Scheduling techniques for a packet-access network

Multiple access interference may be substantially removed by introducing a near-far situation in which a near mobile and a far mobile ("near" and "far" based on signal strength) are selected, resources allocated among these and other mobiles, and the data is packetized for transmission during a transmission interval such that the data intended for the far mobile is transmitted along with the data intended for the near mobile. Forward link signals are then appropriately scheduled. Signals intended for the far mobile and the near mobile are decoded from the composite signal received at the near mobile. The signal intended for the far mobile is then removed from the composite signal received at the near mobile.