Abstract: A method of declaring an emergency condition in a wireless sensor network, the wireless sensor network comprising a plurality of devices (10, 11, 12) including sensors (11) arranged for monitoring at least one living body or other entity, the method comprising steps of: sensing a value of parameter related to the living body by one of the sensors (11); wirelessly transmitting information by said sensor to another device (10) in the network; determining existence or non-existence of an emergency condition affecting said living body by using said sensed value or said transmitted information; and declaring existence or non-existence of the emergency condition to at least one other device (e.g. 10) in the network. The determining step may be carried out in any of the sensor (11), a coordinator (10) of the wireless sensor network, or a central monitor (12) in communication with the coordinator.

Abstract: A method of allocating resources in a wireless sensor network, the network having functions including medical monitoring of a patient using multiple network devices having sensors, the method including steps of: sensing, by a network device in the network, a life parameter of the patient; recognising the existence of an emergency condition with respect to the parameter; the network device sending a request for streaming towards a coordinator of the network; the coordinator receiving (S12) the request along with any other requests from other devices in the network; and the coordinator granting (S14, S16) each the request by scheduling one of: a streaming allocation with highest priority for a network device which is in an emergency condition; a streaming allocation of medium priority for a network device sensing a life parameter which is not in an emergency condition; and a streaming allocation of lowest priority for a network device which is not sensing any life parameter of the patient and which is not in an

Abstract: A sensor for use in a wireless sensor network of devices, comprising: sensing means operable to detect values of a parameter; control means operable to determine a suitable sleep pattern of the sensor taking into account the detected values and a transmitter operable to transmit an indication of the suitable sleep pattern to a further device in the wireless sensor network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is comprised of multiple radio access networks—RANs—which at least partly share the same frequency spectrum. Each RAN is provided with a gateway—GW—(GW1, GW2, GW3) for managing the network. Spectrum sharing in the system is achieved through a hierarchy of processes including long-term—LT—spectrum assignment, short-term—ST—spectrum assignment, and dynamic channel allocation, the latter process assigning sub-channels to base stations (BS1, . . . BS5; BS6, . . . BS10; BS11, . . . BS16) in each RAN. However, so-called “red” sub-channels (subject to interference) are liable to arise.

Abstract: A wireless network of devices comprising a relay start device, an intermediate device and a relay end device, information being communicated wirelessly in use between the relay start device and the relay end device via the intermediate device, wherein: the intermediate device comprises control means and transmission means, the control means being operable to cause the intermediate device transmission means to transmit an indication of connection stability as a function of at least one connection stability parameter of the intermediate device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless network of devices including a network device and a coordinator; the coordinator comprising transmission and reception means for wireless communication; and the network device comprising transmission means and reception means for wireless communication; and control means operable to selectively cause the device to communicate according to two different channel access schemes, a higher throughput scheme and a lower throughput scheme; wherein a trigger is provided in the network for a switch from the lower throughput scheme to the higher throughput scheme, wherein the trigger is determined taking into account the network device's transmission requirements. The transmission requirements may be based on a network according to the present invention, wherein the transmission requirements are defined based on one or more of the following factors: data waiting in the network device's buffer, emergency status of a device, urgency status of a device and battery level.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network of devices including a sensor and a coordinator: the sensor comprising sensing means operable to detect values of a parameter; transmission and reception means for wireless communication with other devices in the network; and sensor control means operable to control a sleep pattern of the sensor; and the coordinator comprising transmission and reception means for wireless communication with other devices in the network; wherein the sensor transmission means is operable to transmit value information as to the parameter values and the coordinator transmission means is operable to transmit an indication of a suitable sensor sleep pattern taking into account the value information.

Abstract: A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.

Abstract: A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data packets in an uplink from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station, the data packets being for onward transmission to a plurality of destination user equipments, is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of determining a measure of a quality of service from the base station to a destination user equipment, and scheduling uplink transmissions from the source user equipments to the base station in dependence on the measure of a quality of service.

Abstract: An interference mitigation method in a wireless network in which a plurality of nodes share an available frequency spectrum by performing wireless communication on sub-channels defined within the available spectrum. The nodes are grouped into clusters, each cluster having a leader of the cluster. Preferably, every node in the cluster is a transceiver equipped to act as leader and this leader role is rotated around the cluster.

Abstract: A transmitter 100 transmits an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. A control unit 104 receives a group of input symbols (X0 to XN-1) based on which the transmitted signal is to be generated. The control unit selects, from among a plurality of available allocations of input symbols to sub-carriers, one allocation to apply to the received group of input symbols. Each available allocation serves to allocate the input symbols to respective sub-carriers in a different way from each other available allocation. The allocation selection is based on predicted values of a predetermined property, e.g. a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), of the transmitted signal for different available allocations. The available allocations may be different rotations. Further elements 102, 14, 16 of the transmitter generate the transmitted signal using the selected allocation.

Abstract: A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.

Abstract: Packet scheduling apparatus schedules packets of data for transmission from a transmitter such as a Note B to a plurality of receivers such as a plurality of UEs via at least one channel, for example in a high-speed downlink packet access system (HSDPA). A first measures producing unit produces first measures of scheduling performance in at least two different aspects. A decision unit employs a weighted combination of the first measures to decide the receiver(s) to which packets are to be transmitted. The weighted combination is produced by combining the first measures according to respective corresponding weights. A second measures producing unit produces at least one second measure of scheduling performance. A classifying unit classifies the weights for the or each second measure into at least two different classes of weights according to a probable influence the weight is expected to have on the second measure concerned.

Abstract: A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.

Abstract: A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.

Abstract: A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.

Abstract: Soft handover techniques are disclosed for use in a system comprising a base station and a plurality of user equipments. The amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments is determined, the amount of data in the data buffers is compared to obtain a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full a user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and a base station is selected as an active base station in dependence on the relative indicator.

Abstract: A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network having mobile sensors (64, 65) is provided with a fixed grid of potential sinks, one of which (70) is currently active as the network sink. To re-position the sink, the current sink (70) finds candidate sinks (72-79) among the nearby potential sinks and requests from them a measure of their suitability to act as the future sink. To do this, the candidate sinks (72-79) obtain data and/or signals from the sensors (64, 65) within their range to estimate a total throughput which they would expect to achieve if acting as the sink. In one embodiment the desired data rates of the sensors (64, 65) are also taken into account. The current sink (70) then transfers the role of active sink to the most suitable candidate (e.g. 76) thus found.