Method and apparatus for transmitting digital data packets on a wireless channel

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, wherein: for each packet to be transmitted by said source station, a minimum packet power level (P x ) is determined which is necessary to transmit said packet to said destination station.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2, wherein each packet to be transmitted has a minimum packet power level (P x ) and a duration (d x ), said step of determining if said predetermined average power level (P o ) will be exceeded includes the steps of: calculating a maximum energy value (I o ) for said current time interval, dependent on said predetermined average power level (P o ); for each packet to be transmitted, calculating a packet energy value (I x ) dependent on said minimum packet power level (P x ) and the duration of said packet (d x ); comparing said packet energy value (I x ) with an available energy value portion (I T ) of said maximum energy value (I o ); and transmitting said packet and updating said energy value portion (I T ) by subtracting said packet energy value (I x ) therefrom if said packet energy value (I x ) is less than said available energy value portion (I T ).

Claim 5

The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of: increasing the packet energy value (I x ) of said packet by a predetermined amount if said packet transmitted by said station is not correctly received by the destination station of said packet; and retransmitting said packet at the increased packet energy value, provided that said predetermined average power level (P o ) will not be exceeded as a result of said retransmission.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1, wherein: each one of said time intervals (T) has a duration of 100 milliseconds; and said digital data packets have durations in the range of from 1 millisecond to 3 milliseconds.

Claim 7

A wireless data communication station adapted to transmit a digital data packet from a source station to a destination station in a wireless data communication system having a plurality of stations, said data packet containing destination station information identifying said destination station, comprising: power level determining means (58,60,62,64) connected to receive said packet destination information for determining a minimum packet power level (P x ) which is necessary to transmit said packet to said destination station; attenuation means (72) connected to receive said packet and responsive to said power level determining means to adjust the transmission level of said digital data packet to said determined minimum packet power level (P x ); control means (80) connected to monitor said minimum packet power level (P x ) for determining if a predetermined average power level (P o ) will be exceeded for a predetermined time interval (T) by the transmission of said packet during said time period; and transmission means (74) connected to said attenuation means and responsive to said control means for transmitting said packet during said predetermined time interval (T) only if said predetermined average power level (P o ) will not be exceeded and deferring the transmission of said packet to a subsequent time interval if said predetermined average power level (P o ) will be exceeded for said predetermined time interval (T).

Claim 8

A wireless data communication station adapted to transmit a digital data packet from a source station to a destination station in a wireless data communication system having a plurality of stations, said data packet containing destination station information identifying said destination station, comprising: power level determining means (58,60,62,64) connected to receive said packet destination information for determining a minimum packet power level (P x ) which is necessary to transmit said packet to said destination station; attenuation means (72) connected to receive said packet and responsive to said power level determining means to adjust the transmission level of said digital data packet to said determined minimum packet power level (P x ); control means (80) connected to monitor said minimum packet power level (P x ) for determining if a predetermined average power level (P o ) will be exceeded for a predetermined time interval (T) by the transmission of said packet during said time period; and transmission means (74) connected to said attenuation means and responsive to said control means for transmitting said packet during said predetermined time interval (T) only if said predetermined average power level (P o ) will not be exceeded and deferring the transmission of said packet to a subsequent time interval if said predetermined average power level (P o ) will be exceeded for said predetermined time interval (T).

Claim 9

The wireless data communication station according to claim 6, further comprising: packet supply means (50, 54) adapted to supply said digital data packet to a buffer storage means (56) in accordance with packet priorities associated with said packet; and said power level determining means (58,60,62,64) and said attenuation means (72) being connected to receive said packet from said buffer storage means.

Claim 10

The wireless data communication station according to claim 6, wherein: said packet to be transmitted has a duration (d x ), and said control means: calculates a maximum energy value (I o ) for said time interval, dependent on said predetermined average power level (P o ); calculates a packet energy value (I x ) dependent on said minimum packet power level (P x ) and the duration of said packet (d x ); and compares said packet energy value (I x ) with an available energy value portion (I T ) of said maximum energy value (I o ) to determine if said predetermined average power level (P o ) will be exceeded for a predetermined time interval (T) by the transmission of said packet during said time period.