Wireless MAC layer throughput improvements

A system for transmitting data packets in a wireless network over a multi-access channel comprising:

• means for sequentially sending a plurality of medium access control (MAC) data packets from a transmitter over the multi-access channel, using a physical layer protocol based on a standard physical layer protocol having a short interframe spacing (SIFS), wherein the plurality of MAC data packets includes at least a first data packet and a second data packet separated by a reduced interframe spacing that is less than SIFS;
• means for attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets at a receiver using the physical layer protocol, including the first data packet and the second data packet separated by the reduced interframe spacing;
• and
• means for sending from the receiver a single acknowledgement packet associated with attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets, wherein the single acknowledgement packet contains packet receipt status information for less than all of the plurality of the MAC data packets.