Abstract: An ad hoc network with distributed hierarchical scheduling is disclosed. In one aspect, stations in a network mesh detect interfering neighbor stations and form interference lists. Stations transmit their interference lists. Scheduling stations schedule allocations for child stations in response to interference lists, received remote allocations, or a combination thereof. Coordination messages are transmitted including frame structure, allocations, and interference lists, among others. In another aspect, an ad hoc mesh network may be organized into a tree topology. In an example wireless backhaul network, this matches traffic flow. Distributed, hierarchical scheduling is provided where parents schedule communication with children while respecting already scheduled transmissions to/from interferers and to/from interferers of their respective children.

Abstract: A communication receiver (400) minimizes a combined local and global mean square error for signal equalization. A base station (101) or a mobile station (102-104) may include a plurality of antennas (292) for receiving a plurality of signals transmitted from a common source. The plurality of signals carry a common stream of data symbols. A pre-processing block (299) processes the received signals to produce a plurality of processed received signals (298). A signal equalizer (401) minimizes a combined local and global MSE over the processed received signals (298) to produce a combined signal (499). A decoder decodes the combined signal (499) to retrieve the stream of data symbols. A processor is configured for combining a local MSE and a global MSE in accordance with an adjustable weighting factor &agr; to produce the combined local and global MSE.

Abstract: In a communication system, a method and an accompanying apparatus provide for efficient modulation and demodulation processes. In a transmitter (100), a ratio of power level of a communication channel over power level of a pilot channel is determined to produce a power level ratio. The power level ratio is quantized within a finite digital word. A quantized quadrature amplitude modulation distance, in a quadrature amplitude modulation constellation, is determined based on the quantized power level ratio. A signal, in accordance with a quadrature amplitude modulation technique, is modulated using the quantized distance, and transmitted to a receiver (160).