Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of consolidating, shipping and distributing items comprising multiple orders to multiple customers. The orders are received by an inventory management service, filled and packaged at a centralized distribution center in fewer containers than there are orders. For instance, if there are N orders destined for a particular authorized outlet, then the N orders will be consolidated and shipped in at most N?1, or fewer, containers. However, each order is individually packaged, controlled, tracked and received as an individual order. The consolidated containers are shipped to an authorized outlet and the individual orders are distributed to the customers. Also provided are systems and methods for returning orders that are not picked up at the authorized outlet to a central location. The items may be, for example, service parts, wireless communication devices, etc. Warehousing, shipping and transportation costs are reduced by this invention.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating communication of encoded data, formed of a systematic part and a non-systematic part, in a radio communication system. Systematic parts of the encoded data are assigned by an assignor to transmit antennas that are associated with communication channels exhibiting better, or best, communication quality levels. Determinations are made of communication conditions to rank the transmit antennas, thereby permit appropriate assignments of the encoded data to transmit antennas. Feedback is provided by the receiver that receives the transmitted data. The feedback information includes, or is formed responsive to, detections and other measurements at the receivers.