Abstract: A timing adjustment method for use in a multi-hop communication system is provided. The system includes a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and one or more intermediate apparatuses, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information along a series of links forming a communication path extending from the source apparatus to the destination apparatus via the or each intermediate apparatus, and the or each intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous apparatus along the path and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along the path, the system being configured to transmit information in a plurality of consecutive labelled intervals.

Abstract: A wireless communication system in which base stations communicate with subscriber stations by exchange of data packets contained within frames. The frames, which occupy a certain time duration as well as frequency range, each include a downlink subframe from a base station to subscriber stations, and an uplink subframe used by the subscribers to send data to the base station. Each subframe includes a plurality of zones, and each base station maintains a plurality of simultaneous connections with the subscribers by transmitting packets within the zones to the relevant subscriber stations. The zones allow frequency reuse when subscribers are located in different cells served by the same base station. In addition, each connection has an associated service level requiring more or less resources within the system.

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system, the system comprising a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and one or more intermediate apparatuses, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information in a communication direction along a series of links forming a communication path extending from the source apparatus to the destination apparatus via the or each intermediate apparatus, and the or each intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous apparatus along the path and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along the path, the system having access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth for transmission in the communication direction during a discrete transmission interval, said format defining a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval, each window occupying a different part of that interval and having a frequency bandwidth profile within

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a base station, a relay station and mobile stations. The method transmits using a downlink transmission frame that has a first zone for transmitting radio signals from the base station to the relay station, a second zone for transmitting radio signals from the relay station to a mobile station, and a third zone provided between the first zone and the second zone for transmitting radio signals from the base station directly to a mobile station.

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and one or more intermediate apparatuses. The system has access to at least one predetermined transmission introduction sequence and also has access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth during a discrete transmission interval, said format defining a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval. Each window occupies a different part of that interval and has a frequency bandwidth profile within said available transmission frequency bandwidth over its part of that interval. Each said window being assignable for such a transmission interval to at least one of said apparatuses for use in transmission. The method includes, when transmitting a message with a preamble in a particular transmission interval, transmitting the preamble in a first transmission window of that transmission interval.

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 transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and two or more intermediate apparatuses. The system has access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth during a discrete transmission interval, said format defining a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval. Each window occupies a different part of that interval and has a frequency bandwidth profile within said available transmission frequency bandwidth over its part of that interval. Each said window is assignable for such a transmission interval to one of said apparatuses for use in transmission.

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and an intermediate apparatus, where the source apparatus and destination apparatus are arranged to transmit and receive information via the intermediate apparatus, and where at least the source apparatus is arranged to perform a network entry process in order to connect to the system. The includes, in the intermediate apparatus, determining whether the source apparatus has initiated a network entry process with the intermediate apparatus and if so, notifying the destination apparatus thereof while continuing to conduct the network entry process with the source apparatus. The method also includes, in the destination apparatus, responding to said notification with a return message to the intermediate apparatus, said return message being used to facilitate completion of the network entry process.

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. Furthermore, the system has access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth during a discrete transmission interval. The format defines a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval, where each window occupies a different part of that interval and has a frequency bandwidth profile within the available transmission frequency bandwidth over its part of that interval. Furthermore, each window being assignable for such a transmission interval to one of said apparatuses for use in transmission. The transmission method for use in this system includes employing said format for one or more such transmission intervals to transmit data and control information together along at least two consecutive said links as a set of successive transmission signals, link by link.

Abstract: A method for transmission of information about downlink and uplink parameters of a intermediate apparatus link in a multi-hop wireless communication system, the system comprising a first node apparatus, a second node apparatus and one or more intermediate apparatuses, each said apparatus being operable to transmit and receive information along a series of links forming a communication path for downlink and uplink communication, the communication path extending between the first node and second node apparatuses via the or each intermediate apparatus, each link comprising either a first node link between the first node apparatus and a said intermediate apparatus or an intermediate apparatus link between a said intermediate apparatus and a said apparatus which is not the first node apparatus, and the system having access to a minimum allocation unit for allocating time and transmission frequency bandwidth, the method comprising: obtaining values of downlink and uplink parameters for a particular intermediate app

Abstract: A timing adjustment method for use in a multi-hop communication system, the system comprising a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and one or more intermediate apparatuses, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information along a series of links forming a communication path extending from the source apparatus to the destination apparatus via the or each intermediate apparatus, and the or each intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous apparatus along the path and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along the path, the system being configured to transmit information in a plurality of consecutive labelled intervals, the method comprising: transmitting information in a first labelled interval from a first said apparatus along a plurality of consecutive links of said path via one or more said intermediate apparatuses to a second said apparatus, said information including a reference to a particular one of said labelled intervals and t

Abstract: A transmission method for use in a wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication system includes a source apparatus and a destination apparatus, where at least transmission from the source apparatus to the destination apparatus is conducted via an intermediate apparatus. The source apparatus is arranged to transmit an identification message to identify itself to the system. The method includes, in the intermediate apparatus, determining whether an identification message from the source apparatus is received and if so, informing the destination apparatus of the reception of the identification message. The method also includes, in the destination apparatus, detecting any identification message received directly at the destination apparatus from the source apparatus, detecting whether the intermediate apparatus has informed the destination apparatus of the reception of the identification message, and using said detections to decide whether to send a response to the source apparatus.

Abstract: In a mobile ad hoc network, a method of routing data and a mobile unit for use according to the method are arranged to find the relay capacity of a node and the lifetime of the node, and thereby determine whether the node can relay the data. The method and unit can find the relay efficiency of nodes and this information is used to route data traffic efficiently through a number of nodes along a route.

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: A multi-hop wireless communication system, in which packets of data are transmitted over a connection between a base station (MR-BS) and a subscriber station (SS) via at least one relay station (RS), the packets of data being transmitted in accordance with one of a plurality of service classes each having a respective quality-of-service (QoS), and available bandwidth in the system being shared among a plurality of such connections in accordance with their service classes. To decrease the latency of bandwidth allocation in the system, and to support its scheduler algorithm, the RS has to know the QoS demands and the bandwidth allocating requirements of each connection.

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 signalling method in a frame-based wireless communication system allowing a base station (BS) to inform fixed or mobile subscriber stations (MS) of resource allocations without excessive signalling and processing overhead. In one embodiment, in addition to normal resource allocation information such as a DL-MAP or UL-MAP, IDs of MSs or connections, for which the resource allocation has been modified, cancelled, or initialized, are listed at the start of the frame so that each MS can identify itself (or its connection) in the list. Only those mobile stations for which the list is relevant need to act on the resource allocation information. In another embodiment, the BS attaches a period of validity to each allocation of resources which is transmitted along with the normal resource allocation information. This frees the BS from having to repeat the same information in subsequent frames, and each MS can go on using the same resource during the period of validity without needing to check for updates.

Abstract: A signalling method for use in a multiple-access communication system, the system comprising a first communication apparatus and a plurality of second communication apparatuses, the second communication apparatuses being operable to communicate with the first communication apparatus using respective parts of a shared communication frame and each using an available service level for such communication, the method comprising: assessing service-level requests from the second communication apparatuses to determine if there is a group of the second communication apparatuses that have corresponding service-level requirements; if it is determined that such a group exists, employing a first control scheme for transmission in the shared communication frame of communication control information for the second communication apparatuses of the group; and for any second communication apparatus not part of the group, employing a further control scheme different from said first control scheme for transmission in the shared c

Abstract: A wireless communication method used in a system comprising a base station and a plurality of fixed or mobile subscriber stations, the base station maintaining connections with each of the subscriber stations by performing wireless communication in units of frames, and within each frame, allocating resources for data transmissions and signalling in the wireless communication system. The method involves providing, in each frame, a new dedicated shared channel for use by the subscriber stations to report a connection quality to the base station. To save bandwidth in the system, the resources allocated to the shared channel are less than the total resources needed for every subscriber station to report individually within the same frame.

Abstract: A channel estimation method for use in a wireless communication system, the system comprising a source apparatus and a destination apparatus, the source apparatus being operable to transmit information to the destination apparatus, the method comprising: allocating transmission frequency bandwidth over a particular time period into a plurality of contemporaneous pilot transmission blocks each having a frequency bandwidth profile; assigning pilot signals for transmission at selected time-frequency positions within each of the pilot transmission blocks; and in the particular time period, transmitting information and the pilot signals of at least one of said pilot transmission blocks from the source apparatus to the destination apparatus.