Abstract: A method of estimating user location involving collecting data from the access points in the network. The data can then be used to define a relationship, for example the loss of power experienced by a transmitted signal, between the access points. The relationship can be stored within a matrix, database or any other suitable storage method that can be referenced to determine the position of a user device within the network and correlated with corresponding measurements from a user device to determine the location of the user device within the network.

Abstract: Beamforming system and method which includes an inverse beamformer with first ports and second ports, a beamformer with beam ports and antenna ports, and antennas. The inverse beamformer may receive transmit signals provided to first ports, generates intermediate signals based on the transmit signals, and output the intermediate signals from the second ports. The beamformer's beam ports may couple to the second ports and the antenna ports, and may receive the intermediate signals at the beam ports, generate antenna signals based on the intermediate signals, and output the antenna signals at the antenna ports. The antennas may each receive an antenna signal from an antenna port, and transmit the antenna signal into space. The inverse beamformer may generate the intermediate signals in a manner that is mathematically inverse to the beamformer's generation of the antenna signals so that the antenna signals approximate the transmit signals up to respective phase shifts.

Abstract: A base station for use in a mobile telephony network includes an antenna arrangement coupled to a transceiver arrangement for producing a plurality of beams. A method of testing the base station comprises detecting at the transceiver arrangement the signal strengths of a test signal received via the beams; comparing and/or correlating the said signal strengths detected at the transceiver arrangement; and using the results of the comparisons and/or correlations to determine the configuration of the antenna arrangement and transceiver arrangement and/or to detect faults. The comparison of average signal strengths can be used to detect cabling faults, and beam errors. The correlation of un-averaged signal strengths can be used to determine which beams have the same polarization. Beam pointing directions and the allocation of antennas to sectors can be determined by monitoring handovers of mobiles moving between cells. Frequencies may be allocated to sectors according to a frequency re-use scheme.

Abstract: A method of estimating user location involving collecting data from the access points in the network. The data can then be used to define a relationship, for example the loss of power experienced by a transmitted signal, between the access points. The relationship can be stored within a matrix, database or any other suitable storage method that can be referenced to determine the position of a user device within the network and correlated with corresponding measurements from a user device to determine the location of the user device within the network.

Abstract: A method of estimating user location involving collecting data from the access points in the network. The data can then be used to define a relationship, for example the loss of power experienced by a transmitted signal, between the access points. The relationship can be stored within a matrix, database or any other suitable storage method that can be referenced to determine the position of a user device within the network and correlated with corresponding measurements from a user device to determine the location of the user device within the network.

Abstract: A beamformer is arranged to receive an input from a first antenna element and from at least one other antenna element and to generate at least a first and second output beam. The first and second output beams are combined at a connecting port such that signals received at the first antenna element are constructively combined at the connecting port and signals received at another antenna element or elements are destructively combined at the connecting port, so that a receiver connected to the connecting port may receive signals from the first antenna element and may not receive signals from the other antenna element or elements. The arrangement may also be used to transmit a signal which is fed into the connecting point from the first antenna element and not from the other antenna element or elements.

Abstract: A beamformer is arranged to receive an input from a first antenna element and from at least one other antenna element and to generate at least a first and second output beam. The first and second output beams are combined at a connecting port such that signals received at the first antenna element are constructively combined at the connecting port and signals received at another antenna element or elements are destructively combined at the connecting port, so that a receiver connected to the connecting port may receive signals from the first antenna element and may not receive signals from the other antenna element or elements. The arrangement may also be used to transmit a signal which is fed into the connecting point from the first antenna element and not from the other antenna element or elements.

Abstract: A method of estimating user location involving collecting data from the access points in the network. The data can then be used to define a relationship, for example the loss of power experienced by a transmitted signal, between the access points. The relationship can be stored within a matrix, database or any other suitable storage method that can be referenced to determine the position of a user device within the network and correlated with corresponding measurements from a user device to determine the location of the user device within the network.

Abstract: A base station for use in a mobile telephony network includes an antenna arrangement coupled to a transceiver arrangement for producing a plurality of beams. A method of testing the base station comprises detecting at the transceiver arrangement the signal strengths of a test signal received via the beams; comparing and/or correlating the said signal strengths detected at the transceiver arrangement; and using the results of the comparisons and/or correlations to determine the configuration of the antenna arrangement and transceiver arrangement and/or to detect faults. The comparison of average signal strengths can be used to detect cabling faults, and beam errors. The correlation of un-averaged signal strengths can be used to determine which beams have the same polarisation. Beam pointing directions and the allocation of antennas to sectors can be determined by monitoring handovers of mobiles moving between cells. Frequencies may be allocated to sectors according to a frequency re-use scheme.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are concerned with improvements to antenna systems, in particular beamforming antenna systems. Embodiments provide an improved beamformer arrangement for receiving and transmitting of signals by antenna elements. Embodiments are particularly well suited to use for transceiving of radio signals by base stations, such as are commonly found in cellular networks.