a two layer cell structure comprised by macrocells (1) overlaying microcells (2), handover occurs only via the macrocell layer. Thus when the quality of a call handled by a microcell (2) deteriorates below predetermined criteria the call is handed up rapidly to the umbrella macrocell and is only handed back down to a microcell when the handset has been in that microcell for a predetermined time and the quality of the link thereto exceeds predefined criteria.

Abstract: In a cellular radio system including a plurality of cells (e.g. cell sectors or micro cells) (4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11) each normally using a respective channel for interference reduction purposes, a number of the cells are arranged in groups (6) and in the event of a cell associated with equipment moving within a group (6), all cells (4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11) of that group use a common channel whereby to facilitate handover between them.

Abstract: A multi-mode radio transceiver comprising a sequence of bi-directional circuit modules including a radio frequency input/output amplifier module (1), a radio frequency/baseband I and Q quadrature channel conversion module (2), an analogue/digital conversion module (3), a digital signal processor (4,5), and a digital signal input/output interface (6), with a control means (7) whereby for transmission a radio frequency signal is formed from analogue quadrature I and Q channel components of a digitized signal at baseband and translated to the radio transmission frequency and for reception the radio frequency signals are transformed into I and Q quadrature analogue components at baseband and subsequently digitized.