Abstract: A wireless communication system using cells to provide wireless access to services, comprising a first base station installed on board a public transportation vehicle to provide a moving cell, and a second base station installed at a stop at which users enter or leave the vehicle, to provide a fixed cell. A central controller guides handovers of users entering or leaving the vehicle. The first and second base stations to provide data concerning users to the central controller, and the central controller, over many journeys of the vehicle, gathers profile data of users based on the data provided by the base stations. As the vehicle approaches a stop, the central controller makes predictions about users likely to enter and leave the vehicle, and, provides guidance to the first and second base stations for performing handovers.

Abstract: A wireless communication system using cells to provide wireless access to services, comprising a first base station installed on board a public transportation vehicle to provide a moving cell, and a second base station installed at a stop at which users enter or leave the vehicle, to provide a fixed cell. A central controller guides handovers of users entering or leaving the vehicle. The first and second base stations to provide data concerning users to the central controller, and the central controller, over many journeys of the vehicle, gathers profile data of users based on the data provided by the base stations. As the vehicle approaches a stop, the central controller makes predictions about users likely to enter and leave the vehicle, and, provides guidance to the first and second base stations for performing handovers.

Abstract: A method of accessing a network securely using a personal device which can only access the network via one or more authorized access points, the method including establishing a connection between the network and the personal device via an access point; checking in the network whether the access point is on a white list of authorized access points for use with the network; if the access point is on the white list, allowing the personal device to access the network securely via the access point; and if the access point is not on the white list, not allowing the personal device to access the network securely.

Abstract: In a LTE-based wireless communication system, a first user (UEB) in a first cell (Cell A) may experience significant interference from downlink transmissions in a second cell (Cell B). Interference can be reduced by selecting a precoder for downlink transmission to a second user (UEA) in the first cell which will result in reduced interference to the first user (UEB) after the first user (UEB) is handed-over to the second cell. The uplink/downlink channel reciprocity in TDD systems and the new transmission mode TM9 in LTE Release 10 are exploited to obtain channel information and determine precoding. After handover to the second cell, a resource allocation (RBB) to the first user (UEB) is notified to the first cell. In the first cell, the second user (UEA) receives the same resource allocation and a precoder selected to reduce interference to the first user.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is described which includes a transmitter operable to transmit a transmitted signal, the transmitter having one or more transmitting antennae, a receiver operable to receive a received signal, the receiver having one or more receiving antennae, wherein lattice reduction is used in obtaining, at the receiver, an estimate of the transmitted signal based on the received signal, characterized in that the lattice reduction utilizes a lattice reduction matrix, a decomposed representation of which is transmitted between the transmitter and the receiver.

Abstract: A communication method for a wireless communication network comprises: providing a femto base station configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more wireless communication devices within the coverage area of the femto base station, wherein the femto base station may communicate on a plurality of different carrier frequencies; monitoring each communication device within the coverage area; and activating and/or deactivating one or more main carrier frequencies of the femto base station, in accordance with communication requirements of the communication devices; wherein a communication device, which is within the coverage area of the femto base station but is not being served by an active main carrier frequency of the femto base station, is served by a macro base station, having a coverage area within the coverage area of the femto base station, or, if the femto base station is also capable of communicating on auxiliary carrier frequencies, an auxiliary carrier frequency.

Abstract: In a LTE-based wireless communication system having neighboring first and second cells a first user in the first cell may experience significant interference from downlink transmissions in the second cell. Such interference can be reduced by selecting a precoder for downlink transmission to a second user in the first cell which will result in reduced interference to the first user after the first user is handed-over to be served by the second cell. The method involves selecting, among a plurality of users in the first cell, the second user to receive the precoded downlink transmissions using the selected precoder. The second user is chosen so as to satisfy a measure of suitability using the selected interference-reducing precoder. Taken together, the choice in the first cell of precoder and second user (UEA) result in reduced inter-cell interference.

Abstract: A communication method for a wireless communication network comprises: providing a femto base station configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more wireless communication devices within the coverage area of the femto base station, wherein the femto base station may communicate on a plurality of different carrier frequencies; monitoring each communication device within the coverage area; and activating and/or deactivating one or more main carrier frequencies of the femto base station, in accordance with communication requirements of the communication devices; wherein a communication device, which is within the coverage area of the femto base station but is not being served by an active main carrier frequency of the femto base station, is served by a macro base station, having a coverage area within the coverage area of the femto base station, or, if the femto base station is also capable of communicating on auxiliary carrier frequencies, an auxiliary carrier frequency.

Abstract: In a LTE-based wireless communication system, a first user (UEB) in a first cell (Cell A) may experience significant interference from downlink transmissions in a second cell (Cell B). Interference can be reduced by selecting a precoder for downlink transmission to a second user (UEA) in the first cell which will result in reduced interference to the first user (UEB) after the first user (UEB) is handed-over to the second cell. The uplink/downlink channel reciprocity in TDD systems and the new transmission mode TM9 in LTE Release 10 are exploited to obtain channel information and determine precoding. After handover to the second cell, a resource allocation (RBB) to the first user (UEB) is notified to the first cell. In the first cell, the second user (UEA) receives the same resource allocation and a precoder selected to reduce interference to the first user.

Abstract: A method of accessing a network securely using a personal device which can only access the network via one or more authorized access points, the method including establishing a connection between the network and the personal device via an access point; checking in the network whether the access point is on a white list of authorized access points for use with the network; if the access point is on the white list, allowing the personal device to access the network securely via the access point; and if the access point is not on the white list, not allowing the personal device to access the network securely.

Abstract: A value of a parameter which affects network performance or operation of a cell in a wireless network is re-selected by: storing an indicator, representing the performance and/or operation of the network, and a criterion to be met by the indicator when the value of the parameter has been re-selected; receiving data relating to the performance or operation of the network, and deriving therefrom statistical data relating to said indicator; storing that statistical data; when the value of the parameter is to be re-selected, obtaining at least two different solutions for the value of the parameter to be re-selected; using said statistical data to determine which of the solutions obtained most satisfactorily meets said criterion for the indicator; and selecting that solution for implementation on the network.

Abstract: In a LTE-based wireless communication system having neighbouring first and second cells a first user in the first cell may experience significant interference from downlink transmissions in the second cell. Such interference can be reduced by selecting a precoder for downlink transmission to a second user in the first cell which will result in reduced interference to the first user after the first user is handed-over to be served by the second cell. The method involves selecting, among a plurality of users in the first cell, the second user to receive the precoded downlink transmissions using the selected precoder. The second user is chosen so as to satisfy a measure of suitability using the selected interference-reducing precoder. Taken together, the choice in the first cell of precoder and second user (UEA) result in reduced inter-cell interference.

Abstract: An algorithm which considers the individual power consumption profiles for different types of base stations in a heterogeneous cellular network, and determines which base stations can be switched OFF in line with the traffic demand. The algorithm predicts (302) a spatially-accurate network load; calculates (304) the best serving BS for each load region; investigates (308-318) toads on Pico cells with respect to a threshold, and ranks (320) candidate Pico cells to be switched OFF in order of least power efficiency and most resource efficiency. Pico cells determined to remain on are fully loaded (322) allowing more candidates to be switched OFF (324). The algorithm optimizes the energy efficiency of the heterogeneous, cellular network, enabling the activation of the minimum number of base stations to support the predicted traffic demand for a given time period and allowing significant energy savings for the operator.

Abstract: A cell ranking algorithm for power saving in a cellular wireless network having a heterogeneous network structure of macro and micro cells. The algorithm determines when and which micro cells in the network can be deactivated, by which the power consumption of the network can be reduced. A micro cell (Micro d) having a traffic load below a threshold value is deactivated and its load is assigned to adjacent macro cells (Macro a, Macro b) acting as compensation cells. The proposed algorithm is based on the comprehensive consideration of factors that have influence on the power saving of the network and the balance between the traffic load (or quality of service) and the energy saving.

Abstract: A value of a parameter which affects network performance or operation of a cell in a wireless network is re-selected by: storing an indicator, representing the performance and/or operation of the network, and a criterion to be met by the indicator when the value of the parameter has been re-selected; receiving data relating to the performance or operation of the network, and deriving therefrom statistical data relating to said indicator; storing that statistical data; when the value of the parameter is to be re-selected, obtaining at least two different solutions for the value of the parameter to be re-selected; using said statistical data to determine which of the solutions obtained most satisfactorily meets said criterion for the indicator; and selecting that solution for implementation on the network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is described which includes a transmitter operable to transmit a transmitted signal, the transmitter having one or more transmitting antennae, a receiver operable to receive a received signal, the receiver having one or more receiving antennae, wherein lattice reduction is used in obtaining, at the receiver, an estimate of the transmitted signal based on the received signal, characterized in that the lattice reduction utilises a lattice reduction matrix, a decomposed representation of which is transmitted between the transmitter and the receiver.

Abstract: A cell edge coverage hole detection method for a cellular wireless communication system such as an LTE system. A coverage hole in a cell edge region will cause radio link failures, RLF, which are difficult to distinguish from those caused by handover issues. The method collects (S10) RLF reports along with related connectivity patterns and location reports, and identifies (S20) a drive route across a cell edge at which radio link failures are occurring. By correlating (S30) the measurement reports from users travelling in both directions along the route, it can be judged (S40) whether a pattern specific to a coverage hole can be identified, distinguishing coverage holes (S60) from radio link failure occurring as a result of handover failure (S50).

Abstract: A cell edge coverage hole detection method based on collecting (S10) radio link failure, RLF, statistics provided by multiple UE reports at the handover stage. At a cell edge, the handover point varies for each UE due to the differences in parameter settings and measurement values, giving a statistical distribution of the exact handover point. In the method, RLF reports are grouped by connectivity pattern and a specific cell edge is identified for closer investigation (S20). Hysteresis and/or offsets are varied for UEs at the cell edge and subsequent RLF reports are monitored for changes in tendencies of event sequences (S30). If RLF persists for most of the UEs, the method infers from this (S40, S60) the existence of a coverage hole.