Method and apparatus for reliable and efficient data communications

A method for improving the reliability of the data communications comprising:

• analyzing, as group, a data field provided in each one of plural received data units,
• performing an operation if information in the data field of just one of the data units in the group indicates that the operation should be performed,
• transmitting the group of data units during a specified time interval, and
• setting a flag in the data field of plural data units in this group.

In a radio communications system where protocol data units (PDUs) are communicated over a radio communications channel between a transmitter and a receiver, a method comprising:

• (a) detecting plural PDUs transmitted by the transmitter to the receiver;
• (b) analyzing a polling field provided in each one of the plural PDUs;
• and
• (c) transmitting polling information to the transmitter if information in the polling field of just one of the PDUs requests a poll;
• and
• (d) using information in the polling fields in the plural PDUs to increase the reliability of the transmission of the information.

A method for improving the reliability of data communications comprising:

• analyzing, as group, a data field provided in each one of plural received data units;
• performing an operation if information in the data field of just one of the data units in the group indicates that the operation should be performed;
• and
• wherein the plural data units are transmitted by the transmitter as a group during one transmission time interval.

A method for improving the reliability of data communications comprising:

• analyzing, as group, a data field provided in each one of plural received data units;
• performing an operation if information in the data field of just one of the data units in the group indicates that the operation should be performed;
• and
• if a polling bit is to be set in the polling field of one data units in the group, setting a poll bit in the polling field of other data units in the group.

A radio communications unit, comprising:

• receiving circuitry for receiving a radio signal containing a group of protocol data units (PDUs);
• a processor for analyzing a polling field provided in each one of the PDUs in the group;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting status information if information in the polling field of just one of the PDUs in the group requests a poll;
• wherein information in the polling fields in plural PDUs in the group indicates that status information should be transmitted, and the transmitter is configured to transmit status information only once for the plural PDUs even if information in more than one of the polling fields in the plural PDUs in the soup indicates that the transmitting of status information should be performed.