Abstract: A mm wave radio communication mesh network comprises a wireless node apparatus comprising a plurality of wireless modems (103) and a configuration controller (307) arranged to perform a node configuration arranged to configure the wireless modems (103) as access point wireless modems or non-access point wireless modems. The configuration controller (307) determines a set of access point wireless modems that have no connection and control them to scan for access point beacons. It then controls a wireless modem that has detected an access point beacon to connect to the access point wireless modem transmitting the beacon. If the connection is successful, the configuration controller (307) proceeds to configure the wireless modem as a non-access point wireless modem and otherwise it is configured as an access point wireless modem.

Abstract: A mm wave radio communication mesh network comprises a wireless node apparatus comprising a plurality of wireless modems (103) and a configuration controller (307) arranged to perform a node configuration arranged to configure the wireless modems (103) as access point wireless modems or non-access point wireless modems. The configuration controller (307) controls a set of wireless modems to scan for access point beacons and determines a first wireless modem that has detected an access point beacon from a first target access point wireless modem. It then configures the first wireless modem as a non-access point wireless modem and controls it to connect to the first target access point modem. If the connection is successful, the configuration controller (307) proceeds to configure another wireless modem as an access point wireless modem.

Abstract: A communication system comprises access points (203, 205) communicating via directional beams and a first and second wireless modem (111, 701) for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication links to access points (203, 205). The first and second wireless modems (111, 701) are located on a vehicle (103) and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links. A common network element (705) supports communication over both links and a connection control circuit (1001) switches between the links while providing a single wired connection point. A multipath controller (713) communicates with a complementary multipath controller of the fixed network over a plurality of paths with the multipath controller (713) having a first wired port for a first path of the plurality of paths connected to the first single wired connection point.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). At least one first access point (109) is arranged to transmit multipath environment data for an area supported by the access point to the wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703). A controller (1101) of the vehicle is arranged to set a diversity property for transmissions of data from the wireless modems to the wireless access points in response to the multipath environment data.

Abstract: A communication system comprises an access point (203) communicating via a directional beam and a first and second wireless modem (111, 703) for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication link to the first access point (203). The first and second wireless modems (111, 703) are located on a vehicle (103) and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links. A scheduler (801) schedules data of the communication over the first mm wave radio communication link and the second mm wave radio communication link in dependence on a link quality of at least one of the first mm wave radio communication link and the second mm wave radio communication link. The main beams may be formed in substantially the same direction.

Abstract: A communication system comprises access points (203, 205) communicating via directional beams and a first and second wireless modem (111, 701) for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication links to access points (203, 205). The first and second wireless modems (111, 701) are located on a vehicle (103) and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links. A common network element (705) supports communication over both links and a connection control circuit (1001) switches between the links. It further transmits an address resolution message over a link when switching to that link with the message comprising identification data for the common network element (705).

Abstract: A wireless communication system supports communication between an end node of a vehicle and a correspondent node via a fixed network and wireless modems located with the vehicle. The fixed network comprises a mobility anchor being a common mobility anchor for the wireless modems and performing individual mobility management for each wireless modem, the mobility management for a wireless modem including determining communication paths from the mobility anchor to the wireless modem. A multipath proxy couples a proxy connection for the correspondent node to a plurality of subflows, each subflow being associated with one wireless modem and with the communication path determined by the mobility anchor, at least two of the subflows having communication paths via different wireless modems. The wireless modems are arranged to connect the end node and the plurality of subflows.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a fixed network comprising access points for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A wireless modem of a vehicle comprises a first search circuit searching for a beacon transmission in a first frequency channel. A first data receiver extracts data from a detected beacon signal including: an indication of a first access point transmitting the beacon signal; a first load value indicative of a loading of the first access point; and an indication of a second access point having overlapping coverage with the first access point. Another receiver extracts data from a second beacon signal transmitted by the second access point in a second frequency channel including a second load value indicative of a loading of the second access point. A controller selects a target access point dependent on the first and second load values, and initializes a link setup with the target access point.

Abstract: A communication system comprises an access point communicating via a directional beam and a first and second wireless modem for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication link to the first access point. The first and second wireless modems are located on a vehicle and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links A proximity detector detects proximity of the first wireless modem to the first access point. A switch controller switches data of a data flow from the first mm wave radio communication link to the second mm wave radio communication link in response to the detection of the proximity of the first wireless modem to the first access point.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a fixed network comprising access points for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A wireless modem of a vehicle comprises a first search circuit searching for a beacon transmission in a first frequency channel. A first data receiver extracts data from a detected beacon signal including: an indication of a first access point transmitting the beacon signal; a first load value indicative of a loading of the first access point; and an indication of a second access point having overlapping coverage with the first access point. Another receiver extracts data from a second beacon signal transmitted by the second access point in a second frequency channel including a second load value indicative of a loading of the second access point. A controller selects a target access point dependent on the first and second load values, and initializes a link setup with the target access point.

Abstract: A communication system supporting communication for nodes of a vehicle (103) comprises wireless access points (203, 205) for communication using directional beams. Wireless modems (701, 703, 111, 113) of the vehicle (103) establish a mm wave radio communication link to an access point (203). The vehicle network transmits link indications to at least one of the access points (203, 205) where a link indication provides a link between a MAC address of a wireless modem (701, 703, 111, 113) and a vehicle identity indication for the vehicle (103). An air interface scheduler (1001) for an access point (201) performs MAC layer scheduling over mm wave radio communication links established for the access point (201) in response to the first vehicle identity indication.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). The wireless modems (111, 701) forms links to two different access points (109). A ink manager (1101) is arranged to terminate a second mm wave radio communication link in response to a link failure a first mm wave radio communication link, and to initialize setup of a third mm wave radio communication link in response to the termination of the second mm wave radio communication link.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). The wireless modems (111, 701) forms links to two different access points (109). A ink manager (1101) is arranged to terminate a second mm wave radio communication link in response to a link failure a first mm wave radio communication link, and to initialize setup of a third mm wave radio communication link in response to the termination of the second mm wave radio communication link.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). At least one first access point (109) is arranged to transmit multipath environment data for an area supported by the access point to the wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703). A controller (1101) of the vehicle is arranged to set a diversity property for transmissions of data from the wireless modems to the wireless access points in response to the multipath environment data.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node of a vehicle and a remote correspondent node via a fixed network which comprises a plurality of wireless access points with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle comprises wireless modems employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points. At least one first access point is arranged to transmit atmospheric water content data for an area to the wireless modems. A link management controller of the vehicle is arranged to perform the link management in response to the atmospheric water content data. For example, mm wave radio communication links may be initialized or terminated based on the atmospheric water content data.

Abstract: A communication system supporting communication for nodes of a vehicle (103) comprises wireless access points (203, 205) for communication using directional beams. Wireless modems (701, 703, 111, 113) of the vehicle (103) establish a mm wave radio communication link to an access point (203). The vehicle network transmits link indications to at least one of the access points (203, 205) where a link indication provides a link between a MAC address of a wireless modem (701, 703, 111, 113) and a vehicle identity indication for the vehicle (103). An air interface scheduler (1001) for an access point (201) performs MAC layer scheduling over mm wave radio communication links established for the access point (201) in response to the first vehicle identity indication.

Abstract: A communication system supports communication between an end node of a vehicle and a remote correspondent node via a fixed network which comprises a plurality of wireless access points with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle comprises wireless modems employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points. The access points communicate in a frequency channel alternately selected from one of two disjoint sets and a first wireless modem (111) is constrained to communicate using a frequency channel from the first set and a second wireless modem (701) is constrained to communicate using a frequency channel from the first set. A data session controller (705) communicates data of the data session over links provided by the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem.

Abstract: A communication system comprises access points (203, 205) communicating via directional beams and a first and second wireless modem (111, 701) for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication links to access points (203, 205). The first and second wireless modems (111, 701) are located on a vehicle (103) and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links. A common network element (705) supports communication over both links and a connection control circuit (1001) switches between the links It further transmits an address resolution message over a link when switching to that link with the message comprising identification data for the common network element (705).

Abstract: A communication system comprises access points (203, 205) communicating via directional beams and a first and second wireless modem (111, 701) for establishing a first and respectively second mm wave radio communication links to access points (203, 205). The first and second wireless modems (111, 701) are located on a vehicle (103) and employ electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas having a first main beams for establishing the radio communication links. A common network element (705) supports communication over both links and a connection control circuit (1001) switches between the links while providing a single wired connection point. A multipath controller (713) communicates with a complementary multipath controller of the fixed network over a plurality of paths with the multipath controller (713) having a first wired port for a first path of the plurality of paths connected to the first single wired connection point.

Abstract: A wireless communication system supports communication between an end node of a vehicle and a correspondent node via a fixed network and wireless modems located with the vehicle. The fixed network comprises a mobility anchor being a common mobility anchor for the wireless modems and performing individual mobility management for each wireless modem, the mobility management for a wireless modem including determining communication paths from the mobility anchor to the wireless modem. A multipath proxy couples a proxy connection for the correspondent node to a plurality of subflows, each subflow being associated with one wireless modem and with the communication path determined by the mobility anchor, at least two of the subflows having communication paths via different wireless modems. The wireless modems are arranged to connect the end node and the plurality of subflows.