Abstract: A cordless telephone has an improved mechanism for scanning and selecting channels by adapting to the channel usage patterns of the local environment having a plurality of channels available for usage. A prioritized list of channels having the highest probability of being interference free is produced. The channels are prescanned during idle time, so quick acquisition of an available channel is possible. Accordingly to another feature, a scan subset comprising a first group of clear channels is selected upon system powerup. The available channels are scanned during the idle time to select a preferred channel subset which comprises channels which are the most interference free. A channel or channels within the preferred channel subset which experience no or little interference over an extended period of time then is assigned to a clear channel subset. The clear channel subset includes fewer channels than the preferred channel subset. Communication is carried out over a channel in the clear channel subset.

Abstract: A cordless telephone has an improved mechanism for scanning and selecting channels by adapting to the channel usage patterns of the local environment in which it is placed. This results in a prioritized list of channels that have the highest probability of being available, free from interference. By prescanning the channels during the idle time of the cordless telephone, power usage of the handset is minimized and quick acquisition of an available channel becomes possible.

Abstract: A novel method is disclosed that facilitates secured transmission of data between the transmitting and receiving ends of a cordless telephone by encapsulating the desired command in a message code. This message code includes synchronization, security, and error detection codes as well as the encapsulated command. Both the process that generates the security code and the process that enables recovery from errors during data transmission efficiently utilize the limited memory and processing capabilities available on the cordless telephones.