Abstract: A system and method for using a pilot signal in a communication receiver having multiple antenna elements is described. A set of data signals and a set of pilot signals are received. A first pilot signal from the set of pilot signals is identified based on a first characteristic of the first pilot signal from the set of pilot signals. A set of weight values associated with the antenna elements are adjusted so that a second characteristic of the first pilot signal is substantially optimized with respect to the second characteristic of the remaining pilot signals from the set of pilot signals. Consequently, a first data signal from the set of data signals and being uniquely associated with the first pilot signal is substantially optimized by the adjusting of the set of weight values associated with the antenna elements.

Abstract: A token ring local area network includes workstations running both conventional data and multimedia applications. The latter, which generally requires a minimum throughput in order to be viable, can be split into two further categories; those which cannot tolerate excessive latency (end to end delay), typically interactive applications such as voice communications, and those which are less sensitive to latenoy, typically playback operations, the network recognises three priority levels: (1) for latency-sensitive multimedia applications, (2) for latency-insensitive multimedia applications, and (3) conventional applications. All multimedia applications prior to commencement of any communications over the LAN must request an allocation of throughput from a LAN segment resource manager (LSRM), which will only be awarded if there is currently sufficient available throughput on the LAN to support the attended communication.