Patent ID: 8391881

Claim:
A method comprising: at a third communication terminal, determining link quality for a first communication link in use between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal in a frequency band, where the third communication terminal is distinct from the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal; determining based on the link quality whether the frequency band can support the first communication link and a second communication link between the third communication terminal and a fourth communication terminal, where the frequency band is determined to be able to support the second communication link when interference to be caused by the second communication link is expected to impact the link quality of the first communication link by a tolerable amount; and in response to determining that the frequency band can support the second communication link, autonomously transmitting on the second communication link within the frequency band from the third communication terminal to the fourth communication terminal, wherein determining the link quality comprises detecting a communication parameter of the first terminal prior to the transmitting and the method further comprises: detecting the communication parameter of the first terminal after the transmitting; and quantifying interference with the first terminal by comparing the detected communication parameter before the transmitting to the detected communication parameter after the transmitting.