Abstract: The present application relates to a network element system for use in a wireless telecommunications network having a mobility management entity (MME), the network element system comprising: a first control entity; a second control entity; a first packet processing engine (PPE); and a second packet processing engine (PPE), wherein: the first control entity is configured to control the first PPE and the second control entity is configured to control the second PPE such that user plane traffic is routed through the first PPE and the second PPE; and the first control entity and the second control entity are located within a core network of the wireless telecommunications network, whilst the first PPE and the second PPE are located outside the core network.

Abstract: The present application relates to a network element system for use in a wireless telecommunications network having a mobility management entity (MME), the network element system comprising: a first control entity; a second control entity; a first packet processing engine (PPE); and a second packet processing engine (PPE), wherein: the first control entity is configured to control the first PPE and the second control entity is configured to control the second PPE such that user plane traffic is routed through the first PPE and the second PPE; and the first control entity and the second control entity are located within a core network of the wireless telecommunications network, whilst the first PPE and the second PPE are located outside the core network.

Abstract: The present application relates to a system and method for data transmission. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting user data over a transmission link in a format in which the user data is adapted to suit the properties of the transmission link. On the transmit side, an input data stream in a tunnelled format containing the user data to be transmitted is received, and a breakout device is operative to extract the user data from the input data stream and to output the extracted user data to the transmitter, which transmits the user data in the adapted format. On the receive side, a capture device receives the transmitted user data and re-formats the received user data into an output data stream in the tunnelled format, such that the output data stream from the capture device resembles the input data stream to the breakout device.

Abstract: A method of acquiring the identity parameters of two or more mobile devices (20), the method comprising: obtaining a list of two or more base stations (1, 2, 3); and acquiring identity parameters from the devices (20) by emulating each base station in the list. Two or more base stations may be simultaneously emulated, and the list of two or more base stations may be obtained by simultaneously interrogating two or more base stations (1, 2, 3). The identity parameters may be IMSI and/or IMEI and/or TMSI codes.

Abstract: The present application relates to a system and method for data transmission. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting user data over a transmission link in a format in which the user data is adapted to suit the properties of the transmission link. On the transmit side, an input data stream in a tunnelled format containing the user data to be transmitted is received, and a breakout device is operative to extract the user data from the input data stream and to output the extracted user data to the transmitter, which transmits the user data in the adapted format. On the receive side, a capture device receives the transmitted user data and re-formats the received user data into an output data stream in the tunnelled format, such that the output data stream from the capture device resembles the input data stream to the breakout device.

Abstract: A method of determining the direction of a mobile communication device, the method comprising receiving an encoded locator signal from the device over a wireless link; decoding the locator signal to generate a decoded output; and measuring the direction of arrival of the locator signal by analyzing the decoded output. A method of maintaining a connection with a mobile communication device, the method comprising establishing a connection with the device; receiving a request from the device to release the connection; and repeatedly sending a request for information to the device to prevent the device from releasing the connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forcing a mobile device to handover from a first cellular network radio access technology (RAT) to a second radio access technology (RAT) different from the first cellular network radio access technology. The method comprises: establishing a connection with the mobile device using the first cellular network radio access technology; sending a handover command to the device using the first cellular network radio access technology, the handover command including details of radio resources of the second cellular network radio access technology; and establishing a connection with the mobile device using the radio resources of the second cellular network radio access technology which were specified in the handover command. These steps are each performed by a separately introduced base station which is not under the control of a cellular network.

Abstract: A method of determining the direction of a mobile communication device, the method comprising receiving an encoded locator signal from the device over a wireless link; decoding the locator signal to generate a decoded output; and measuring the direction of arrival of the locator signal by analyzing the decoded output. A method of maintaining a connection with a mobile communication device, the method comprising establishing a connection with the device; receiving a request from the device to release the connection; and repeatedly sending a request for information to the device to prevent the device from releasing the connection.

Abstract: A method of acquiring an identity parameter of a device registered with a network. The device is configured to respond to a set of integrity protected requests from the network only after the device has authenticated the network. The device is also configured to respond to a non-integrity protected identity request from the network without requiring authentication of the network. The method comprises transmitting a false cell broadcast which is not under the control of the network, the false cell broadcast including the non-integrity protected identity request; and receiving the identity parameter from the device in response to the identity request.

Abstract: A method of acquiring the identity parameters of two or more mobile devices (20), the method comprising: obtaining a list of two or more base stations (1, 2, 3); and acquiring identity parameters from the devices (20) by emulating each base station in the list. Two or more base stations may be simultaneously emulated, and the list of two or more base stations may be obtained by simultaneously interrogating two or more base stations (1, 2, 3). The identity parameters may be IMSI and/or IMEI and/or TMSI codes.

Abstract: A method of setting up a call with a mobile communication device, the method comprising transmitting a call request to the device over a wireless link, wherein the call request is adapted to cause the device to transmit a locator signal whilst blocking a connection management process which would otherwise cause the mobile communication device to provide a visual or audible alert. The locator signal can then be used by a direction finder to locate the direction of the device. Channel information is transmitted to the direction finder, the channel information identifying a channel of the locator signal.

Abstract: A method of reducing bandwidth used on a telecommunications link comprising, at an input to the link, the steps of: receiving a plurality of data packets, each packet comprising data and a packet identifier; determining packets which contain redundant data; transmitting, across the link, packets which do not contain redundant data; and further comprising, at an output of the telecommunications link, the steps of: receiving the transmitted packets; determining missing packets according to the identifiers of received packets; and generating data for the missing packets, which generated data corresponds to redundant data not transmitted across the link. This ensures bit count integrity between the input and the output of the link. Redundant data may be data following a predictable pattern, such as identical data. Where the packet identifiers are a recurring sequence of N symbols, the input transmits at least one packet in every N packets.