Method and apparatus for adaptively companding data packets in a data communication system

A data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for adaptively companding (compressing and expanding) data packets therein. A first communication device (e.g., 107) generates a plurality of data packets (201-207) and selects one or more, but not all, of the data packets. The first device then performs a compression of each data packet in a first group of data packets that includes the selected data packets (202-205). The first device transmits the compressed data packets to a second communication device (e.g., 108). Upon receiving the compressed data packets, the second device determines whether the received compressed data packets include one or more of the data packets selected by the first device. When the received data packets include one or more of the selected data packets, the second device transmits a response packet (301) to the first device indicating which, if any, of the selected data packets were received. Upon receipt of the response packet, the first device performs an adaptive compression of each data packet in a second group of data packets based on the response packet and transmits the adaptively compressed data packets to the second device. The second device expands the adaptively compressed data packets based on which selected data packets were received in the previous transmission.