Discontinuous transmission in a wireless network

A communication system for use in a wireless network, the system comprising:

• an audio module configured to provide packets indicative of audio for a part of a communication between the communication system and another communication system, the communication spanning communication packet times, the packets including at least critical packets indicative of critical audio;
• and
• transmitting means coupled to the audio module for transmitting:
• the critical packets;
• and
• first non-critical packets, indicative of non-critical audio, such that (1) the first non-critical packets represent less than all of a time between transmission of critical packets and (2) no more than a threshold number of packet times will pass without one of the critical packets or one of the first non-critical packets being conveyed by the transceiver for transmission.

A method of selectively transmitting packets representing audio in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• providing data packets representing audio of one side of a multi-sided communication between devices in the communication network, the data packets including first data packets representing critical audio and second data packets representing non-critical audio;
• determining whether to transmit a third data packet during a time in the conversation occupied by one of the second data packets based on a desired timing of transmissions;
• transmitting the third data packet when the desired timing of transmissions is met;
• and
• transmitting the first data packets.

A computer program product residing on a processor-readable medium and comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

• provide data packets representing audio of one side of a multi-sided communication between devices in the communication network, the data packets including first data packets representing critical audio and second data packets representing non-critical audio;
• determine whether to transmit a third data packet during a time in the conversation occupied by one of the second data packets based on a desired timing of transmissions;
• transmit the third data packet when the desired timing of transmissions is met;
• and
• transmit the first data packets.