Patent ID: 8050249

Claim:
A method of transmitting information over a network, the information comprising a plurality of information blocks, the method comprising: transmitting a first information block from a first terminal over a channel in the network, the first terminal retaining access to the channel until either the first information block is acknowledged by a second terminal receiving the first information block, or at least a first predetermined period of time following transmission of the first information block expires, whichever is shorter; determining whether the first information block is acknowledged within the first predetermined period of time; transmitting a second information block from the first terminal over the network in response to the first information block being acknowledged within the first predetermined period of time; and in response to the first information block not being acknowledged within the first predetermined period of time, retransmitting the first information block when the first information block has a first type, and waiting for a second predetermined period of time before attempting to retransmit the first information block when the first information block has a second type.