Patent ID: 7149519
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04W,Y02B,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for selecting an operating channel by a wireless device comprising the steps of: scanning a plurality of radio frequency channels during a scan interval; monitoring each of the plurality of radio frequency channels during the scan interval for indication of utilization of ones of the channels; maintaining a channel map having an entry for each of the plurality of radio frequency channels, and if one or more messages was received on a channel, the corresponding entry further including a device ID for at least one of the devices that sent a message on the channel; selecting a channel from the channel map based at least in-part on whether an indication of utilization of the selected channel was detected; transmitting, on the selected channel during a claim interval, at least one message indicative of an intent to utilize the selected channel; monitoring, on the selected channel during the claim interval, for a message from another device indicative of an intent to utilize the selected channel; and ascertaining whether the wireless device should commence communications with other devices on the selected channel based upon characteristics of any messages received on the channel.