ADAPTIVE DIGITAL RF COMMUNICATION IN A CORDLESS TELEPHONE

A method of transmitting digital data between a base unit and a handset of a cordless telephone includes the step of transmitting a frame including a speech data portion, and a non-speech data portion. In one particular example, the size of the speech data portion and the size of the non-speech data portion are variable. In an alternative embodiment, a cordless telephone includes a base unit, including a codec adapted to convert analog speech data from a far end party to digital samples, a variable encoder adapted to encode the digital samples, and a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive encoded digital samples. The cordless telephone also includes a handset, including a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive encoded digital samples, a controller adapted to act on non-speech data, and a transducer adapted to be responsive to speech data. According to this embodiment, the variable encoder is adapted to encode a speech data portion of a frame based upon a non-speech data portion of the frame. In another alternative embodiment, a frame structure for digital RF communications between a base unit and a handset of a cordless telephone includes a speech data portion, and a non-speech data portion. In one particular example a size of the speech data portion and a size of the non-speech data portion are variable.