Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing local area network (LAN) diagnostic data obtained in respect of a LAN, the LAN having at least one user-device located therein operable to communicate via a LAN gateway device with one or more remote devices in a communications network outside the LAN, the LAN gateway device having a wireless interface associated therewith in the LAN, the LAN diagnostic data including data packets received via the wireless interface at least some of which carry performance data relating to one or more predetermined performance characteristics of the LAN.

Abstract: A wireless sniffer for analyzing the channel quality of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) identifies which of the wireless transmissions it detects over a wireless interface are carried on the WLAN it is analyzing by having a dedicated link from a network management system controlling the WLAN under investigation, over which signature data such as a MAC ID associated with the WLAN is received and stored for comparison with signature data associated with the wireless transmissions it detects on the wireless interface it can identify which of the received wireless transmissions are carried on the WLAN it is to analyze.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing local area network (LAN) diagnostic data obtained in respect of a LAN, the LAN having at least one user-device located therein operable to communicate via a LAN gateway device with one or more remote devices in a communications network outside the LAN, the LAN gateway device having a wireless interface associated therewith in the LAN, the LAN diagnostic data including data packets received via the wireless interface at least some of which carry performance data relating to one or more predetermined performance characteristics of the LAN.

Abstract: A wireless sniffer for analyzing the channel quality of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) identifies which of the wireless transmissions it detects over a wireless interface are carried on the WLAN it is analyzing by having a dedicated link from a network management system controlling the WLAN under investigation, over which signature data such as a MAC ID associated with the WLAN is received and stored for comparison with signature data associated with the wireless transmissions it detects on the wireless interface it can identify which of the received wireless transmissions are carried on the WLAN it is to analyze.

Abstract: In Multipath Transport Layer Protocol (MPTCP) data transmission, data packets are sent from a transmitter to a receiver over at least two data paths, for example using a cellular data connection and a wireless network data connection. An apparatus located at a common point in the data paths is used to monitor the characteristics of any data flows in a MPTCP connection and to manipulate the packet characteristics of the data flows to ensure the MPTCP performance matches a predetermined data distribution target.

Abstract: In a WLAN with many concurrent users, a wireless access point is configured with information relating to a set of priority devices and when network utilisation exceeds a particular threshold, the wireless access point is arranged to identify a priority device connected to the WLAN, determine a policy for reconfiguring the WLAN to enable better performance to the priority device, and offer the improvements to the priority device. The changes to the WLAN are only applied if a user of the priority device opts to apply the changes thereby changing the WLAN performance in accordance with user requirements.

Abstract: A wireless router having a WiFi wireless network and including a small cell for routing LTE cellular data to a mobile network core is configured to monitor connected mobile devices and determine whether each mobile device should be connect to the hub using WiFi or LTE in accordance with the current utilization of the WiFi network and the current utilization of the LTE small cell. Since the small cell data traffic is encrypted in a data tunnel to the mobile network core, the network identity information of the device's WiFi interface and the device's LTE interface is determined by consulting an address mapping store in the cellular mobile network core.

Abstract: A wireless router having a WiFi wireless network and including a small cell for routing LTE cellular data to a mobile network core is configured to monitor connected mobile devices and determine whether each mobile device should be connect to the hub using WiFi or LTE in accordance with the current utilization of the WiFi network and the current utilization of the LTE small cell. Since the small cell data traffic transmitted in a data tunnel to the mobile network core is accessible to the monitor, the network identity information of the device's WiFi interface and the device's LTE interface can be determined by consulting an address mapping store in the cellular mobile network core. Furthermore presence information can be determined by detecting connection and disconnection messages between the mobile device and cellular network core.

Abstract: A wireless router having a WiFi wireless network and including a small cell for routing LTE cellular data to a mobile network core is configured to monitor connected mobile devices and determine whether each mobile device should be connect to the hub using WiFi or LTE in accordance with the current utilization of the WiFi network and the current utilization of the LTE small cell. The network identity information of the device's WiFi interface and the device's LTE interface is provided by an application operating on the mobile device.

Abstract: In a WLAN with many concurrent users, a wireless access point is configured with information relating to a set of priority devices and when network utilisation exceeds a particular threshold, the wireless access point is arranged to identify a priority device connected to the WLAN, determine a policy for reconfiguring the WLAN to enable better performance to the priority device, and offer the improvements to the priority device. The changes to the WLAN are only applied if a user of the priority device opts to apply the changes thereby changing the WLAN performance in accordance with user requirements.

Abstract: Wireless access point devices having wireless networks operating in accordance with 802.11b/g 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi can be affected by out-of-band interference caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. The wireless access points detect such interference devices using a flow processor to monitor the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. When a cell is detected, the wireless access point scans for neighboring wireless networks of neighboring wireless access points which may also be affected by the interference generated by the LTE cell.

Abstract: In Multipath Transport Layer Protocol (MPTCP) data transmission, data packets are sent from a transmitter to a receiver over at least two data paths, for example using a cellular data connection and a wireless network data connection. An apparatus located at a common point in the data paths is used to monitor the characteristics of any data flows in a MPTCP connection and to manipulate the packet characteristics of the data flows to ensure the MPTCP performance matches a predetermined data distribution target.

Abstract: A management server for managing a population of wireless access point devices by detecting out-of-band interference to the operation of the wireless access point Wi-Fi networks caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. A flow processor monitors the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. A mitigation action to change the operational behavior of the wireless access point is then generated and applied to mitigate the effect of the detected interference device on the Wi-Fi network. The management server further determines, using a data store containing the location of the wireless access points, whether other wireless access points will be affected by the presence of the interference device and sends mitigation actions to potentially affected devices.

Abstract: A wireless router having a WiFi wireless network and including a small cell for routing LTE cellular data to a mobile network core is configured to monitor connected mobile devices and determine whether each mobile device should be connect to the hub using WiFi or LTE in accordance with the current utilization of the WiFi network and the current utilization of the LTE small cell. Since the small cell data traffic is encrypted in a data tunnel to the mobile network core, the network identity information of the device's WiFi interface and the device's LTE interface is determined by consulting an address mapping store in the cellular mobile network core.

Abstract: A wireless router having a WiFi wireless network and including a small cell for routing LTE cellular data to a mobile network core is configured to monitor connected mobile devices and determine whether each mobile device should be connect to the hub using WiFi or LTE in accordance with the current utilization of the WiFi network and the current utilization of the LTE small cell. The network identity information of the device's WiFi interface and the device's LTE interface is provided by an application operating on the mobile device.

Abstract: A wireless router having a WiFi wireless network and including a small cell for routing LTE cellular data to a mobile network core is configured to monitor connected mobile devices and determine whether each mobile device should be connect to the hub using WiFi or LTE in accordance with the current utilization of the WiFi network and the current utilization of the LTE small cell. Since the small cell data traffic transmitted in a data tunnel to the mobile network core is accessible to the monitor, the network identity information of the device's WiFi interface and the device's LTE interface can be determined by consulting an address mapping store in the cellular mobile network core. Furthermore presence information can be determined by detecting connection and disconnection messages between the mobile device and cellular network core.

Abstract: A wireless access point device capable of detecting out-of-band interference to the operation of the Wi-Fi network caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. A flow processor monitors the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. A mitigation action to change the operational behavior of the wireless access point is then generated and applied to mitigate the effect of the detected interference device on the Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A management server for managing a population of wireless access point devices by detecting out-of-band interference to the operation of the wireless access point Wi-Fi networks caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. A flow processor monitors the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. A mitigation action to change the operational behavior of the wireless access point is then generated and applied to mitigate the effect of the detected interference device on the Wi-Fi network. The management server further determines, using a data store containing the location of the wireless access points, whether other wireless access points will be affected by the presence of the interference device and sends mitigation actions to potentially affected devices.

Abstract: Wireless access point devices having wireless networks operating in accordance with 802.11b/g 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi can be affected by out-of-band interference caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. The wireless access points detect such interference devices using a flow processor to monitor the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. When a cell is detected, the wireless access point scans for neighboring wireless networks of neighboring wireless access points which may also be affected by the interference generated by the LTE cell.

Abstract: A wireless access point device capable of detecting out-of-band interference to the operation of the Wi-Fi network caused by LTE small cell devices such as macrocells and femtocells. A flow processor monitors the characteristics of data flows of devices connected to the wireless access point to determine whether they are LTE cells based on MAC address matching or the termination of a flow at a known mobile network operator gateway. A mitigation action to change the operational behaviour behavior of the wireless access point is then generated and applied to mitigate the effect of the detected interference device on the Wi-Fi network.