A method of enhancing network transmission between stations on a priority-enabled
frame-based communications network, the communications network having multiple
transmit priorities and transmitting frames such that a network access time to
transmit a frame of a lower transmit priority is longer than a network access time
to transmit a frame of a higher transmit priority, the number of transmit priorities
being fixed and all stations being capable of transmitting frames at any transmit
priority. The method applies to each station. An initial transmit priority is established
for each frame to be transmitted. A set of initial transmit priorities assigned
to frames transmitted on the communications network is maintained. A set of final
transmit priorities is established containing highest possible priorities, one
final transmit priority being associated with each member of the set of initial
transmit priorities, such that a highest initial transmit priority is assigned
to a highest possible priority, a next highest initial transmit priority is assigned
to a next highest possible priority, and so forth. Ordered frames are transmitted
onto the communications network, each frame using a final transmit priority associated
with the initial transmit priority established for the each frame.