Patent ID: 7817675

Claim:
A method comprising: generating a first traffic stream for transmission into a shared-communications channel, wherein said first traffic stream is the only privileged traffic stream contending for access to said shared-communications channel, and wherein said first traffic stream comprises a first traffic frame; generating a second traffic stream for transmission into said shared-communications channel, wherein said second traffic stream is not privileged, and wherein said second traffic stream comprises a second frame; selecting a first back-off delay for said first frame from a first back-off contention window; selecting a second back-off delay for said second frame from a second back-off contention window; transmitting said first frame into said shared-communications channel at said first back-off delay; transmitting said second frame into said shared-communications channel at said second back-off delay; detecting a collision on said shared-communications channel during the transmission of said first frame; detecting a collision on said shared-communications channel during the transmission of said second frame; selecting a third back-off delay for said first frame from a third back-off contention window; selecting a fourth back-off delay for said second frame from a fourth back-off contention window; re-transmitting said first frame into said shared-communications channel at said third back-off delay; and re-transmitting said second frame into said shared-communications channel at said fourth back-off delay; wherein said first back-off contention window is as long as said third back-off contention window; and wherein said fourth back-off contention window is longer than said second back-off contention window.