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In a high data rate communication system, a method and apparatus for improved throughput while transmitting data packets within multiple time slots. In order to avoid unnecessary retransmissions of a packet, a subscriber station sends a Stop-Repeat signal to a base station, causing the base station

In a high data rate communication system, a method and apparatus for improved throughput while transmitting data packets within multiple time slots. In order to avoid unnecessary retransmissions of a packet, a subscriber station sends a Stop-Repeat signal to a base station, causing the base station to cease further transmissions of the packet. In order to enable successful decoding of a packet, a subscriber station sends a Continue-Repeat signal to a base station, causing the base station to send retransmissions of the packet during time slots beyond a predetermined default number of time slots.

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What is claimed is: 1. A method of claim 1 for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the sour

What is claimed is: 1. A method of claim 1 for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node, comprising decoding a preamble from the first signal indicating that the first signal contains a packet of data addressed to the destination network nodes; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric. 2. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node, comprising extracting the first signal from a first time slot of a predetermined number of time slots, wherein the predetermined number of time slots is based the data rates; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of receiving the first signal further comprises determining the predetermined number of time slots based on previous data rate control signals transmitted. 4. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node, wherein the first signal is received within a first time slot having a predetermined slot durations; accumulating said first signal into a first set of accumulated packet samples associated with the packet; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of measuring the signal quality of said first signal further comprises attempting to decode the packet from said first set of accumulated packet samples, and wherein said first signal quality metric is based on the results of said step of attempting to decode. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said first signal quality metric indicates that the packet was successfully decoded in said step of attempting to decode, and wherein said first feedback signal is a Stop-Repeat signal. 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said first signal quality metric indicates that the packet was not successfully decoded in said step of attempting to decode, and wherein said first feedback signal is a Continue-Repeat signal. 8. The method of claim 4 wherein the first signal is received within a first time slot having a predetermined slot duration, the method further comprising the steps of: accumulating said first signal into a first set of accumulated packet samples associated with the packet; receiving a second signal within a second time slot having said predetermined slot duration; accumulating said second signal into said first set of accumulated packet samples associated with the packet; measuring the signal quality of said first signal and said second signal to form a second signal quality metric; and sending a second feedback signal based on said second signal quality metric. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the elapsed time between the end of said first time slot and the beginning of said second time slot has a predetermined duration equal to a multiple of said predetermined slot duration. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the multiple is two. 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the multiple is three. 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the multiple is four. 13. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric, comprising measuring the carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio of the received signal; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said data rate control signal specifies one requested data rate of a predetermined set of data rates, and wherein said data rate is equal to said one requested data rate. 15. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric, comprising attempting to decode the packet from said first set of accumulated samples; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric. 16. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric, comprising measuring the carrier-to-interference ratio of one or more received pilot burst signals; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric. 17. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric; sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric, wherein said feedback signal is a Stop-Repeat signal; and decoding the packet from said first set of accumulated packet samples. 18. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric; sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metrics wherein said feedback signal is a Continue-Repeat signal; accumulating a second signal into said first set of accumulated packet samples associated with the packet; measuring the signal quality of said second signal to generate a second signal quality metric; generating a decoding prediction metric based on said first signal quality metric and said second signal quality metric; comparing said decoding prediction metric with a decoder prediction threshold; and sending a feedback signal based on said step of comparing. 19. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric, comprising: covering the symbols of a Stop-Repeat signal with a first Walsh code to generate a Walsh-covered Stop-Repeat signal; and transmitting said Walsh-covered Stop-Repeat signal concurrently with one or more additional signals covered with a second Walsh code, wherein said second Walsh code is orthogonal to said first Walsh code. 20. A method for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising the steps of: generating a data rate control signal based on the signal quality of a received signal transmitted by a source network node; sending said data rate control signal to the source network node; receiving a first signal having a data rate based on said data rate control signal from the source network node; measuring the signal quality of said first signal to form a first signal quality metric; and sending a first feedback signal based on said first signal quality metric, comprising: covering the symbols of a Continue-Repeat signal with a first Walsh code to generate a Walsh-covered Stop-Repeat signal; and transmitting said Walsh-covered Stop-Repeat signal concurrently with one or more additional signals covered with a second Walsh code, wherein said second Walsh code is orthogonal to said first Walsh code. 21. A method for sending a first data packet from a source network node to a destination network node, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a data rate control signal from the destination network node; determining a number of copies of the first data packet to send to the destination network node based on said data rate control signal; encoding a first copy of the first data packet into a first signal; sending said first signal to the destination network node; receiving a Stop-Repeat signal from the destination network node; and sending fewer than said number of copies to the destination network node based on said Stop-Repeat signal. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of sending the first signal further comprises encoding a preamble into the first signal indicating that the first signal contains a packet of data addressed to the destination network node. 23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of: encoding a second copy of the first data packet into a second signal; and sending said second signal to the destination network node before said step of receiving a Stop-Repeat signal. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the first signal is transmitted within a first time slot having a predetermined slot duration, and wherein the second signal is transmitted within a second time slot having said predetermined slot duration, an wherein the elapsed time between the end of said first time slot and the beginning of said second time slot has a predetermined duration equal to a multiple of said predetermined slot duration. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the multiple is two. 26. The method of claim 24 wherein the multiple is three. 27. The method of claim 24 wherein the multiple is four. 28. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of: encoding a first copy of a second data packet into a third signal; and sending said third signal to the destination network node, wherein the third signal is transmitted within a third time slot having said predetermined slot duration, and wherein said third time slot is disposed between said first time slot and said second time slot. 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the third time slot begins immediately after the first time slot ends, and wherein the second time slot begins immediately after the third time slot ends. 30. The method of claim 21 wherein said data rate control signal specifies one requested data rate of a predetermined set of data rates, wherein each data rate within said predetermined set of data rates is associated with a predetermined number of time slots, and wherein said number of copies is equal to the predetermined number of time slots associated with the requested data rate. 31. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of receiving a Stop-Repeat signal further comprises the sub-steps of: decovering the symbols of the Stop-Repeat signal with a first Walsh code; and decovering the symbols of a data signal with a second Walsh code, wherein said second Walsh code is orthogonal to said first Walsh code, and wherein said data signal is received from the destination network node. 32. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of sending said first signal further comprises sending one or more pilot burst signals. 33. A method for sending a data packet from a source network node to a destination network node, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a data rate control signal from the destination network node; determining a number of copies of the data packet to send to the destination network node based on said data rate control signal; sending a first signal containing a copy of the data packet to the destination network node; receiving a Continue-Repeat signal from the destination network node; and sending greater than said number of copies to the destination network node based on said Continue-Repeat signal. 34. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of sending the first signal further comprises encoding a preamble into the first signal indicating that the first signal contains a packet of data addressed to the destination network node. 35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of: encoding a second copy of the first data packet into a second signal; and sending said second signal to the destination network node before said step of receiving a Continue-Repeat signal. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the first signal is transmitted within a first time slot having a predetermined slot duration, and wherein the second signal is transmitted within a second time slot having said predetermined slot duration, an wherein the elapsed time between the end of said first time slot and the beginning of said second time slot has a predetermined duration equal to a multiple of said predetermined slot duration. 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the multiple is two. 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the multiple is three. 39. The method of claim 36 wherein the multiple is four. 40. The method of claim 35 further comprising the steps of: encoding a first copy of a second data packet into a third signal; and sending said third signal to the destination network node, wherein the third signal is transmitted within a third time slot having said predetermined slot duration, and wherein said third time slot is disposed between said first time slot and said second time slot. 41. The method of claim 40 wherein the third time slot begins immediately after the first time slot ends, and wherein the second time slot begins immediately after the third time slot ends. 42. The method of claim 33 wherein said data rate control signal specifies one requested data rate of a predetermined set of data rates, wherein each data rate within said predetermined set of data rates is associated with a predetermined number of time slots, and wherein said number of copies is equal to the predetermined number of time slots associated with the requested data rate. 43. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of receiving a Continue-Repeat signal further comprises the sub-steps of: decovering the symbols of the Continue-Repeat signal with a first Walsh code; and decovering the symbols of a data signal with a second Walsh code, wherein said second Walsh code is orthogonal to said first Walsh code, and wherein said data signal is received from the destination network node. 44. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of sending said first signal further comprises sending one or more pilot burst signals. 45. A network node apparatus for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising: a demodulator for demodulating a downconverted sampled signal to produce a stream of demodulated samples; a first accumulation buffer for accumulating a first subset of said demodulated samples associated with the first packet; a decoder for decoding the contents of said first accumulation buffer to decode the data of the first packet; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal sent to the source network node based on a feedback control signal; a control processor for controlling the subset of the stream of demodulated samples accumulated in said first accumulation buffer and for generating the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal; a transmitter for transmitting the feedback signal to the source network node; and a preamble detector for detecting and decoding a preamble received within the stream of demodulated samples. 46. A network node apparatus for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising: a demodulator for demodulating a downconverted sampled signal to produce a stream of demodulated samples; a first accumulation buffer for accumulating a first subset of said demodulated samples associated with the first packet; a decoder for decoding the contents of said first accumulation buffer to decode the data of the first packet; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal sent to the source network node based on a feedback control signal; a control processor for controlling the subset of the stream of demodulated samples accumulated in said first accumulation buffer and for generating the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal; a transmitter for transmitting the feedback signal to the source network node; and a signal quality processor for generating a received signal quality signal based on the received signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal and providing the received signal quality signal to said control processor. 47. The apparatus of claim 46 further comprising a data rate control encoder for encoding a data rate control signal sent to the source network node based on the received signal quality signal. 48. The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising a first Walsh encoder for covering the data rate control signal with a first Walsh code. 49. The apparatus of claim 48 further comprising a second Walsh encoder for covering the feedback signal with a second Walsh code that is orthogonal to said first Walsh code. 50. A network node apparatus for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising: a demodulator for demodulating a downconverted sampled signal to produce a stream of demodulated samples; a first accumulation buffer for accumulating a first subset of said demodulated samples associated with the first packet; a decoder for decoding the contents of said first accumulation buffer to decode the data of the first packet; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal sent to the source network node based on a feedback control signal, wherein said feedback signal generator is configured to generate a Stop-Repeat signal to the source network node based on the feedback control signal; a control processor for controlling the subset of the stream of demodulated samples accumulated in said first accumulation buffer and for generating the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal; and a transmitter for transmitting the feedback signal to the source network node. 51. A network node apparatus for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising: a demodulator for demodulating a downconverted sampled signal to produce a stream of demodulated samples; a first accumulation buffer for accumulating a first subset of said demodulated samples associated with the first packet; a decoder for decoding the contents of said first accumulation buffer to decode the data of the first packet; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal sent to the source network node based on a feedback control signal; a control processor for controlling the subset of the stream of demodulated samples accumulated in said first accumulation buffer and for generating the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal; and a transmitter for transmitting the feedback signal to the source network node, wherein said feedback signal generator is configured to generate a Continue-Repeat signal to the source network node based on a control signal from said control processor. 52. A network node apparatus for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising: a demodulator for demodulating a downconverted sampled signal to produce a stream of demodulated samples; a first accumulation buffer for accumulating a first subset of said demodulated samples associated with the first packet; a decoder for decoding the contents of said first accumulation buffer to decode the data of the first packet; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal sent to the source network node based on a feedback control signal; a control processor for controlling the subset of the stream of demodulated samples accumulated in said first accumulation buffer and for generating the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal, wherein said control processor is configured to generate the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of one or more pilot burst signals received concurrently with the first subset of said demodulated samples; and a transmitter for transmitting the feedback signal to the source network node. 53. A network node apparatus for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising: a demodulator for demodulating a downconverted sampled signal to produce a stream of demodulated samples; a first accumulation buffer for accumulating a first subset of said demodulated samples associated with the first packet; a decoder for decoding the contents of said first accumulation buffer to decode the data of the first packet; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal sent to the source network node based on a feedback control signal; a control processor for controlling the subset of the stream of demodulated samples accumulated in said first accumulation buffer and for generating the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal, wherein said control processor is configured to generate the feedback control signal based on the successful decoding of the first packet in said decoder; and a transmitter for transmitting the feedback signal to the source network node. 54. A network node apparatus for receiving a first packet from a source network node comprising: a demodulator for demodulating a downconverted sampled signal to produce a stream of demodulated samples; a first accumulation buffer for accumulating a first subset of said demodulated samples associated with the first packet; a decoder for decoding the contents of said first accumulation buffer to decode the data of the first packet; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal sent to the source network node based on a feedback control signal; a control processor for controlling the subset of the stream of demodulated samples accumulated in said first accumulation buffer and for generating the feedback control signal based on the signal quality of the downconverted sampled signal; a transmitter for transmitting the feedback signal to the source network node; and a second accumulation buffer, for accumulating a second subset of said demodulated samples associated with a second packet, wherein portions of the second subset are disposed between portions of the first subset. 55. A network node apparatus for sending a first data packet to a destination network node comprising: a data queue for storing a plurality of data packets addressed to a plurality of network nodes, wherein the destination network node is one of the plurality of network nodes; a demodulator for decoding data rate control signals and feedback signals received from the destination network node; a scheduler for selecting a number of time slots for sending the first data packet, wherein the number of time slots is based on a data rate; a control processor for selecting the data rate based on the data rate control signals and for changing the number of time slots based on the feedback signals; and a modulator for modulating the data from the first packet and puncturing a preamble into the data of the first packet. 56. A network node apparatus for sending a first data packet to a destination network node comprising: a data queue for storing a plurality of data packets addressed to a plurality of network nodes, wherein the destination network node is one of the plurality of network nodes; a demodulator for decoding data rate control signals and feedback signals received from the destination network node; a scheduler for selecting a number of time slots for sending the first data packet, wherein the number of time slots is based on a data rate; and a control processor for selecting the data rate based on the data rate control signals and for changing the number of time slots based on the feedback signals, wherein said control processor is configured to decrease the number of time slots used to transmit the first packet based on the decoding of a Stop-Repeat signal in said demodulator. 57. A network node apparatus for sending a first data packet to a destination network node comprising: a data queue for storing a plurality of data packets addressed to a plurality of network nodes, wherein the destination network node is one of the plurality of network nodes; a demodulator for decoding data rate control signals and feedback signals received from the destination network node; a scheduler for selecting a number of time slots for sending the first data packet, wherein the number of time slots is based on a data rate; and a control processor for selecting the data rate based on the data rate control signals and for changing the number of time slots based on the feedback signals, wherein said control processor is configured to increase the number of time slots used to transmit the first packet based on the decoding of a Continue-Repeat signal in said demodulator. 58. A network node apparatus for sending a first data packet to a destination network node comprising: a data queue for storing a plurality of data packets addressed to a plurality of network nodes, wherein the destination network node is one of the plurality of network nodes; a demodulator for decoding data rate control signals and feedback signals received from the destination network node, wherein said demodulator comprises a first Walsh despreader for decovering the data rate control signals using a first Walsh code a scheduler for selecting a number of time slots for sending the first data packet, wherein the number of time slots is based on a data rate; and a control processor for selecting the data rate based on the data rate control signals and for changing the number of time slots based on the feedback signals. 59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein said demodulator further comprises a second Walsh despreader for decovering the feedback signals using a second Walsh code, wherein said first Walsh code is orthogonal to said second Walsh code. 60. A method in a wireless communication system device, comprising: receiving portions of a multi-slot packet at a first data rate, each portion received during a separate time slot, the multi-slot packet having a maximum number of time slots for transmission, the maximum number of time slots for transmission allocating slots for retransmission of the multi-slot packet, wherein said maximum number of time slots is determined by said first data rate associated with said multi-slot packet; accumlating the received portions of the multi-slot packet; attempting to decode the accumulated portions of the multi-slot packet; and if the packet decode is successful, sending a Stop-Repeat message. 61. The method as in claim 60, further comprising: if the decode is not successful, comparing the number of received portions to a maximum number of time slots for transmission; and if the number of received portions is equal to a maximum number of time slots for transmission, sending a Continue-Repeat message after repeating the multi-slot packet over the maximum number of time slots associated with the packet's data rate. 62. The method as in claim 61, wherein the maximum number of time slots for transmission is based on the first data rate. 63. A method in a wireless network device, comprising: allocating a maximum number of time slots for transmission of a multi-slot packet; transmitting portions of the multi-slot packet at a first data rate, each portion transmitted during a separate time slot; receiving a Stop-Repeat message prior to expiration of the maximum number of time slots for transmission of the multi-slot packet; and terminating transmission of the multi-slot packet, wherein the maximum number of time slots for transmission is based on the first data rate. 64. The method as in claim 63, further comprising: after expiration of the maximum number of transmission of the multi-slot packet, receiving a Continue-Repeat message; and transmitting a next portion of the multi-slot packet in a time slot. 65. A wireless communication device, comprising: means for receiving portions of a multi-slot packet at a first data rate, each portion received during a separate time slot, the multi-slot packet having a maximum number of time slots for transmission, the maximum number of time slots for transmission allocating slots for retransmission of the multi-slot packet, wherein said maximum number of time slots is determined by said first data rate associated with said multi-slot packet; means for accumulating the received portions of the multi-slot packet; means for attempting to decode the accumulated portions of the multi-slot packet; means for sending a Stop-Repeat message if the packet decode is successful. 66. A wireless network device, comprising: means for allocating a maximum number of time slots for transmission of a multi-slot packet; means for transmitting portions of the multi-slot packet at a first data rate, each portion transmitted during a separate time slot; means for receving a Stop-Repeat message prior to expiration of the maximum number of time slots for transmission of the multi-slot packet; and means for terminating transmission of the multi-slot packet, wherein the maximum number of time slots for transmission is based on the first data rate. 67. A wireless apparatus, comprising: receiver adapted to receive portions of a multi-slot packet at a first data rate, each portion received during a separate time slot, the multi-slot packet having a maximum number of time slots for transmission, the maximum number of time slots for transmission allocating slots for retransmission of the multi-slot packet, wherein said maximum number of time slots is determined by said first data rate associated with said multi-slot packet; accumulating buffer adapted to accumulate the received portions of the multi-slot packet; decoder adapted to attempt to decode the accumulated portions of the multi-slot packet; transmitter adapted to send a Stop-Repeat message if the packet decode is successful. 68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the transmitter if further adapted to send a Continue-Repeat message after repeating the multi-slot packet over the maximum number of the slots associated with the packet's data rate if the decode is not successful. 69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the maximum number of time slots is based on the data rate. 70. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the transmitter is further adapted to transmit a data rate control message requesting a data rate for transmission to the apparatus. 71. A wireless network device, comprising: controller adapted to allocate a maximum number of time slots for transmission of a multi-slot packet; transmitter adapted to transmit portions of the multi-slot packet at a first data rate, each portion transmitted during a separate time slot; receiver adapted to receive a Stop-Repeat message prior to expiration of the maximum number of time slots for transmission of the multi-slot packet; and wherein the controller is further to terminate transmission of the multi-slot packet in response to the Stop-Repeat message, wherein the maximum number of time slots for transmission is based on the first data rate.