Abstract: There is provided an apparatus, said apparatus comprising means for, when the apparatus is in idle mode, determining signal measurements for at least two antenna configurations of the apparatus, determining, based on the signal measurements, one of the at least two antenna configurations and performing a network attach procedure using the determined antenna configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements. The antenna array includes one or more grouping of the plurality of antenna elements, configured to provide: a first configuration in which the one or more grouping of antenna elements supports at least transmission of a signal according to a first antenna system; and a second configuration in which the one or more grouping of antenna elements supports at least reception of a signal according to a second antenna system. The first antenna system includes a Single Input, Single Output antenna system or Multiple Input, Multiple Output antenna system. The second antenna system includes a Single Input, Single Output antenna system or Multiple Input, Multiple Output antenna system. An array of antenna elements can support different modes of operation, for example, different Multiple Input, Multiple Output modes or Multiple Input, Multiple Output and Single Input, Single Output modes.

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments described may provide a reconfigurable antenna apparatus and method of alignment of such a reconfigurable antenna apparatus. The apparatus may comprise antenna apparatus components reconfigurable between: a mode of operation which supports a radio communication beam having a first beamwidth; and a mode of operation which supports a radio communication beam having a second beamwidth. The first beamwidth may be several times the width of the second beamwidth. Aspects and embodiments recognise that such a reconfigurable antenna apparatus may support efficient alignment methods in which a first, coarse, alignment scan may be performed across a broad field of view, and the results of that alignment scan can be used to allow a finer second scan within a reduced field of view determined by the first scan.

Abstract: A method for associating subscriber identification information with an identifier of a subscriber-side network termination (SSNT), the SSNT being connected via a shared medium communication link (SMCL) to a provider-side network termination (PSNT), wherein the identifier of the SSNT is associated with an identifier of the SMCL, and wherein the identifier of the SMCL is associated with a network address allocated to a subscriber terminal (ST) connected to the SSNT and, via the SMCL, to the PSNT, the method including intercepting an internet access request from the ST, the request indicating the allocated network address; based on the indicated network address, determining the identifier of the SMCL; based on the determined identifier of the SMCL, determining the identifier of the SSNT; obtaining subscriber identification information from the ST; and associating the obtained subscriber identification information with the determined identifier of the SSNT.

Abstract: In access multiplexers (1) comprising network interfaces (22) for interfacing network links (12) with network units (2) and comprising customer interfaces (23-25) for interfacing customer links (13-15) with customer units (3-5) and comprising coupling means (31) for coupling the interfaces (22-25), allocating means (32) are introduced for allocating Medium Access Control addresses to Internet Protocol sessions and controlling means (30) are introduced for controlling the access multiplexers (1) in dependence of allocations, for increasing efficiencies. The customer units (3-5) form part of one subnet (10). The network links (12) comprise Ethernet connections defined by Virtual Local Area Network tags per subnet (10). The allocating means (32) comprise relating means (33) for relating combinations of Virtual Local Area Network tags and Medium Access Control addresses to session identifications of the Internet Protocol sessions, with the allocations comprising relationships.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing remote control and control redundancy for distributed communication equipment are disclosed. An expansion system in a distributed communication equipment architecture is controlled by a controller in a host system. Control information is exchanged between the host system controller and an expansion system in communication signals that are processed by one or more communication modules such as line termination cards in the expansion system. Communication signals are transferred to the communication module(s) through an expansion system control device, and control information is then transferred back to the control device. Control information may also be transferred from the expansion system control device to the host system through the communication module(s). This simplifies the design and lowers the cost of the control device, which does not process received signals.

Abstract: Distributed communication equipment architectures and techniques are disclosed. A host system includes an expansion unit through which control information and communication traffic may be exchanged with an expansion system. The expansion system is thereby controllable by a controller at the host system, significantly simplifying the design and reducing the cost of the expansion system. The expansion unit for a host system may also provide one or more configurable communication link interfaces. Each configurable interface may be independently configured as a network-side interface for connection to upstream communication equipment or as an access-side expansion interface for connection to an expansion system, allowing provisioning of network and access interfaces at the host system as needed.