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: A wireless communication method in a system in which subscriber stations are each operable for communication with a base station is provided. The base station is capable of performing simultaneous communications with a plurality of the subscriber stations simultaneously by exchange of packets each conforming with a layered protocol of said system. The packets include a first portion for defining physical layer (PHY) parameters and a second portion for defining media access layer (MAC) parameters. Furthermore, communications between the subscriber stations and the base station are performed wholly or partly through at least one relay station. In this system, the method includes, in the relay station, receiving a plurality of packets from the subscriber stations, detecting the second portion of each of the packets, combining the detected second portions to form a second portion of at least one new packet, and transmitting the new packet to the base station.

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 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: 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 having 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. The method for use in this system 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. The method further includes transmitting the transmission introduction sequence in a second transmission window of that transmission interval other than the first transmission window as control information for use by at least one said intermediate apparatus.

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 two-hop wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and an intermediate apparatus. The source apparatus is operable to transmit information along two links forming a communication path extending from the source apparatus to the destination apparatus via the intermediate apparatus. The intermediate apparatus is operable to receive information from the source apparatus and to transmit the received information to the destination apparatus. 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.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system includes determining for a particular transmission at least one measure of the expected link characteristics for at least two links of a communication path, and for each of those links, configuring a particular transmission window by setting its shape and/or a transmission format to be used in that window in dependence upon the measure for that link only. Furthermore, the method includes, during that particular transmission, transmitting information along those links using, for each of those links, the particular transmission window for that 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 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. 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 wireless transmission method for use in a wireless communication system is provided. The system includes at least two communication apparatuses which may experience relative movement therebetween. One such communication apparatus is a source apparatus that is operable to transmit information to the destination apparatus, which is the other communication apparatus. The wireless transmission method includes, at two or more time instants, obtaining a measure of channel characteristics between the source apparatus and the destination apparatus. Furthermore, the method includes calculating a correlation factor between the at least two time-consecutive measures over time, and employing the correlation factor or a value derived therefrom as an estimate of relative movement between the source apparatus and the destination apparatus in determining a transmission parameter.

Abstract: A method of selecting one of a plurality of candidate devices (1-6) forming at least part of a wireless personal area network (WPAN) to be a controller of the WPAN. For each candidate device (1-6), distances between that candidate device and other devices of the WPAN are assessed. A centrally located one (3) of the candidate devices is selected to be the controller, taking said distances into account. The residual battery energy of the candidate devices may also be taken into account.

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.