Patent ID: 6546001
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
For use in a wireless communications device, a medium access control (MAC) message acknowledgment system for acknowledging MAC messages transmitted in an RF control channel between said wireless communications device and a remote communications unit, said MAC message acknowledgment system allowing only one outstanding MAC message at any one time, said MAC message acknowledgment system comprising:a control processor capable of receiving an outbound MAC message unit from a MAC layer device in said wireless communications device and attaching a header to said outbound MAC message unit to thereby form an outbound MAC message suitable for transmission to said remote communications unit, said header comprising: a two bit control field containing logic bits that signify one of: whether an acknowledgment of receipt of a MAC message has been received and whether a new MAC message is present; and a one bit sequence number that identifies said only one outstanding MAC message wherein said header identifies said outbound MAC message unit to said remote communications device to thereby enable said remote communications unit to acknowledge receipt of said outbound MAC message.