In this paper, "multlength" frequency-hopping (FH) codes are constructed by
modifying the generalized prime codes (GPC's). The new codes have asymptot
ically optimal cardinality as well as zero autocorrelation sidelobes and cr
oss-correlation functions of no greater than one. They are suitable for the
integration of multimedia services (e.g., data, voice, image, and video) w
ith different quality-of-service (QoS) requirements and signaling rates in
future telecommunication systems, such as third-generation cellular mobile
radio systems, where rate and service quality are dynamically matched to us
ers' needs through the assignment of different-length FH patterns. The use
of the new codes in multirate multimedia systems with FH code division mult
iple access (FH-CDMA) is illustrated. Providing frequency and time diversit
ies, the applications of the GPC's to an FH time-division multiple-access (
FH-TDMA) and FH/time-hopping TDMA (FH/TH-TDMA) system are also discussed. F
inally, the use of the codes in optical CDMA systems as multiwavelength opt
ical orthogonal codes is studied.