Patent ID: 7634536

Claim:
A method for a wireless base unit to select an operating frequency, comprising: selecting a first frequency for a wireless transceiver associated with the wireless base unit; sending a probe signal via the wireless transceiver on the first frequency requesting any base unit receiving the probe signal send a response to the probe signal; waiting for a response to the probe signal on the first frequency by the wireless transceiver; selecting a second frequency for the wireless transceiver; sending a probe signal via the wireless transceiver on the second frequency requesting any base unit receiving the probe signal on the second frequency send a response to the probe signal; waiting for a response to the probe signal by the wireless transceiver on the second frequency; and independently selecting a selected frequency from one of the group consisting of the first frequency and the second frequency; wherein the selecting gives highest priority to a non-overlapping frequency and second highest priority to measured signal strength of responses to the probe signal; and wherein the selecting is additionally based on how many wireless devices are detected operating on the first frequency and how many wireless devices are detected operating on the second frequency.