A method and system are disclosed for transmitting MIDI messages between a transmitter
and a receiver through a link that is susceptible to errors. The method includes
parsing MIDI messages to be transmitted into a critical category and a non-critical
category, and transmitting critical category MIDI messages using a reliable transmission
protocol and non-critical category MIDI messages using a less reliable transmission
protocol. As an example, a non-critical category of MIDI message is a Note On message,
and a critical category MIDI message is a corresponding Note Off message. The step
of parsing preferably includes atomizing certain MIDI messages, such as Note On/Note
Off pairs, that in turn can include encapsulating the certain MIDI messages within
a common transmission packet. In a presently preferred, but non-limiting embodiment
of this invention the steps of parsing and transmitting occur within a mobile terminal,
and the link comprises a low power, short range radio frequency link that can be
a uni-directional radio frequency link, or a bi-directional radio frequency link
that provides an indication from a receiver to the transmitter when MIDI data is
received with an error. The mobile terminal may provide a user with knowledge of
when MIDI data has been received with an error. Link error management may be adaptive
as a function of at least the link quality.
