Abstract: In a method of operating a data network comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes (30) each of which is operable to perform one or more services upon receiving a suitable request for a service, one or more user devices (10) connected to the network can issue requests (12, 14) for a service to be carried out by a node or nodes within the network.

Abstract: In a method of operating a data network comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes (30) each of which is operable to perform one or more services upon receiving a suitable request for a service, one or more user devices (10) connected to the network can issue requests (12,14) for a service to be carried out by a node or nodes within the network. The method comprises: operating a virtual mechanism (50) in which a plurality of different types of elements (61,65,66,67) are represented, each element obeying a set of rules associated with the respective type of the element, the respective set of rules specifying how the element behaves, wherein each element has a location property which may be correlated to one or more nodes or node locations, the method further comprising analysing the virtual mechanism (50) and selecting one or more services to be offered by each node (30) in the network based on the analysis of the virtual mechanism.

Abstract: The nodes (200, 201), etc in a hierarchical network are also capable of forming direct wireless connections between each other. Each node checks on a regular basis to determine whether its network connection is intact. If a node (211) discovers that its direct broadband connection (31, 21, 33, 24, 34) to the exchange (2) has failed, it autonomously communicates with other nodes (201, 202, 212, 220) in the physical neighbourhood, using its wireless capability. It first searches for a path through a WIFI connection to its immediate neighbours in the hierarchy to attempt to reach a working node (210, 212) connected to the same Distribution Point (21). (These are not necessarily the nearest neighbours in the wireless network). The nodes collect and store connectivity data on neighbouring nodes, and exchange connectivity data between themselves to identify nodes, and groups of nodes, that are not currently connected to the branched network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to channel selection in ad hoc wireless networks. The present invention provides a method of selecting a channel for a node in an ad hoc network of nodes, the method comprising: increasing a preference score for a channel (E) in response to receiving a stimulatory control message (hoot x) associated with the channel from another node; decreasing the preference score for the channel (A) in response to receiving an inhibitory control message (hoot y) associated with the channel from another node; selecting a channel dependent on the preference score for the channel.

Abstract: Each base station in a network has an antenna which is connected in the conventional way to a transceiver for handling normal call traffic on one or more radio channels. In addition there is another transmitter which transmits a test signal on each of several test channels, one for each radio channel available for use by the main transceiver. The transceiver also has a receiver for detecting the test channels. The system is controlled by a timer which ensures that the transmitter and receiver do not operate at the same time. The receive times may be random, or may be co-ordinated between individual base stations. When the receiver is in operation, it will detect transmissions of the test signals from other base stations. The signal strength is measured and the result is used by a control system to determine a preference value for each channel; the stronger the signal detected, the lower the preference value.

Abstract: Each base station in a network has an antenna 1 which is connected in the conventional way to a transceiver 2 for handling normal call traffic on one or more radio channels. In addition there is another transmitter 3 which transmits a test signal on each of several test channels, one for each radio channel available for use by the main transceiver 2. The transceiver also has a receiver 4 for detecting the test channels. The system is controlled by a timer 5 which ensures that the transmitter 3 and receiver 4 do not operate at the same time. The receive times may be random, or may be coordinated between individual base stations.