Abstract: In a network utilizing a transmitting peer channel and a receiving peer channel, each channel having a channel gatekeeper, to transport a plurality of types of data packets each having a different priority and requesting an acknowledgment following the transmission of the data packets, a method for dynamically setting the retransmission timer value is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of waiting for the end of a channel burst for a user on the second channel, determining whether the user is requesting an acknowledgment, and determining the retransmission timer value using previous channel request statistics combined with current known gatekeeper information.

Abstract: A target communication device (106) determines a length of time needed to transmit outbound information. The target communication device then transmits to a sending communication device (112) an indication of a timer value based on the length of time needed to transmit the outbound information. The sending communication device receives the indication and transmits information to the target communication device. The sending communication device determines a timer length using the indication of the timer value and starts a timer, associated with the information transmitted, with the timer length determined.

Abstract: A first communication device (107) transmits user data (102), divided into a plurality of data blocks, at a first modulation rate. The first communication device (107) then receives an acknowledgment (104) from the second communication device (101) indicating a quantity of the data blocks that were not received and compares this quantity to a threshold. When the quantity is less than the threshold, the data blocks that were not received are retransmitted (106) at a second, usually lower, modulation rate. Otherwise, they are retransmitted at the first modulation rate. A comparison between the quantity of data blocks to be retransmitted and a threshold is being introduced to known communication techniques by the present invention.

Abstract: A packet data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for tracking data packets in the packet data communication system. A sending communication device (e.g., 101) transmits a data packet (130) to a receiving communication device (e.g., 105), wherein the data packet includes a respective packet sequence number (131). Responsive to the transmission, the sending device increases a transmit tracking number (V(S)) that is used to indicate the packet sequence number of the data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted. Upon receiving the data packet, the receiving device transmits an acknowledgment data packet (140) to the sending device, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number (139). The receive tracking number indicates the packet sequence number of the data packet that the receiving device expects to receive next.

Abstract: A packet data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for conveying data packets in the packet data communication system. A first communication device (101) transmits, at a first time, a first group of data packets and, at a second time prior to receiving an acknowledgment of receipt of the first group, a second group of data packets to a second communication device (105). Each data packet of the two groups includes a respective packet sequence number and the second group includes at least some data packets of the first group. The first communication device stores in memory the packet sequence numbers of the data packets in each group together with a group identifier for their respective group. Upon receiving the first group, the second group, or both, the second communication device transmits an acknowledgment of receipt of at least one of the groups, wherein the acknowledgment includes at least a receive tracking number.