Abstract: A method of supporting latency monitoring in a network transporting traffic to and from a wireless base station. The method comprises, at a first node of the transport network determining a first timestamp representing a time at which a data element is received at the first node and adding information representative of the first timestamp to a communication signal which carries data for the wireless base station, the data including the data element. The method also comprises sending an indication of an association between the information representative of the first timestamp and the data element that the information representative of the first timestamp relates to. A method performed at a second node as well as apparatus for use at the first node and apparatus for use at the second node are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, apparatus and computer-readable media for synchronization over an optical network. A method comprises: receiving, from a client, a request to initiate a synchronization service for a client node coupled to the optical communication network; and, in response to the request, establishing a synchronization service to the client node via a virtual synchronization network utilizing the optical communication network. The synchronization service utilizes a bidirectional optical channel established via the optical communication network for the transmission of synchronization data for the client.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting synchronization data over a FlexE communications link. In an example aspect, a method of transmitting synchronization data over a FlexE communications link includes, in response to a synchronization event, selecting a next slot of the FlexE communications link that is unallocated or is allocated to a FlexE client, and transmitting synchronization data associated with the synchronization event in the selected slot.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, apparatus and computer-readable media for synchronization over an optical network. A method comprises: receiving, from a client, a request to initiate a synchronization service for a client node coupled to the optical communication network; and, in response to the request, establishing a synchronization service to the client node via a virtual synchronization network utilizing the optical communication network. The synchronization service utilizes a bidirectional optical channel established via the optical communication network for the transmission of synchronization data for the client.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting data. In one aspect, a method of transmitting data comprises identifying a start of a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) frame, identifying CPRI data blocks of the CPRI frame, and transmitting the CPRI data blocks of the CPRI frame in slots of a FlexE calendar of a Flex Ethernet physical layer group (FlexE PHY group).

Abstract: A method of managing transport of packets transmitted over a time division multiplexed, TDM, link in a network. The method performed at a second network node comprises: receiving (102) blocks of data from a first network node. Data from one packet is received in a plurality of blocks and a first block from a packet has a time-stamp indicating arrival time of the packet at the first network node. The blocks are multiplexed for transmission over the TDM link. The method also comprises: queuing (106) the received blocks and if a block from the top of the queue (108, 110) has a time-stamp (110—yes) and a maximum allowed latency has been exceeded (112) the method discards (116) blocks containing data from the same packet as the block with said time-stamp if there is at least one block containing data from another packet in the queue (114—yes). An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of supporting latency monitoring in a network transporting traffic to and from a wireless base station. The method comprises, at a first node of the transport network determining a first timestamp representing a time at which a data element is received at the first node and adding information representative of the first timestamp to a communication signal which carries data for the wireless base station, the data including the data element. The method also comprises sending an indication of an association between the information representative of the first timestamp and the data element that the information representative of the first timestamp relates to. A method performed at a second node as well as apparatus for use at the first node and apparatus for use at the second node are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, apparatus and computer-readable media for synchronization over an optical network. A method comprises: receiving, from a client, a request to initiate a synchronization service for a client node coupled to the optical communication network; and, in response to the request, establishing a synchronization service to the client node via a virtual synchronization network utilizing the optical communication network. The synchronization service utilizes a bidirectional optical channel established via the optical communication network for the transmission of synchronization data for the client.

Abstract: A method of supporting latency monitoring in a network transporting traffic to and from a wireless base station. The method comprises, at a first node of the transport network determining (1401) a first timestamp representing a time at which a data element is received at the first node and adding (1402) information representative of the first timestamp to a communication signal which carries data for the wireless base station, the data including the data element. The method also comprises sending (1403) an indication of an association between the information representative of the first timestamp and the data element that the information representative of the first timestamp relates to. A method performed at a second node as well as apparatus for use at the first node and apparatus for use at the second node are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for managing traffic of a plurality of packets in a plurality of packet flows transmitted using a time-slotted interface. The packet flows traverse a plurality of switches of a transport network according to an assigned path from a source node to a destination node. The method comprises determining an end-to-end latency of a plurality of packets traversing a current switch in packet flows and assigning priority values to the packets traversing the current switch, wherein a priority value of a packet depends on the determined end-to-end latency of said packets. The method further comprises allocating a time slot in an output interface of the current switch to the packet having the highest priority value among the packets competing for said time slot.

Abstract: A method of managing transport of packets transmitted over a time division multiplexed, TDM, link in a network. The method performed at a second network node comprises: receiving (102) blocks of data from a first network node. Data from one packet is received in a plurality of blocks and a first block from a packet has a time-stamp indicating arrival time of the packet at the first network node. The blocks are multiplexed for transmission over the TDM link. The method also comprises: queuing (106) the received blocks and if a block from the top of the queue (108, 110) has a time-stamp (110—yes) and a maximum allowed latency has been exceeded (112) the method discards (116) blocks containing data from the same packet as the block with said time-stamp if there is at least one block containing data from another packet in the queue (114—yes). An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for switching data signals transmitted over a transport network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a plurality of input data signals of a first signal type wherein the plurality of data signals of the first signal type comprises data signals exchanged between a Radio Equipment and a Radio Equipment Controller and aggregating the plurality of input data signals into an aggregated first data signal. The method also comprises receiving a second data signal of a second signal type different to the first signal type, and multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal to form a combined data signal. The method further comprises forwarding the combined data signal to the transport network. Multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal comprises, for a frame of the combined data signal, allocating the first data signal to a portion of the frame reserved for the first data signal, and allocating the second data signal to a remaining portion of the frame.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, apparatus and computer-readable media for synchronization over an optical network. A method comprises: receiving, from a client, a request to initiate a synchronization service for a client node coupled to the optical communication network; and, in response to the request, establishing a synchronization service to the client node via a virtual synchronization network utilizing the optical communication network. The synchronization service utilizes a bidirectional optical channel established via the optical communication network for the transmission of synchronization data for the client.

Abstract: A method for managing traffic of a plurality of packets in a plurality of packet flows transmitted using a time-slotted interface. The packet flows traverse a plurality of switches of a transport network according to an assigned path from a source node to a destination node. The method comprises determining an end-to-end latency of a plurality of packets traversing a current switch in packet flows and assigning priority values to the packets traversing the current switch, wherein a priority value of a packet depends on the determined end-to-end latency of said packets. The method further comprises allocating a time slot in an output interface of the current switch to the packet having the highest priority value among the packets competing for said time slot.

Abstract: A transport network (20) is connected to a first wireless base station (3, 4) and to a second wireless base station (6). The first wireless base station comprises a remote radio unit (3) and a baseband processing unit (4) which are connected by the transport network (20). A node (16) of the transport network (20) receives a synchronous time division multiplexed communication signal which carries at least a first communication signal between the baseband processing unit (4) and the remote radio unit (3). The node (16) determines a frequency synchronisation signal from the synchronous time division multiplexed communication signal. The node (16) transmits the synchronous time division multiplexed communication signal to the remote radio unit (3) of the first wireless base station. The node (16) transmits the frequency synchronisation signal to the second wireless base station (6). The node (16) also assists with providing phase/time synchronisation to the second wireless base station (6).

Abstract: A method for managing traffic of a plurality of packets in a plurality of packet flows transmitted using a time-slotted interface. The packet flows traverse a plurality of switches of a transport network according to an assigned path from a source node to a destination node. The method comprises determining (202) an end-to-end latency of a plurality of packets traversing a current switch in packet flows and assigning (204) priority to packets to the packets traversing the current switch, wherein a priority value of a packet depends on the determined end-to-end latency of said packets. The method further comprises allocating (206) a time slot in an output interface of the current switch to the packet having the highest priority value among the packets competing for said time slot.

Abstract: A method of supporting latency monitoring in a network transporting traffic to and from a wireless base station. The method comprises, at a first node of the transport network determining (1401) a first timestamp representing a time at which a data element is received at the first node and adding (1402) information representative of the first timestamp to a communication signal which carries data for the wireless base station, the data including the data element. The method also comprises sending (1403) an indication of an association between the information representative of the first timestamp and the data element that the information representative of the first timestamp relates to. A method performed at a second node as well as apparatus for use at the first node and apparatus for use at the second node are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for determining propagation delay of a first path and or of a second path which connect a first transceiver unit associated with a first clock to a second transceiver unit associated with a second clock in a communications network, based on a first time reference representing a time of transmission of a first signal from the first transceiver unit, a second time reference representing the time of receipt of the first signal at the second transceiver unit, a third time reference representing a time of transmission of a reply to the second signal from the second transceiver unit, and a fourth time reference representing the time of receipt of the reply to the second signal at the first transceiver unit.

Abstract: A method for managing traffic of a plurality of packets in a plurality of packet flows transmitted using a time-slotted interface. The packet flows traverse a plurality of switches of a transport network according to an assigned path from a source node to a destination node. The method comprises determining (202) an end-to-end latency of a plurality of packets traversing a current switch in packet flows and assigning (204) priority to packets to the packets traversing the current switch, wherein a priority value of a packet depends on the determined end-to-end latency of said packets. The method further comprises allocating (206) a time slot in an output interface of the current switch to the packet having the highest priority value among the packets competing for said time slot.

Abstract: A method for switching data signals transmitted over a transport network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a plurality of input data signals of a first signal type wherein the plurality of data signals of the first signal type comprises data signals exchanged between a Radio Equipment and a Radio Equipment Controller and aggregating the plurality of input data signals into an aggregated first data signal. The method also comprises receiving a second data signal of a second signal type different to the first signal type, and multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal to form a combined data signal. The method further comprises forwarding the combined data signal to the transport network. Multiplexing the first data signal with the second data signal comprises, for a frame of the combined data signal, allocating the first data signal to a portion of the frame reserved for the first data signal, and allocating the second data signal to a remaining portion of the frame.