Patent ID: 6272343
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method of fast signal acquisition on a preferred wireless frequency channel by a wireless communication apparatus said wireless communication apparatus including a memory and a frequency and identification guidance system, said method comprising the steps of:(A) configuring said frequency and identification guidance system by:(A1) storing a multi-level system of channels in a first main list of said memory; and(A2) storing a multi-level system of identifiers in a second main list of said memory; and(B) selecting said preferred wireless frequency channel provided by at least one radio transceiver by utilizing said frequency and identification guidance system, said one radio transceiver being a part of a plurality of networks of external radio transceivers,(B1) selecting a highest priority level in said multi-level system of identifiers;(B2) checking a channel level with the 1-st highest priority including a first plurality of channels to achieve the preferred connection:(B3) if a preferred connection is not achieved in the step (B2), checking a channel level with the 2-nd highest priority including a second plurality of channels to achieve preferred connection:(B4) if a preferred connection is not achieved in the step (B3), checking consecutively each channel level with the i3-th priority including an i3-th plurality of channels to achieve preferred connection, i3 being an integer greater than two and less than or equal to N, wherein said first main list includes a plurality of N levels with different priority wherein N is an integer greater or equal to one;(B5) selecting the next highest priority level in said multi-level system of identifiers, if a connection is not achieved; and(B6) repeating said steps (B2-B5) until said preferred connection is achieved, wherein the step of checking the channel level with the next highest priority if a preferred connection is not achieved in the preceding step, further comprises the steps of:(a) arranging at said channel level with the next highest priority a plurality of channels in order of highest channel priority to lowest channel priority and marking said arrangement of channels as a prioritized channel list;(b) selecting a channel with the highest channel priority on said prioritized channel list;(c) checking whether the strength of the received signal on said selected channel is above a threshold;(d) checking whether communication is available on said selected channel;(e) confirming said selected channel if the second main list including a multi-level system of identifiers is not used;(f) confirming said selecting channel if the second main list including said multi-level system of identifiers is used and if said selected level of identifiers in said second main list includes the identifier provided by a network of external radio transceivers during the communication step (d);(g) selecting a channel with the next highest channel priority on said prioritized channel list, if said selected channel is not confirmed; and(h) repeating said steps (c-g).