Patent ID: 7420914

Claim:
A multipoint-to-point, orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communication system comprising: a plurality of remote units; a host unit that includes a demodulator; wherein each of the remote units transmits an upstream OFDM signal using a multiple access scheme to the host unit demodulator using at least one of a plurality of orthogonal tones within an OFDM waveform, wherein upstream OFDM signals from at least two of the remote units combine to a unified OFDM waveform at the host unit; wherein the host unit receives the upstream OFDM signals from a plurality of the remote units, the tones of the upstream signals being substantially orthogonal when received at the host unit; wherein portions of upstream OFDM signals from at least two of the remote units arrive at the host unit at the same time; wherein the host unit demodulator demodulates said portions; wherein the host unit performs a first analysis of at least one transmission characteristic of the upstream signal from at least one of the remote units in order to determine a first adjustment to the upstream signal within the OFDM communication system; wherein the host unit generates and transmits a first adjustment signal to the at least one remote unit to perform the first adjustment; wherein after the first analysis the host unit performs a second analysis of the at least one transmission characteristic of the upstream signal from the at least one remote unit in order to determine a second adjustment to the upstream signal within the OFDM communication system; and wherein the host unit generates and transmits a second adjustment signal to the at least one remote unit to perform the second adjustment.