METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING PACKET SQUENCING IN A PACKET TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

A method and apparatus for preserving the sequential relationship of a plurality of data packets 310 generated by separate source devices 14 and ordered as a data stream 300, despite transmission over radio channels which introduce ordering errors comprises method steps and apparatus structure for identifying at a first terminal, data packets from within the data stream as a function of source, generating data packet sequence information for identified data packets, storing values corresponding to data packet sequence numbers as a function of source and transmitting data packets, source device identity and packet sequence information to a second terminal having first terminal source device and data packet sequence information. Upon receipt of a first terminal transmission, the second terminal retrieves from second terminal memory, first terminal data packet sequence information and compares the stored data packet sequence information with received data packet sequence information. As a function of the comparison, received data packets are forwarded to an appropriate application for further processing when sequence information sequence numbers compare and stored in an order determined by the sequence information when the sequence numbers do not compare.