Abstract: A technique for constructing a dictionary word list for use in a data compressor is provided by determining a set of words that are included in the dictionary word list and sorting each subset of words having a common starting character by lengths of the words. Partitions are formed and identified based on the common starting character and word length, with each partition being stored in memory and indexed.

Abstract: A contention resolution method includes the steps of determining a contention has occurred and requesting contention resolution from radios in the system (604). Radios in the system receive the request and do not transmit in the next control frame (606). Group leader radios (202, 208 and 214) transmit the identification code they were able to demodulate in the previous frame to the master radio (608). The master radio (212) receives the information from the group leaders and transmits a control-channel access message to one of the contending radios (610).