Patent ID: 6934297

Claim:
A communication unit for communicating data packets to another communication unit on a common communication channel in a distributed multiple access wireless communication system, the communication unit comprising: a) a data input for receiving at least one data packet for transmission to the another communication unit; b) a quality of service (QOS) input for receiving at least one quality of service parameter, wherein the at least one QOS parameter is associated with the at least one data packet; c) a wireless receiver coupled to receive incoming control and data packets on the common communication channel, and having an output for providing the control and data packets; d) a decoder having an input coupled to the output of the wireless receiver for receiving the incoming control and data packets, the decoder having a first output for providing the incoming control packets, and having a second output coupled to provide the incoming data packets to a data output; e) a controller coupled to the QOS input, the controller having an input coupled to the first output of the decoder for receiving incoming control packets, the controller for generating outgoing control packets in accordance with the at least one QOS parameter and the incoming control packets, and the controller having an output for providing the outgoing control packets; f) an encoder having a first input coupled to the output of the controller for receiving the outgoing control packets, the encoder having a second input coupled to the data input for receiving the at least one outgoing data packet, and the encoder having an output for providing the outgoing control packets and the at least one outgoing data packet; and g) a transmitter having an input coupled to the output of the encoder for receiving the outgoing control packets and the at least one outgoing data packet, and the transmitter having an output adapted to transmit the outgoing control packets and the outgoing at least one data packet on the common communication channel.