Abstract: In a wireless network having a plurality of nodes configured to send and receive messages between each other, a method is disclosed for determining whether a message sent from a sending node to a receiving node has been successfully transmitted. The sending node transmits an identifying command to the receiving node that describes the sent message. The receiving node compares the description of the sent message with a received message that the receiving node has received. The receiving node responds to the sending node, said response indicating to the sending node the results of the comparison between the description of the sent message and the received message. The sending node transmits a portion of the sent message if the comparison between the received message and the description of the sent message indicates that the receiving node has not yet received the portion of the sent message.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data over a single-channel wireless network having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. According to the method, a first link is established between two of the nodes and data is transmitted therebetween. A break in transmission between the two nodes is listened for, and a first predetermined time interval is waited if a break in transmission between two nodes occurs. A second predetermined time interval is established if the first predetermined time interval lapses with no detected transmission over the channel. The second predetermined time interval is divided into a plurality of slots, and each node randomly selects one of the slots. One of the nodes establishes a second link if that node has selected a slot earlier in time than slots selected by the remainder of the nodes.