Abstract: A method for accessing a wireless local area network (WLAN) channel and providing quality of service (QoS) for voice in a system supporting both voice and data services. Under the method, a communication device (302, 303) contends for a medium (channel). Upon identifying a transmit opportunity, the device transmits a voice packet to an access point (AP) (304) and polls the AP for downlink traffic. A low power implementation is feasible because the communication device can sleep, wake up to contend for the medium, transmit a voice packet to the AP, request a voice packet from the AP, transmit an acknowledgement, and go back to sleep.

Abstract: A method for operating an edge router in a network that provides multiple levels of service is provided. In response to receiving packets, the edge router determines a corresponding packet flow. An incremental utility for each packet is then calculated, and each packet is labeled as a function of the incremental utility. The packets are then forwarded to core routers in the network, where they are processed based on the labels. The incremental utility can be based on a utility function corresponding to the flow and intra-flow priorities associated with the packets.

Abstract: A communication device (e.g., 106) having multiple transmission modes employs a method of transmitting user information (309, 310) and intermittent overhead data (307, 308). The communication device (106) selects from a first transmission technique and a second transmission technique. When the first transmission technique is selected and overhead data (307) is to be transmitted, the communication device (106) replaces a first predetermined amount of the user information (309) with the overhead data (307) to form a data unit. When the second transmission technique is selected and overhead data (308) is to be transmitted, the communication device (106) replaces a second predetermined amount of the user information (310) with the overhead data (308) to form the data unit, wherein the second predetermined amount is less than the first predetermined amount.

Abstract: A voice encoder for use in low bit rate vocoding applications employs a method of encoding a plurality of digital information frames. This method includes the step of providing an estimate of the digital information frame, which estimate includes a frame shape characteristic. Further, a fundamental frequency associated with the digital information frame is identified and used to establish a shape window. Lastly, the frame shape characteristic is matched, within the shape window, with a predetermined shape function to produce a plurality of shape parameters.

Abstract: In a receiver, a channel quality metric (220) is determined by demodulating a received second stream of discrete data elements (205) using a received first stream of discrete data elements (203) to produce a demodulated second stream of discrete data elements (212). The demodulated second stream is decoded, leading to an estimate of the second stream of discrete data elements (214). The estimate of the second stream is then re-encoded and the resulting re-encoded stream of discrete data elements (216) is compared with the demodulated second stream to produce the channel quality metric. Derived in this manner, the channel quality metric provides a method for detecting decoding errors in a stream of critical data elements.