Multiresolution transmission system

In the transmitter, data are divided in to two or more groups, according to importance. In a three group system, for example, the data streams are then mapped onto a multiresolution constellation (QAM or modified PSK) in the following way. The most important data determine the quadrant, the next most important determine which of four subsets is used in the quadrant, and the least important determine which point is used within that subset. This mapping system allows receivers of differing capabilities to detect as much data as they are able, or a single receiver to detect a much data as the channel quality allows. For example, a QPSK receiver could detect the most important data, a modified 16QAM receiver could detect the most important and second most important data, while a modified 64QAM receiver could receive all the data. Furthermore, in an OFDM system, multiresolution transmission is provided by using long guard times and/or wider channel spacing (equivalently, longer symbols) for the more important data.