Abstract: Channel loading statistics are collected to allow a wireless transceiver communicating on one channel to make an educated decision about whether to seek another channel when interference occurs. All of the available channels are monitored to determine whether any of the channels are idle, and data about the idle channels is accumulated. The transceiver can use the accumulated data to determine whether any of the channels are idle at any given time. The transceiver is allowed to seek another channel if the data indicates that the transceiver is likely to find an idle channel, e.g., if a Gaussian statistical analysis of the data indicates with a given level of confidence that more than a given number of channels will be idle.

Abstract: A wireless receiver is capable of detecting and avoiding interference from a potentially interfering transmitter. The receiver includes circuitry that determines whether a signal from the potentially interfering transmitter is likely to overlap an expected signal at an assigned carrier frequency or channel. If so, the receiver switches to another carrier frequency or channel to receive the expected signal. In some embodiments, the receiver switches to the other carrier frequency only if the interference is likely to exceed a predetermined threshold.