Patent ID: 8238298

Claim:
A method comprising: selecting, by a device, a first narrowband channel; receiving first one or more channel loading indicators associated with respective one or more neighboring access points (APs) on the first narrowband channel; deriving a first channel load metric from the first one or more channel loading indicators; selecting a second narrowband channel; receiving second one or more channel loading indicators associated with respective one or more neighboring APs on the second narrowband channel; deriving a second channel load metric from the second one or more channel loading indicators; combining the first channel load metric and the second channel load metric to obtain a wideband channel load metric; if the wideband channel load metric is greater than the first channel load metric and the second channel load metric, sending a signal indicative of the wideband channel; and if the first channel load metric is greater than the wideband channel load metric and the second channel load metric, sending a signal indicative of the first narrowband channel.