Abstract: A method includes sending, from a first transmitter to a first receiver, a request to send (RTS) message associated with a first transmit opportunity (TXOP). The RTS message requests the first receiver to indicate whether reuse of the first TXOP is permitted. The method further includes receiving, at the first transmitter from the first receiver, a clear to send (CTS) message responsive to the RTS message.

Abstract: A system and associated method for dynamic error dampening in a node in a network system. The node collects statistics of data traffic transferred through the node. The node has a link error MIB storing Error ratio and Reliability of interface of the node. When the Error ratio is too high, the node starts running a Layer 2 protocol for monitoring data traffic and calculates Penalty of the node. When Penalty is higher than predefined Suppress Threshold, the node deactivates Layer 3 link while the Layer 2 protocol still monitors the interface. Once the Penalty becomes lower than Reuse Threshold, the node reactivates the Layer 3 link that had been previously deactivated. When Penalty becomes zero (0), the node clears the Error ratio and stops the Layer 2 protocol for monitoring the data traffic.