Abstract: A process for the automatic creation of ad-hoc networks between mobile devices in emergency and evacuation events. During an emergency or an evacuation event a command centre (20) issues a special emergency warning to mobile network operators, in response to which the operators broadcast over the mobile network (10) a trigger message to the mobile devices (11-14) that they service. Receipt of the trigger message causes the mobile devices (11-14) in a given geographical area to search for their neighbours and to form groups each having a leader, subsequent communication between the group and the mobile network (10) being conducted via the leader, communications within the group being conducted for example by using Bluetooth or WiFi. In this way, both resources in the mobile network and battery power of the mobile devices are conserved.

Abstract: A method for use in providing coverage for at least part of a coverage hole in a first cell or cell sector in a cellular wireless network, in which method a second cell or cell sector is selected, from a group of cells or cell sectors in the cellular wireless network which neighbor the first cell or cell sector, to adapt its coverage so as to cover at least part of the coverage hole in the first cell or cell sector, the method including carrying out an identification process using data relating to a cell or cell sector in the group to identify a cell or cell sector suitable for selection as the second cell or cell sector, the identification process being carried out on one or more cells or cell sectors in the group in turn.

Abstract: A wireless communication method and a wireless communication system includes a user equipment and a cooperating set of access nodes, each access node being operable to wirelessly exchange data and/or signalling information with the user equipment, the cooperating set participating directly or indirectly in the exchange with the user equipment in accordance with an exchange scheme, the cooperating set includes at least a first access node, the first access node being interconnected by an interface with a second access node.

Abstract: A path selection method for use in a communication system is provided. The system includes at least three communication apparatuses, a particular one of said apparatuses being operable to transmit and/or receive a communication signal along at least two different communication paths, each said path being either a single-link path extending from the particular apparatus to another said apparatus directly over a single communication link therebetween, or being a multi-link path extending from the particular apparatus to said other or another said apparatus indirectly via one or more intermediate said apparatuses over a plurality of consecutive such links link-by-link along the path, and at least one said path being such a multi-link path. The method includes, for each link along at least the or one of the multi-link paths, obtaining link-suitability information indicative of the suitability of the link concerned for transmission and/or reception.

Abstract: A value of a parameter which affects network performance or operation of a cell in a wireless network is re-selected by: storing an indicator, representing the performance and/or operation of the network, and a criterion to be met by the indicator when the value of the parameter has been re-selected; receiving data relating to the performance or operation of the network, and deriving therefrom statistical data relating to said indicator; storing that statistical data; when the value of the parameter is to be re-selected, obtaining at least two different solutions for the value of the parameter to be re-selected; using said statistical data to determine which of the solutions obtained most satisfactorily meets said criterion for the indicator; and selecting that solution for implementation on the network.

Abstract: A method for use in providing coverage for at least part of a coverage hole in a first cell or cell sector in a cellular wireless network, in which method a second cell or cell sector is selected, from a group of cells or cell sectors in the cellular wireless network which neighbour the first cell or cell sector, to adapt its coverage so as to cover at least part of the coverage hole in the first cell or cell sector, the method including carrying out an identification process using data relating to a cell or cell sector in the group to identify a cell or cell sector suitable for selection as the second cell or cell sector, the identification process being carried out on one or more cells or cell sectors in the group in turn.

Abstract: A downlink transmission method for use in a multi-hop communication system, the system comprising a base station (BS), a mobile station (MS) and one or more relay stations (RS), and the system providing two or more different communication paths extending between the base station and the mobile station, the base station being operable to transmit information indirectly to the mobile station along a series of links forming a first such communication path via one or more of said relays and also being operable to transmit information to the mobile station along one link or a series of links forming a second such communication path; the method comprising transmitting particular information from the base station along the first and second communication paths and combining the same particular information transmitted along the first and second communication paths in the mobile station.

Abstract: An automated coverage hole detection (CHD) method based on modifying the setting of a specific parameter of a UE in, e.g., an LTE-based cellular wireless network. Physical RLF events of the UEs, possibly indicative of a coverage hole, are monitored. At least some of the UEs in a given cell are selected for modifying their parameter setting. For UEs that do not have advanced logging and reporting capabilities upon the physical RLF, the existence of a coverage hole is detected by analyzing the correlation between the settings of a timer and the probability for the UE to transit to RRC_IDLE mode. The settings of the timer are systematically adjusted via eNB signalling to evaluate the characteristics of the observed RLFs.

Abstract: A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system is provided. In the wireless communication system, subscriber stations are each operable to communicate with a base station and the base station is capable of performing simultaneous communications with a number of subscriber stations by allocating an available capacity among the subscriber stations. The subscriber stations are required to issue capacity requests in order to obtain and/or maintain a connection with the base station, and communications between the subscriber stations and the base station are performed partly or wholly through at least one relay station. The provided wireless communication method includes, in the relay station, detecting capacity requests issued from a plurality of the subscriber stations, using the detected requests to form at least one combined capacity request, and transmitting the combined capacity request to the base station.

Abstract: An uplink transmission method for use in a multi-hop communication system, the system comprising a mobile station (MS), a base station (BS) and one or more relay stations (RS), and the system providing two or more different communication paths extending between the mobile station and the base station, the mobile station being operable to transmit information indirectly to the base station along a series of links forming a first such communication path via one or more of the relay stations and also being operable to transmit information to the base station along one link or a series of links forming a second such communication path; the method comprising transmitting particular information from the mobile station along the first and the second communication paths; and combining the same particular information transmitted along the first and second communication paths in the base station.

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The method includes, for two apparatuses having overlapping transmission coverage areas, one of the two said apparatuses being an intermediate apparatus, transmitting a first transmission signal from a first one of those apparatuses in a first transmission window of a particular transmission interval and transmitting a second transmission signal from the second one of those apparatuses in a second transmission window of the particular transmission interval but not in said first transmission window, so that a communication apparatus located in the coverage areas of both the first and second apparatuses can receive said first transmission signal substantially without interference from said second transmission signal.

Abstract: A path selection method for use in a communication system, the system comprising at least three communication apparatuses, a particular one of said apparatuses being operable to transmit and/or receive a communication signal along at least two different communication paths, each said path being either a single-link path extending from the particular apparatus to another said apparatus directly over a single communication link therebetween, or being a multi-link path extending from the particular apparatus to said other or another said apparatus indirectly via one or more intermediate said apparatuses over a plurality of consecutive such links link-by-link along the path, and at least one said path being such a multi-link path, the method comprising: for each link along at least the or one of the multi-link paths, obtaining link-suitability information indicative of the suitability of the link concerned for transmission and/or reception; for at least the or said one of the multi-link paths, combining the link-

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The method includes, for two apparatuses having overlapping transmission coverage areas, one of the two said apparatuses being an intermediate apparatus, transmitting a first transmission signal from a first one of those apparatuses in a first transmission window of a particular transmission interval and transmitting a second transmission signal from the second one of those apparatuses in a second transmission window of the particular transmission interval but not in said first transmission window, so that a communication apparatus located in the coverage areas of both the first and second apparatuses can receive said first transmission signal substantially without interference from said second transmission signal.

Abstract: A downlink transmission method for use in a multi-hop communication system, the system comprising a base station (BS), a mobile station (MS) and one or more relay stations (RS), and the system providing two or more different communication paths extending between the base station and the mobile station, the base station being operable to transmit information indirectly to the mobile station along a series of links forming a first such communication path via one or more of said relays and also being operable to transmit information to the mobile station along one link or a series of links forming a second such communication path; the method comprising transmitting particular information from the base station along the first and second communication paths and combining the same particular information transmitted along the first and second communication paths in the mobile station.

Abstract: In an adaptive modulation and coding method one or more adjustable values are created (S1), each corresponding to at least one of a plurality of available modulation and coding levels applicable to a signal transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver, and each representing a change to the level(s) to which it corresponds. One or more of said adjustable values is/are adjusted in dependence upon whether or not the signal is received successfully by the receiver (S2-S5). One of said available modulation and coding levels is selected (S6-S8) to apply to the signal based on such an adjustable value. Such a method can enable the appropriate modulation and coding level to be selected even when the path and channel conditions vary. The method is applicable to selecting modulation and coding levels in a high-speed downlink packet access system of a wireless communication network.

Abstract: An uplink transmission method for use in a multi-hop communication system, the system comprising a mobile station (MS), a base station (BS) and one or more relay stations (RS), and the system providing two or more different communication paths extending between the mobile station and the base station, the mobile station being operable to transmit information indirectly to the base station along a series of links forming a first such communication path via one or more of the relay stations and also being operable to transmit information to the base station along one link or a series of links forming a second such communication path; the method comprising transmitting particular information from the mobile station along the first and the second communication paths; and combining the same particular information transmitted along the first and second communication paths in the base station.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, reducing interference inflicted by a first wireless communications system on a second wireless communications system, and a method of, and apparatus for, interacting with a first wireless communications system.

Abstract: A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system is provided. In the wireless communication system, subscriber stations are each operable to communicate with a base station and the base station is capable of performing simultaneous communications with a number of subscriber stations by allocating an available capacity among the subscriber stations. The subscriber stations are required to issue capacity requests in order to obtain and/or maintain a connection with the base station, and communications between the subscriber stations and the base station are performed partly or wholly through at least one relay station. The provided wireless communication method includes, in the relay station, detecting capacity requests issued from a plurality of the subscriber stations, using the detected requests to form at least one combined capacity request, and transmitting the combined capacity request to the base station.

Abstract: Cell selection techniques for use in cellular communications systems are disclosed. A decision as to whether to use a cell for data transmission is made in dependence on a measure of a congestion level in the cell. The decision may either be part of a cell selection decision, or used to override a cell selection decision. The techniques may be used in fast cell site selection.

Abstract: In a CDMA communications network a mobile station includes wanted signal processing circuitry (12) for processing an input signal (PRX), representing a CDMA transmission signal received at the mobile station from a base station of the network, to derive therefrom a wanted signal embodying a preselected spreading code. The mobile station also includes code information receiving circuitry (52) which receives from the base station code information (CIi1–CIim) identifying a further spreading code assigned by the network to an interfering signal of another network user. Interfering signal processing circuitry (14) employs the further spreading code identified by the received code information to reduce the interference effect of that interfering signal on the derived wanted signal.