A new algorithm is introduced which decodes code division multiple user communication signals. The algorithm makes use of the distinctive form or pattern of each signal to separate it from the composite signal created by the multiple users. Although the algorithm is presented in terms of frequency-hopped signals, the actual transmitter modulator can use any of the existing digital modulation techniques. The algorithm is applicable to error-free codes or to codes where controlled interference is permitted. It can be used when block synchronization is assumed, and in some cases when it is not. The paper also discusses briefly some of the codes which can be used in connection with the algorithm, and relates the algorithm to past studies which use other approaches to the same problem.

Expressions for the throughput and average packet delay for a Pure-ALOHA single-hop packet radio system operating in slow Rayleigh fading are derived. For noncoherent frequency-shift-keying (NCFSK), an exact closed form expression is presented. For coherent phase-shift-keying (CPSK) an excellent approximation for large packet sizes is derived. This approximation technique is valid in general for other modulation schemes and for other fading channel statistical characterizations. The packet length which maximizes the useful data throughput in slow Rayleigh fading is found. The results of this investigation indicate that a packet radio system can be designed with a modest link margin for fading and achieve identical throughput performance over a nonfading channel and a fading channel with only a small increase in average packet delay for the fading channel.

A method is presented for finding the amplitude distribution of the sum of the contents of more than n stages of a feedback shift register connected with feedback over n stages. The analysis illustrates the causes of the skew distributions observed in practice. Some theoretical results are presented.