Abstract: A radio system employing at least one dual protocol equipped radio device is described. The system and devices form a piconet in which message transaction parameters such as amount of data or requests to join the piconet, are monitored (60). A dual protocol device is then selected (62) (or selects itself) according to the monitored parameters, and the selected device then switches (64) the protocol it is using from a first protocol (such as Bluetooth), to a second protocol (such as ZigBee). Hence a flexible piconet is achieved in which various requirements concerning data connection and data-rates are accommodated.

Abstract: A communication device is arranged to delay a procedure for joining a network until it detects activity on the network, for example until the communication device is within range of network. In response to a positive detection of network activity, the communication device broadcasts its address to other communication devices already connected to the network. In response, a message containing a list of addresses of the other communication devices is sent by a selected one of the other communication device, for example, the one communication device that most recently joined the network. Each communication device is arranged to send a message once, so that only one message containing the address is sent to a communication device joining the network. If no network activity is detected, the communication device may continue to broadcast its address periodically at gradually increasing time intervals.