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A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network

A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.

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1. A phone supporting voice communication via a wireless packet network, the phone comprising: at least one processor for processing outgoing digital voice data converted from a first voice signal to produce packets for transmission via the wireless packet network;the at least one processor operably

1. A phone supporting voice communication via a wireless packet network, the phone comprising: at least one processor for processing outgoing digital voice data converted from a first voice signal to produce packets for transmission via the wireless packet network;the at least one processor operably coupled to a radio transmitter for transmitting the packets via the wireless packet network;the at least one processor operably coupled to a radio receiver for receiving packets via the wireless packet network;the at least one processor for selectively processing the packets received via the wireless packet network to produce incoming digital voice data for conversion to a second voice signal;wherein the phone supports concurrent, bidirectional voice communication;wherein the at least one processor monitors the first voice signal for a lack of speech for a minimum period of time; andwherein the at least one processor controls a signal level of one or both of the first voice signal and the second voice signal depending upon an amount of delay between transmission of the packets received via the wireless packet network and conversion of the incoming digital voice data to the second voice signal. 2. The phone of claim 1 further comprising: at least one interface for accepting input from a user; andthe at least one interface for providing feedback to a user. 3. The phone of claim 2 wherein the at least one interface comprises a keypad. 4. The phone of claim 2 wherein the at least one interface comprises a display. 5. The phone of claim 1 further comprising: a handset having a microphone for transducing sound into the first voice signal, and a transducer for converting the second voice signal into sound. 6. The phone of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor buffers incoming digital voice data for an adjustable amount of time to avoid the occurrence of a gap in the second voice signal. 7. The phone of claim 6 wherein the adjustable amount of time is based upon a propagation delay. 8. The phone of claim 6 wherein the adjustable amount of time is based upon a test packet. 9. The phone of claim 1 wherein the phone transmits and receives packets comprising digital data not related to the establishment or receipt of a voice call. 10. The phone of claim 1 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using an Internet protocol (IP). 11. The phone of claim 10 wherein the Internet protocol is the transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP). 12. The phone of claim 1 wherein the wireless packet network communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz. 13. The phone of claim 1 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a direct sequence spread spectrum technique. 14. The phone of claim 1 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique. 15. The phone of claim 1 further comprising: an interface for receiving information representing an image for transmission via the wireless packet network. 16. The phone of claim 1 further comprising: a circuit card interface for accepting a removable circuit card. 17. The phone of claim 16 wherein the removable circuit card comprises a wired network interface card. 18. The phone of claim 16 wherein the removable circuit card interface is compatible with the Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association (PCMCIA) standard. 19. The phone of claim 1 wherein the minimum period of time is approximately 200 milliseconds. 20. The phone of claim 1 wherein transmission of packets containing digital voice data is interrupted when a lack of speech for the minimum period of time is detected. 21. The phone of claim 20 wherein an indication of a change in speech activity is transmitted following the detection of a lack of speech for the minimum period of time. 22. The phone of claim 21 wherein the indication is a group identifier. 23. A phone circuit supporting voice communication via a wireless packet network, the circuit comprising: at least one processor for processing a first digital representation of sound converted from a first voice signal to produce packets for transmission via the wireless packet network;at least one interface for communicatively coupling the packets to a transmitter compatible with the wireless packet network;the at least one interface for communicatively coupling packets from a receiver compatible with the wireless packet network;the at least one processor for processing the received packets to produce a second digital representation of sound for conversion into second voice signal;wherein the phone circuit supports concurrent, bidirectional voice communication;wherein the at least one processor monitors the first digital representation of sound for a lack of speech for a minimum period of time; andwherein the at least one processor controls a signal level of one or both of the first voice signal and the second voice signal depending upon an amount of delay between transmission of the packets received via the wireless packet network and conversion of the second digital representation of sound to the second voice signal. 24. The circuit of claim 23 wherein the wireless packet network operates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz. 25. The circuit of claim 23 wherein the wireless packet network operates using an Internet protocol (IP). 26. The circuit of claim 25 wherein the Internet protocol is the transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP). 27. The circuit of claim 23 further comprising: at least one interface for receiving input from a user; andthe at least one interface for providing feedback to a user. 28. The circuit of claim 23 further comprising: an interface for receiving information representing an image for transmission via the wireless packet network. 29. The circuit of claim 23 further comprising: a circuit card interface for accepting a removable circuit card. 30. The circuit of claim 29 wherein the removable circuit card comprises a wired network interface card. 31. The circuit of claim 29 wherein the removable circuit card interface is compatible with the Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association (PCMCIA) standard. 32. A method of operating a phone supporting voice communication via a wireless packet network, the method comprising: processing outgoing digital voice data converted from a first voice signal to produce packets for transmission via the wireless packet network;sending the packets for transmission via the wireless packet network;receiving packets via the wireless packet network;selectively processing the packets received via the wireless packet network to produce incoming digital voice data for conversion to a second voice signal;controlling a signal level of one or both of the first voice signal and the second voice signal depending upon an amount of delay between transmission of the packets received via the wireless packet network and conversion of the incoming digital voice data to the second voice signal;wherein the phone supports concurrent, bidirectional voice communication; andwherein processing the outgoing digital voice data comprises monitoring the outgoing digital voice data for a lack of speech for a minimum period of time. 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising: accepting input from a user; andproviding feedback to a user. 34. The method of claim 32 further comprising: transducing sound into the first voice stream; andconverting the second voice signal into sound. 35. The method of claim 32 wherein processing outgoing digital voice data comprises buffering incoming digital voice data for an adjustable amount of time to avoid the occurrence of a gap in the second voice signal. 36. The method of claim 32 wherein the adjustable amount of time is based upon a propagation delay. 37. The method of claim 32 wherein the transmitted and received packets comprise digital data not related to the establishment or receipt of a voice call. 38. The method of claim 32 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using an Internet protocol (IP). 39. The method of claim 38 wherein the Internet protocol is the transmission control protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP). 40. The method of claim 32 wherein the wireless packet network communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz. 41. The method of claim 32 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a direct sequence spread spectrum technique. 42. The method of claim 32 wherein the wireless packet network communicates using a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique. 43. The method of claim 32 further comprising: receiving information representing an image for transmission via the wireless packet network. 44. The method of claim 32 further comprising: accepting a removable circuit card. 45. The method of claim 44 wherein the removable circuit card comprises a wired network interface card. 46. The method of claim 44 wherein the removable circuit card is compatible with the Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association (PCMCIA) standard. 47. The method of claim 32 wherein the minimum period of time is approximately 200 milliseconds. 48. The method of claim 32 further comprising: interrupting transmission of packets containing digital voice data when a lack of speech for the minimum period of time is detected; andrefraining from interrupting transmission of packets containing digital voice data when a lack of speech for the minimum period of time is not detected. 49. The method of claim 32 further comprising: transmitting an indication of a change in speech activity following the detection of a lack of speech for the minimum period of time. 50. The method of claim 49 wherein the indication is a group identifier. 51. The phone of claim 1, wherein the phone does not receive dedicated bandwidth on the wireless packet network for the communication of packets containing digital voice data. 52. The circuit of claim 23, wherein the phone circuit does not receive dedicated bandwidth on the wireless packet network for the communication of packets containing digital representations of sound. 53. The method of claim 32, wherein the phone does not receive dedicated bandwidth on the wireless packet network for the communication of packets containing digital voice data. 54. The phone of claim 1, wherein the phone adjusts the amount of digital voice data packetized and transmitted over the wireless network, in accordance with a predetermined voice threshold. 55. The phone circuit of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor adjusts the amount of the first digital representation of sound packetized and transmitted over the wireless network, in accordance with a predetermined voice threshold. 56. The method of claim 32, wherein the phone adjusts the amount of digital voice data packetized and transmitted over the wireless network, in accordance with a predetermined voice threshold. 57. The phone of claim 1, wherein the redundant transmission is performed within two or more successive transmission intervals over the wireless packet network. 58. The circuit of claim 23, wherein the redundant transmission is performed within two or more successive transmission intervals over the wireless packet network. 59. The method of claim 32, wherein the redundant transmission is performed within two or more successive transmission intervals over the wireless packet network. 60. The phone of claim 1, wherein the outgoing digital voice data is transmitted redundantly over the wireless packet network. 61. The circuit of claim 23, wherein the first digital representation of sound is transmitted redundantly over the wireless packet network. 62. The method of claim 32, wherein the outgoing digital voice data is transmitted redundantly over the wireless packet network.