Patent ID: 8254366

Claim:
A method for transmitting data packets in a wireless network over a multi-access channel comprising: sequentially sending a plurality of medium access control (MAC) data packets from a transmitter over the multi-access channel, using a physical layer protocol based on a standard physical layer protocol having a short interframe spacing (SIFS), wherein the plurality of MAC data packets includes at least a first data packet and a second data packet separated by a reduced interframe spacing that is less than SIFS; attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets at a receiver using the physical layer protocol, including the first data packet and the second data packet separated by the reduced interframe spacing; and sending from the receiver a single acknowledgement packet associated with attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets, wherein the single acknowledgement packet contains a first sequence number and a second sequence number to identify a leading MAC data packet and an ending MAC data packet, respectively, of a continuous block of the plurality of MAC data packets that is successfully received.