Wireless communication method and apparatus for dynamically adapting packet transmission rates

In a wireless communication system including at least one access point (AP) and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method for adjusting a packet transmission rate of the AP, the method comprising:

• (a) the AP determining a packet transmission rate for transmitting an available packet;
• (b) the AP transmitting the packet to the WTRU at the transmission rate selected in step (a);
• and
• (c) the AP invoking a relative signal strength indicator (RSSI) training process based on the transmitted packet.

A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for adjusting a packet transmission rate of packets the WTRU transmits via an antenna, the WTRU comprising:

• (a) a transmitter for transmitting to a node at least one packet at a particular packet transmission rate;
• (b) a receiver for receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) signal from the node that receives and acknowledges receipt of the at least one packet;
• (c) a processor in communication with the transmitter and the receiver;
• (d) a memory in communication with the processor;
• (e) a transmission rates database in communication with the processor;
• and
• (f) a plurality of packet transmission counters in communication with the processor.

An integrated circuit (IC) incorporated in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the IC for adjusting a packet transmission rate of packets the WTRU transmits via an antenna, the IC comprising:

• (a) a transmitter for transmitting to a node at least one packet at a particular packet transmission rate;
• (b) a receiver for receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) signal from the node that receives and acknowledges receipt of the at least one packet;
• (c) a processor in communication with the transmitter and the receiver;
• (d) a memory in communication with the processor;
• (e) a transmission rates database in communication with the processor;
• and
• (f) a plurality of packet transmission counters in communication with the processor.