Patent ID: 7251231

Claim:
A method for data communication in a wireless network including a server and a plurality of existing clients, the method includes a protocol for the wireless network comprising: organizing data transmission within the wireless network into a sequence of data frames wherein each frame includes: a first portion having a plurality of forward time slots for transmission of data from the server to the plurality of existing clients; a second portion having a plurality of reverse time slots for transmission of data from the plurality of existing clients to the server; a turn-around portion selectively inserted between the first and second portions for selectively supporting half-duplex communications between the server and the plurality of existing clients; and a dedicated quiet portion independent from the first and second portions during which neither the server nor the existing clients transmit; wherein, one or more forward and reverse time slots are assigned to each client by the server, and the assignments remain in effect for succeeding data frames until changed by the server; transmitting data from the server to the one of the plurality of existing clients over one or more of the assigned forward time slots; and transmitting data from one of the plurality of existing clients to the server over one or more of the assigned reverse time slots.