Redundant radio frequency network having a roaming terminal communication protocol

A method of performing a data exchange over a wireless communication channel between a destination device and a sending device, the method comprising:

• waiting, by the sending device, a period of time that is at least as long as a first predetermined time period and detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time;
• after said detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempting, by the sending device, to initiate communication with the destination device;
• and
• if said attempt to initiate communication with the destination device proves successful, then:
• communicating, between the sending device and the destination device, a series of packets, where said communicating comprises communicating at least one of the series of packets within a second predetermined time period that is less than the first predetermined time period;
• and
• after said communicating the series of packets, communicating, between the sending device and the destination device, a packet that indicates successful communication of the series of packets.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a first node that operates to, at least:
• wait a period of time that is at least as long as a predetermined time period and detect no communication on a wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, the predetermined time period being at least the maximum expected time span between transmissions from a second node to a node communicating with the second node;
• after operating to detect no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempt to initiate communication with the second node;
• and
• if said attempt to initiate communication with the second node proves successful, then:
• transmit a series of packets to the second node;
• and
• after operating to transmit the series of packets, receive a packet from the second node, where said received packet indicates that the second node successfully received the transmitted series of packets.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a first node that operates to, at least:
• wait a period of time that is at least as long as a first predetermined time period and detect no communication on a wireless communication channel throughout the period of time;
• after operating to detect no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempt to initiate communication with a second node;
• and
• if said attempt to initiate communication with the second node proves successful, then:
• communicate a series of packets with the second node by, at least in part, operating to communicate at least one of the series of packets within a second predetermined time period that is less than the first predetermined time period;
• and
• after operating to communicate the series of packets, communicate, with the second node, a packet that indicates successful communication of the series of packets.