Abstract: A multicarrier communication system for wireless transmission of blocks of data having a plurality of digital data symbols in each block. The communication system includes a device for distributing the digital data symbols in each block over a plurality of clusters, each of the clusters receiving one or more digital data symbols. The digital data symbols are encoded in each of the cluster; and modulated in each cluster to produce a signal capable of being transmitted over the sub-channels associated with each cluster. A transmitter thereafter transmits the modulated signal over the sub-channels. By distributing the modulated signal over a plurality of clusters, overall peak-to-average power (PAP) ratio is reduced during transmission and transmitter diversity is improved.

Abstract: A number of RPs stagger the times in which they begin searching for available channels. In a preferred method, one of a plurality of RPs in a UPCS system is selected to have a first start time. The system determines which RPs in the system can "see" the selected RP. Each of these RPs is given a unique stagger start time. This process may be repeated until each RP in the system is assigned a stagger start time. Alternatively, if there are fewer RPs in the system than there are available stagger start times, each RP may be selected to have a unique stagger start time.

Abstract: A communication system and method, particularly adapted for use in adaptive antenna arrays, are presented. A plurality of signals containing a desired signal, interference, and noise are received through an array of antennas connected to a base receiving station. The signal arriving at each antenna is weighted according to computations which adjust those weights as a function of received interference and noise power in an unequal manner, based on the estimation accuracy of the interference and noise, which in turn depends on factors such as interference to noise power ratios and fading rate.