Random access channel protocol

An access point for facilitating random access communications comprising:

• a) receive circuitry;
• b) transmit circuitry;
• and
• c) control circuitry associated with the receive and transmit circuitry and configured to:
• i) receive packets transmitted via at least one of a plurality of channels from a plurality of user elements during a time slot;
• ii) determine a number of successful channels in which packets were properly received during the time slot;
• iii) determine a number of unsuccessful channels in which packets were not properly received during the time slot;
• and
• iv) transmit a feedback message based on a relative number of successful channels in which packets were properly received to a relative number of unsuccessful channels in which packets were not properly received.

A method for facilitating random access communications from an access point comprising:

• a) receiving packets transmitted via at least one of a plurality of channels from a plurality of user elements during a time slot;
• b) determining a number of successful channels in which packets were properly received during the time slot;
• c) determining a number of unsuccessful channels in which packets were not properly received during the time slot;
• and
• d) transmitting a feedback message based on a relative number of successful channels in which packets were properly received to a relative number of unsuccessful channels in which packets were not properly received.