Abstract: A method and apparatus for address assignment and node scheduling within an ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. During operation a personal area network coordinator (PANC) (40) will divide a superframe (301) into a plurality of slots, assigning each sub-tree under the PANC's direct child node to each slot for communication with the PANC. Each sub-tree coordinator will be assigned a same logical address by the PANC. As a result, a sub-tree coordinator synchronizes to the PANC node in only one subsuperframe slot assigned by the PANC with different sub-tree coordinators synchronizing to the PANC in different slots.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for transmitting a WDM optical signal. The method begins by modulating optical channels that are each located at a different wavelength from one another with (1) a respective one of a plurality of information-bearing electrical signals that all embody the same broadcast information; (2) a respective one of a plurality of RF signals having a common functional broadcast waveform, at least one of the RF signals being out of phase with respect to remaining ones of the plurality of RF signal and (3) at least one of the RF signals being phase adjusted with respect to its original phase. Each of the modulated optical channels is multiplexed to form a WDM optical signal. The WDM optical signal, while maintaining the pre-assigned phase relationships between the modulation signals of the optical channels, is forwarded onto an optical transmission path.