Abstract: Forward and Reverse Channel Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) communication is described in which a Forward Channel Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) session between a first unit and a second unit is performed, in which a command is send to the second unit to start a forward channel ARQ session, where the command includes a message length field specifying the length of an ARQ message to be sent by the first unit to the second unit. The second unit may refuse the command because of the length of the ARQ message.

Abstract: An equalization method for digitally encoded signals transmitted in a plurality of non-contiguous time slots has a digitally encoded synchronization signal commencing in each time slot followed by a digitally encoded data signal having a digitally encoded marker signal at a predetermined time period. The synchronization signal of the assigned time slot ("first synchronization signal") and the digitally encoded data signal of the assigned time slot including the marker signal, and the digitally encoded synchronization signal of the immediately succeeding non-assigned time slot ("second synchronization signal") are all stored. The location of the minimum energy point of the stored digitally encoded signals is determined. Equalization is performed starting from the first synchronization signal to the minimum energy point. Then, the equalization commences from the second synchronization signal backwards until the minimum energy point is reached.