Wireless local area network real-time quality management

The present invention provides a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) terminal, having a wireless interface that exchanges packetized communications with servicing Access Points (APs). A processing unit communicatively coupled to the wireless interface selects an appropriate programmable COder/DECoder (CODEC) with which to convert incoming packetized communications to incoming user communications, and outgoing user communications to outgoing packetized communications. A user interface coupled to the programmable CODEC receives the incoming user communications and produces the outgoing user communications. The processing unit monitors the serviced packetized communications to determine a communication quality level delivered by the wireless interface. Then the processing unit chooses the selected coding scheme based upon the communication quality level.