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A method and apparatus for transferring information over a communications link includes transmitting information at a first power level, monitoring for correct reception of the transmitted information and transmitting further information at a second-, greater power level than that used for the origi

A method and apparatus for transferring information over a communications link includes transmitting information at a first power level, monitoring for correct reception of the transmitted information and transmitting further information at a second-, greater power level than that used for the original transmission if correct reception did not occur. The further information allows the content of the originally transmitted information to be established and in one embodiment constitutes a retransmission of the originally transmitted information. By retransmitting at a greater power level the probability of correct reception is enhanced, especially when the communications link is wireless. A transmitter employing the present invention may offer reduced power consumption since the transmission power level used for the original transmission may be lower than that used by a transmitter not benefiting from the present invention.

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1. A method of transferring traffic information in units over a wireless digital communications link between a transmitting station and a receiving station comprising:transmitting first information units at a first power level; monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred; and t

1. A method of transferring traffic information in units over a wireless digital communications link between a transmitting station and a receiving station comprising:transmitting first information units at a first power level; monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred; and transmitting second information units associated with the first information units, for which first information units the monitoring did not indicate correct reception occurred, at a second power level which is greater than the first power level, the second information units allowing the content of the first information units to be established; wherein the first power level is selected to increase a probability of failed first information units transmission and of consequent second information units transmission and to minimize average power consumption taking into account the first power level and the second power level, said first power level being the lowest level to correspond to a maximum allowable probability of failed first information units transmission and said consequent second information units transmission. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the content of the second information units is the same as the content of the first information units.3. The method of claim 1 wherein the units are data frames or packets of data.4. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring is performed by the transmitting station based on information provided by the receiving station.5. A digital wireless communications system comprising:at least one transmitter having means for transmitting first information units at a first power level; at least one receiver having means for receiving the transmitted information units; control means for controlling the transmitter output power; and monitoring means for monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred at the receiver, wherein the transmitting means transmits second information units associated with the first information units for which first information units the monitoring means does not indicate correct reception has occurred, the second information units being transmitted at a second power level that is greater than the first power level, the second power level being selected by the control means, and wherein the second information units allow the content of the first information units to be established, and wherein the control means selects the first power level to control the average power consumption of the transmitter in order to increase a probability of failed first information units transmission and of consequent second information units transmission and to minimize average power consumption taking into account the first power level and the second power level. 6. The communication system of claim 5 wherein the content of the second information units is the same as the content of the first information units.7. The communication system of claim 5 wherein the system is a cellular mobile radio telephone system.8. A transmitter station for digital wireless transmission of traffic information to a receiver, said transmitter station comprising:a transmitter for transmitting first information units at a first power level; control means for controlling the transmitter output power; and monitoring means for monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred at the receiver, wherein the transmitter transmits second information units associated with the first information units for which first information units the monitoring means does not indicate correct reception has occurred, the second information units being transmitted at a second power level that is greater than the first power level, the second power level being selected by the control means, and wherein the second information units allow the content of the first information units to be established, and wherein the control means selects the first power level to control the average power consumption of the transmitter in order to increase a probability of failed first information units transmission and of consequent second information units transmission and to minimize average power consumption taking into account the first power level and the second power level. 9. The transmitter station of claim 8 wherein the content of the second information units is the same as the content of the first information units.10. The transmitter station of claim 8 wherein the transmitter station is employed as a component of a cellular mobile radio telephone system.11. A method of transferring traffic information in units over a wireless digital communications link between a transmitting station and a receiving station comprising the steps of:transmitting first information units at a first power level; monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred; and transmitting second information units associated with the first information units, for which first information units the monitoring did not indicate correct reception occurred, at a second power level which is greater than the first power level, the second information units allowing the content of the first information units to be established; wherein the first power level is selected to control the average power consumption of the transmitting station in order to increase a probability of failed first information units transmission and of consequent second information units transmission and to minimize average power consumption taking into account the first power level and the second power level. 12. A transmitter station comprising:a transmitter which transmits first information at a first power level and transmits second information which includes at least portions of said first information at a second power level upon indication that said at least portions have not been correctly received by a receiver, said second power level being greater than said first power level; and a controller which selects said first power level to increase a probability of said at least portions that have not been correctly received by said receiver and of consequent transmission of said at least portions at said second power level to minimize average power consumption taking into account the first power level and the second power level. 13. A method of transferring information in units over a wireless digital communications link between a transmitting station and a receiving station, the method comprising:transmitting first information units at a first power level; monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred; and transmitting second information units associated the first information units, for those first information units for which monitoring did not indicate correct reception occurred, at a second power level that is greater than the first power level, the second information units allowing the content of the first information units to be established, wherein the second information units include forward error correction information associated with the first information units. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the forward correction information is enhanced.15. A method of transferring information in units over wireless digital communications link between a transmitting station and a receiving station, comprising:transmitting first information units at a first power level; monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred; and transmitting second information units associated the first information units, for those first information units for which monitoring did not indicate correct reception occurred, at a second power level that is greater than the first power level, the second information units allowing the content of the first information units to be established, transmitting further information units, associated with the first and second information units, for those second information units for which monitoring did not indicate correct reception occurred, at at least one third power level, the third information units allowing the content of the first and/or second information units to be established, with each successive power level after the second progressively increasing, wherein the first power level is selected to control average power consumption of the transmitting station in order to increase a probability of failed first information units transmission and of consequent second information units transmission and to minimize the average power consumption taking into account the first power level and the second power level. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein, after a predetermined limit of further transmissions related to the first information units, new information not related to the first information units is transmitted.17. A method of transferring traffic information in units over a wireless digital communications link between a transmitting station and a receiving station comprising the steps of:transmitting first traffic information units at a first power level; monitoring if correct reception of the transmitted units occurred; and transmitting second information units associated with the first information units, for which first information units the monitoring did not indicate correct reception occurred, at a second power level which is greater than the first power level, the second information units allowing the content of the first information units to be established wherein the first traffic information is of a nature that must be received in real-time by a user; and the second information is transmitted sufficiently quickly and with sufficient increased power so that a delay perceived by the user in successful reception of the first traffic information is below a desired threshold, and wherein the first power level is selected to control average power consumption of the transmitting station in order to increase a probability of failed first information units transmission and of consequent second information units transmission and to minimize the average power consumption taking into account the first power level and the second power level. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the content of the second information units is the same as the content of the first information units.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the content of the second information comprises a portion of the content of the first transmission units.20. The method of claim 17, wherein the second information comprises error correction information.21. The method of claim 20, wherein the error correction information comprises forward error correction information.22. The method of claim 21, wherein the enhanced error correction information comprises enhanced forward error correction information.23. The method of claim 20, wherein the second information comprises enhanced error correction information.24. The method of claim 17, wherein the units are data frames or packets of data.25. The method of claim 17 wherein monitoring is performed by the transmitting station based on information provided by the receiving station.26. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting second information units comprises a plurality of transmissions of further information, which plurality comprises a number of transmissions that is less than or equal to a threshold number, which threshold number depends upon a battery capacity of the transmitting station.27. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting of first information comprises at least one retransmission at the first power level prior to the transmission of the second information.28. The method of claim 17, further comprising, upon reception, combining the first and second information to achieve recognition of an intended content.