Patent ID: 8009567

Claim:
A network device, comprising: a memory element; and a processor coupled to the memory element, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the memory element such that the network device is configured to: identify a data type of a payload of a data packet to be transmitted as part of a flow, wherein the data type is identified by evaluating a quality of service (QoS) field; adapt one or more data transmission rates according to the data type that was identified, wherein packet size for selected packets of the flow are changed based on identifying the data type; change a transmission power for the flow on a per-frame basis, wherein the transmission power is configured according to the data type such that high-priority packets are transmitted with a higher power than low priority packets, which are transmitted at a reduced power; and set an acknowledgement flag in an outgoing frame to indicate that an acknowledgement is not required from a receiving device such that the network device avoids retransmitting the outgoing frame when the acknowledgement is not received for the outgoing frame.