Patent ID: 7450523

Claim:
A method of reconfiguring communication transmission characteristics in response to a changing communication environment, the method comprising: receiving a communication signal from a first communication device at a second communication device, the communication signal processed based on a first transmission parameter, wherein the first transmission parameter is associated with processing of the communication signal by at least one of a physical layer and a network interface layer implemented at the second communication device; monitoring an environment at the second communication device; identifying if there is a need to change the first transmission parameter; if a need is identified, selecting a second transmission parameter different from the first transmission parameter based on the environment monitoring; sending a first request to a third communication device from the second communication device, wherein the first request includes an indication of the selected second transmission parameter, and further wherein the third communication device coordinates use of transmission parameters; receiving a first response from the third communication device at the second communication device, the first response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and if the first response indicates acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter, sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer.