Approach for selecting communications channels based on performance

• US 20020136268A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bandspeed, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bandspeed, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gan, Hongbing, Skafidas, Efstratios, Treister, Bijan
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7136 Arrangements for generation of hop frequencies, e.g. using a bank of frequency sources, using continuous tuning or using a transform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/715 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/7154 with means for preventing interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

An approach for selecting sets of communications channels involves determining the performance of communications channels. A set of channels is selected based on the results of performance testing and specified criteria. The participant generates data that identifies the selected set of channels and provides that data to other participants of the communications network. The participants communicate over the set of channels, such as by using a frequency hopping protocol. When a specified time expires or monitoring of the performance of the channel set identifies poor performance of the set of channels, the participant selects another set of channels for use in communications based on additional performance testing. By selecting channels based on the initial performance testing and performance monitoring, the communications network adaptively avoids channels with poor performance.

Claims

1. A method for selecting communications channels for a communications system, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels; and

selecting, based upon performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communications system is a frequency hopping communications system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communications channels communicatively couple at least a plurality of wireless devices.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the plurality of wireless devices includes one or more mobile devices.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating channel identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels; and

transmitting the channel identification data to one or more participants in the communications system.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating channel identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels; and

transmitting the channel identification data to one or more participants in the communications system.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the channel selection criteria include a channel performance threshold.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating channel performance data that indicates the performance of the plurality of communications channels at the first time.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating channel performance data that indicates the performance of the plurality of communications channels at the second time.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

communicating, prior to the second time, over the first set of two or more communications channels; and

communicating, after a third time that is not earlier than the second time, over the second set of two or more communications channels.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining the performance of the plurality of communications channels at the first time; and

determining the performance of the plurality of communications channels at the second time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels comprises the computer-implemented step of:

communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels, according to a frequency hopping protocol.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first performance data indicates performance for each communications channel of the plurality of communications channels.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the participant is a wireless device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the participant is a mobile device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing the first identification data to the participant comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

encrypting the first identification data; and

providing the encrypted first identification data to the participant.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

selecting, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is different than the first time and at least a second performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

providing the second identification data to the participant; and

communicating with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of communicating with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels comprises the computer-implemented step of:

communicating with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels, according to a frequency hopping protocol.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the participant is a first participant, and wherein the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

providing the first identification data to a second participant; and

communicating with the second participant over the first set of two or more communications channels while communicating with the first participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the second set of two or more communications channels is different than the first set of two or more communications channels.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the first performance criterion is different than the second performance criterion.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting the first set of two or more communications channels comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

classifying the performance of at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the first performance data and one or more classification criteria that includes at least the first performance criterion; and

selecting the first set of two or more communications channels based on the at least one classified communications channel and one or more selection criteria.

25. The method of claim 13, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

after expiration of a specified amount of time,

selecting, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels and at least a second performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

providing the second identification data to the participant; and

communicating with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

26. The method of claim 13, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the first set of two or more communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time, a number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels that satisfy at least a second performance criterion;

if the number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels is less than a specified number, then;

selecting, based on third performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a third time that is at or later than the second time and at least a third performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

providing the second identification data to the participant; and

communicating with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

27. The method of claim 13, further comprising the computer-implemented step of:

if performance data for at least one communications channel of the first set of two or more communications channels satisfies at least a second performance criterion, then

selecting, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a different time and at least a third performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

providing the second identification data to the participant; and

communicating with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

28. The method of claim 13, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is determined by the computer-implemented steps of:

transmitting first data to the participant over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels;

receiving, from the participant, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel, wherein the measurement is based on transmitting the first data over the at least one communications channel; and

determining the first performance data based on at least the second data.

29. The method of claim 13, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is determined by the computer-implemented steps of:

transmitting first data to the participant over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels;

receiving, from the participant over at least one additional communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel based on transmitting the first data over the at least one communications channel;

generating an additional measurement of performance of the at least one additional communications channel based on receiving the second data over the at least one additional communications channel; and

determining the first performance data based on at least the second data and the additional measurement.

30. The method of claim 13, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is determined by the computer-implemented steps of:

transmitting first data to the participant over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, wherein the first data includes one or more copies of a specified data string;

receiving, from the participant, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel based on whether errors occur in the one or more copies of the specified data string of the first data as a result of transmitting the first data to the participant over the at least one communications channel; and

determining the first performance data based on at least the second data.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first data is a data packet and wherein the one or more copies of the specified data string are included in a payload portion of the data packet.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first data is a data packet and wherein the one or more copies of the specified data string are included in a preamble portion of the data packet.

33. The method of claim 13, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is based on a channel performance testing technique selected from the group consisting of a received signal strength indicator, a header error check, a cyclic redundancy check, a packet loss ratio, a number of error bits, and forward error correction.

34. The method of claim 13, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is determined by the computer-implemented steps of:

performing a specified number of communications channel performance tests on the plurality of communications channels; and

determining the first performance data based on results of the specified number of communications channel performance tests.

35. The method of claim 13, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is determined by the computer-implemented steps of:

performing a specified number of communications channel performance tests on the plurality of communications channels;

receiving channel performance data from the participant;

determining the first performance data based on results of the specified number of communications channel performance tests and the channel performance data from the participant.

36. The method of claim 13, wherein the participant is a first participant, and wherein the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

providing the first identification data to a second participant; and

communicating with the second participant over the first set of two or more communications channels.

37. The method of claim 13, wherein the participant is a first participant, and wherein the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

communicating with a second participant over the plurality of communications channels.

38. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels includes communicating with the participant over the over the first set of two or more communications channels according to a frequency hopping protocol defined by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.15.1 Wireless Personal Area Network Standard.

39. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels includes communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels according to a frequency hopping protocol that conforms to a Bluetooth communications standard for transmissions over a 2.4 GHz band.

40. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting the first set of two or more communications channels comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

classifying, based on the first performance data and at least the first performance criterion, at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels as good or bad; and

selecting at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels that are classified as good.

41. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the participant is designated to be a slave; and

a master performs the steps of selecting, generating, providing, and communicating.

12. A method for selecting communications channels for a frequency hopping communications system, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

determining, based upon performance of the first set of two or more communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time, a number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels that satisfy the channel selection criteria; and

if the number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels that satisfy the channel selection criteria at the second time is less than a specified number, then

selecting, based upon performance of the plurality of communications channels at a third time that is later than the second time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels.

13. A method for communicating with a participant in a communications arrangement, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

selecting, based on first performance data that indicates performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and at least a first performance criterion, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;

providing the first identification data to the participant; and

communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels.

42. A method for communicating among a network of communications devices according to a frequency hopping protocol, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining first performance data for a plurality of communications channels based on one or more performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels;

determining classifications, based on the first performance data and at least a first performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;

selecting, based upon the classifications of the at least two communications channels, a first set of two or more communications channels;

generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;

providing the first identification data to a communications device of the network of communications devices;

communicating with the communications device over the first set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol;

determining performance data for the first set of two or more communications channels; and

if the performance data indicates that at least a specified number of communications channels of the first set of two or more communications channels do not satisfy specified performance criteria, then

determining second performance data for the plurality of communications channels based on one or more additional performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels;

determining additional classifications, based on the second performance data and at least a second performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;

selecting, based upon the additional classifications of the at least two communications channels, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

providing the second identification data to the communications device of the network of communications devices; and

communicating with the communications device over the second set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the classifications include good and bad, and wherein the step of selecting the first set of two or more communications channels includes selecting the first set of two or more communications channels from communications channels that are determined to have classifications of good, and wherein the step of selecting the second set of two or more communications channels includes selecting the second set of two or more communications channels from communications channels that are determined to have classifications of good.

44. A communications device for use in a network of devices, comprising:

a memory containing identification data that identifies a first set of two or more communications channels from a plurality of communications channels, wherein channel performance of the firs t set of two or more communications channels and at least one performance criterion are used to select the first set of two or more communications channels; and

a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the memory and that is configured to transmit and receive, based on the identification data, over the first set of two or more communications channels.

45. The communications device of claim 44, wherein the transceiver receives a transmission of first data from another device, and wherein the communications device further comprises:

a processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

generate a measurement of channel performance based on the transmission of the first data;

wherein the transceiver transmits, to another communications device, second data that includes performance data that indicates the measurement of channel performance; and

wherein the first set of two or more communications channels is selected based at least in part on the measurement of channel performance.

46. The communications device of claim 44, wherein the transceiver receives a transmission of first data from another device, wherein the first data includes one or more copies of a specified data string, and wherein the communications device further comprises:

a processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

generate a measurement of channel performance based on whether errors occur in the one or more copies of the specified data string of the first data as a result of the transmission of the first data;

wherein the transceiver transmits second data, to another communications device, that includes performance data that indicates the measurement of channel performance; and

wherein the first set of two or more communications channels is selected based at least in part on the measurement of channel performance.

47. The communications device of claim 44, wherein:

the communications device is designated to be a slave.

48. The communications device of claim 44, wherein:

the communications device is a wireless communications device.

49. The communications device of claim 48, wherein:

the wireless communications device is a mobile communications device.

50. The communications device of claim 44, wherein the network of devices communicates via a frequency hopping protocol.

51. The communications device of claim 50, wherein the frequency hopping protocol is defined by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.15.1 Wireless Personal Area Network Standard.

52. The communications device of claim 50, wherein the frequency hopping protocol conforms to a Bluetooth communications standard for transmissions over a 2.4 GHz band.

53. A communications device for use in a network of devices, comprising:

a memory for storing one or more sequences of instructions;

a processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

select, based on first performance data that indicates performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and at least a first performance criterion, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate and store in the memory first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;

cause the first identification data to be transmitted to another communications device; and

a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the memory and that is configured to transmit to and receive from the other communications device, based on the first identification data, over the first set of two or more communications channels.

54. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the first performance data indicates performance for each communications channel of the plurality of communications channels.

55. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

encrypt the first identification data; and

cause the encrypted first identification data to be transmitted to the other communications device.

56. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

select, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is different than the first time and at least a second performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate and store in the memory second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

cause the second identification data to be transmitted to the other communications device; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to and receive from the other communications device, based on the second identification data, over the second set of two or more communications channels.

57. The communications device of claim 56, wherein the other communications device is a first communications device, and wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

cause the first identification data to be transmitted to a second communications device; and

wherein the transceiver communicates with the second communications device over the first set of two or more communications channels while communicating with the first communications device over the second set of two or more communications channels.

58. The communications device of claim 56, wherein the second set of two or more communications channels is different than the first set of two or more communications channels.

59. The communications device of claim 56, wherein the first performance criterion is different than the second performance criterion.

60. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions that cause the processor to select the first set of two or more communications channels comprises one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

classify the performance of at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the first performance data and one or more classification criteria that includes at least the first performance criterion; and

select the first set of two or more communications channels based on the at least one classified communications channel and one or more selection criteria.

61. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

after expiration of a specified amount of time,

select, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels and at least a second performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate and store in the memory second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

cause the second identification data to be transmitted to the other communications device; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to and receive from the other communications device, based on the second identification data, over the second set of two or more communications channels.

62. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the first set of two or more communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time, a number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels that satisfy at least a second performance criterion;

if the number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels is less than a specified number, then;

select, based on third performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a third time that is at or later than the second time and at least a third performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels; and

cause the second identification data to be transmitted to the other communications device; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to and receive from the other communications device, based on the second identification data, over the second set of two or more communications channels.

63. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

if performance data for at least one communications channel of the first set of two or more communications channels satisfies at least a second performance criterion, then;

select, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a different time and at least a third performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate and store in the memory second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

cause the second identification data to be transmitted to the other communications device; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to and receive from the other communications device, based on the second identification data, over the second set of two or more communications channels.

64. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the transceiver is configured to:

transmit first data to the other communications device over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels;

receive, from the other communications device, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel based on transmitting the first data over the at least one communications channel; and

wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

determine the first performance data based on at least the second data.

65. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the transceiver is configured to:

transmit first data to the other communications device over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels;

receive from the other communications device over at least one additional communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel based on transmitting the first data over the at least one communications channel; and

wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

generate an additional measurement of performance of the at least one additional communications channel based on receiving the second data over the at least one additional communications channel; and

determine the first performance data based on at least the second data and the additional measurement.

66. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the transceiver is configured to:

transmit first data to the other communications device over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, wherein the first data includes one or more copies of a specified data string;

receive, from the other communications device, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel based on whether errors occur in the one or more copies of the specified data string of the first data as a result of transmitting the first data to the other communications device over the at least one communications channel; and

wherein the memory includes one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

determine the first performance data based on at least the second data.

67. The communications device of claim 66, wherein the first data is a data packet and wherein the one or more copies of the specified data string are included in a payload portion of the data packet.

68. The communications device of claim 66, wherein the first data is a data packet and wherein the one or more copies of the specified data string are included in a preamble portion of the data packet.

69. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is based on a channel performance testing technique selected from the group consisting of a received signal strength indicator, a header error check, a cyclic redundancy check, a packet loss ratio, a number of error bits, and forward error correction.

70. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is determined by one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

perform a specified number of communications channel performance tests on the plurality of communications channels; and

determine the first performance data based on results of the specified number of communications channel performance tests.

71. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the first performance data for the plurality of communications channels is determined by one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

perform a specified number of channel performance tests on the plurality of communications channels;

receive channel performance data from the other communications device;

determine the first performance data based on results of the specified number of communications channel performance tests and the channel performance data from the other communications device.

72. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the transceiver is configured to:

transmit the first identification data to a third communications device; and

transmit to and receive from the third communications device, based on the first identification data, over the first set of two or more communications channels.

73. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the transceiver is configured to:

transmit to and receive from a third communications device over the plurality of communications channels.

74. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit and receive over the first set of two or more communications channels according to a frequency hopping protocol defined by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.15.1 Wireless Personal Area Network Standard.

75. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit and receive over the first set of two or more communications channels according to a frequency hopping protocol that conforms to a Bluetooth communications standard for transmissions over a 2.4 GHz band.

76. The communications device of claim 53, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions that cause the processor to select the first set of two or more communications channels comprises one or more additional sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

classify, based on the first performance data and at least the first performance criterion, at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels are good or bad; and

select at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels that are classified as good.

77. The communications device of claim 53, wherein:

the communications device is designated to be a master; and

the other communications device is designated to be a slave.

78. The communications device of claim 53, wherein:

the communications device is designated to be a first wireless device; and

the other communications device is designated to be a second wireless device.

79. The communications device of claim 53, wherein:

the communications device is designated to be a first mobile device; and

the other communications device is designated to be a second mobile device.

80. A communications channel selector apparatus configured to:

select, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels; and

select, based upon the performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels.

81. The communications channel selector apparatus of claim 80, wherein the plurality of communications channels is associated with a frequency hopping communications system.

82. The communications channel selector apparatus of claim 80, wherein the plurality of communications channels is associated with a communications system and wherein the communications channel selector apparatus is further configured to:

generate channel identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels; and

transmit the channel identification data to one or more participants in the communications system.

83. The communications channel selector apparatus of claim 80, wherein the plurality of communications channels is associated with a communications system and wherein the communications channel selector apparatus is further configured to:

generate channel identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels; and

transmit the channel identification data to one or more participants in the communications system.

84. The communications channel selector apparatus of claim 80, wherein the communications channel selector apparatus is further configured to:

determine the performance of the plurality of communications channels at the first time; and

determine the performance of the plurality of communications channels at the second time.

85. A communications apparatus configured to:

select, based on first performance data that indicates performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and at least a first performance criterion, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;

provide the first identification data to a participant; and

communicate with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels.

86. The communications apparatus of claim 85, further configured to:

communicate with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels, according to a frequency hopping protocol.

87. The communications apparatus of claim 85, further configured to:

select, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is different than the first time and at least a second performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

provide the second identification data to the participant; and

communicate with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

88. The communications apparatus of claim 85, further configured to:

after expiration of a specified amount of time,

select, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels and at least a second performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

provide the second identification data to the participant; and

communicate with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

89. The communications apparatus of claim 85, further configured to:

determine, based on second performance data that indicates performance of the first set of two or more communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time, a number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels that satisfy at least a second performance criterion;

if the number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels is less than a specified number, then;

select, based on third performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a third time that is at or later than the second time and at least a third performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

provide the second identification data to the participant; and

communicate with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

90. The communications apparatus of claim 85, further configured to:

if performance data for at least one communications channel of the first set of two or more communications channels satisfies at least a second performance criterion, then;

select, based on the second performance data that indicates performance of the plurality of communications channels at a different time and at least a third performance criterion, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generate second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

provide the second identification data to the participant; and

communicate with the participant over the second set of two or more communications channels.

91. The communications device apparatus of claim 85, further configured to:

transmit first data to the participant over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels;

receive, from the participant, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel based on transmitting the first data over the at least one communications channel; and

determine the first performance data based on at least the second data.

92. The communications device apparatus of claim 85, further configured to:

transmit first data to the participant over at least one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels;

receive, from the participant over at least one additional communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, second data that indicates a measurement of performance of the at least one communications channel based on transmitting the first data over the at least one communications channel;

generate an additional measurement of performance of the at least one additional communications channel based on receiving the second data over the at least one additional communications channel; and

determine the first performance data based on at least the second data and the additional measurement.

93. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for selecting communications channels for a communications system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels; and

selecting, based upon performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels.

94. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for selecting communications channels for a frequency hopping communications system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

determining, based upon performance of the first set of two or more communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time, a number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels that satisfy the channel selection criteria; and

if the number of communications channels from the first set of two or more communications channels that satisfy the channel selection criteria at the second time is less than a specified number, then

selecting, based upon performance of the plurality of communications channels at a third time that is later than the second time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels.

95. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for communicating with a participant in a communications arrangement, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

selecting, based on first performance data that indicates performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and at least a first performance criterion, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;

providing the first identification data to the participant; and

communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels.

96. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for communicating among a network of communications devices according to a frequency hopping protocol, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

determining first performance data for a plurality of communications channels based on one or more performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels;

determining classifications, based on the first performance data and at least a first performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;

selecting, based upon the classifications of the at least two communications channels, a first set of two or more communications channels;

generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;

providing the first identification data to a communications device of the network of communications devices;

communicating with the communications device over the first set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol;

determining performance data for the first set of two or more communications channels; and

if the performance data indicates that at least a specified number of communications channels of the first set of two or more communications channels do not satisfy specified performance criteria, then

determining second performance data for the plurality of communications channels based on one or more additional performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels;

determining additional classifications, based on the second performance data and at least a second performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;

selecting, based upon the additional classifications of the at least two communications channels, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;

generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;

providing the second identification data to the communications device; and

communicating with the communications device over the second set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol.