A system for distributed packet scheduling, comprising: an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of first nodes: each of said first nodes comprising a physical neighbourhood list, wherein the physical neighbourhood list is a data structure that is associated with the respective first node; characterized in that: the physical neighbourhood list includes at least two transmit time parameters, said at least two transmit time parameters associated with a further one of the plurality of first nodes, wherein said at least two transmit time parameters are used to determine a set of eligible competing first nodes for a neighbourhood election; and a control packet that is transmitted from the first node at a transmit time that is scheduled based on an outcome of the neighbourhood election, wherein one of the at least two transmit time parameters is a transmit holdoff time (Xmt Holdoff Time), wherein the transmit holdoff time (Xmt Holdoff Time) is a minimum number of frames between control packet transmissions by the first node, and wherein one of the at least two transmit time parameters is a next transmit time (Next Xmt Time), wherein the next transmit time (Next Xmt Time) is the frame and slot number before which the first node will not transmit the control packet. an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of first nodes: each of said first nodes comprising a physical neighbourhood list, wherein the physical neighbourhood list is a data structure that is associated with the respective first node; characterized in that: the physical neighbourhood list includes at least two transmit time parameters, said at least two transmit time parameters associated with a further one of the plurality of first nodes, wherein said at least two transmit time parameters are used to determine a set of eligible competing first nodes for a neighbourhood election; and a control packet that is transmitted from the first node at a transmit time that is scheduled based on an outcome of the neighbourhood election, wherein one of the at least two transmit time parameters is a transmit holdoff time (Xmt Holdoff Time), wherein the transmit holdoff time (Xmt Holdoff Time) is a minimum number of frames between control packet transmissions by the first node, and wherein one of the at least two transmit time parameters is a next transmit time (Next Xmt Time), wherein the next transmit time (Next Xmt Time) is the frame and slot number before which the first node will not transmit the control packet. the physical neighbourhood list includes at least two transmit time parameters, said at least two transmit time parameters associated with a further one of the plurality of first nodes, wherein said at least two transmit time parameters are used to determine a set of eligible competing first nodes for a neighbourhood election; and a control packet that is transmitted from the first node at a transmit time that is scheduled based on an outcome of the neighbourhood election, wherein one of the at least two transmit time parameters is a transmit holdoff time (Xmt Holdoff Time), wherein the transmit holdoff time (Xmt Holdoff Time) is a minimum number of frames between control packet transmissions by the first node, and wherein one of the at least two transmit time parameters is a next transmit time (Next Xmt Time), wherein the next transmit time (Next Xmt Time) is the frame and slot number before which the first node will not transmit the control packet.