Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing the copper pair at each subscriber site to reappear at the CO. It also provides inter-connectivity between subscribers within a specified proximity, thereby allowing the subscribers to operate as a LAN. By placing a router between various Distributed Point of Presence Local Area Networks (DPOPLAN) and service provider that offer services such as Internet access, a large communication can easily be created.

Abstract: A low cost solution for providing wireless multi-rate packet data communications between a transmitting unit and a receiving unit on a single spread spectrum channel. The transmitting unit and receiving unit are operable to change communications modes at any given time to provide packet data communications at any given data rate for any given duration. In general, the transmitting unit is operable to change the coding gain of the transmitted spread spectrum to establish a communications mode providing a given data rate for communication to the receiving unit. In one embodiment, the transmitting unit first establishes a regular communications mode, wherein the transmitting unit generates a spread spectrum packet data signal having a high coding gain, thus providing low rate, highly reliable communications over the channel.