Systems and methods for network channel characteristic measurement and network management

1. A method for scheduling network channel characteristic measurement transmissions, said method comprising:

a) establishing a central network coordinator (CCo) that receives bandwidth requests from network devices and allocates bandwidth to said network devices;

b) implementing a conditionally-variable priority system for bandwidth allocation wherein said CCo distinguishes between requests for transmissions with the sole purpose of network channel characteristic measurement (NCCM) comprising no user traffic and other transmissions comprising user traffic, wherein priority in said priority system, for said NCCM requests varies with the occurrence of a network condition, wherein said network condition is selected from the set consisting of a known periodic channel disruption, an inability to combine NCCM transmissions with other transmissions, a historical record of high channel dynamics and a gross channel disruption; and

c) assigning a priority to said NCCM transmissions without user traffic that is different than a priority assigned to said other transmissions with user traffic when at least one of said network conditions is detected.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is said gross channel disruption.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is said historical record of high channel dynamics.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is said inability to combine NCCM transmissions with other transmissions.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said assigned priority is a low priority and said network condition is a successful completion of a combined NCCM transmission with another transmission.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is said known periodic channel disruption.

7. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said priority is assigned before said known periodic channel disruption occurs and said priority remains in effect until said disruption subsides.

8. A method for scheduling network channel estimation transmissions, said method comprising:

a) establishing a central network coordinator (CCo) that receives bandwidth requests from network devices and allocates bandwidth to said network devices;

b) implementing a conditionally-variable priority system for bandwidth allocation based on whether a transmission's purpose is primarily for channel estimation, wherein said CCo distinguishes between requests for transmissions that are primarily for channel estimation without user traffic and other transmissions comprising user traffic, wherein said conditionally-variable priority system varies the priority of said transmissions primarily for channel estimation according to the occurrence of network conditions; and

c) assigning an increased priority to said channel estimation transmissions without user traffic that is greater than a priority assigned to said other transmissions with user traffic when a network condition is detected, wherein said condition is selected from the set consisting of a known periodic channel disruption, an inability to combine NCCM transmissions with other transmissions, a historical record of high channel dynamics and a gross channel disruption.

9. A method for scheduling network channel estimation transmissions, said method comprising:

a) determining, via a central network coordinator (CCo) that receives bandwidth requests from network devices and allocates bandwidth to said network devices, whether a bandwidth request is associated with a transmission having the primary purpose of channel estimation or the primary purpose of user traffic transmission;

b) assigning a first priority, based on said determining, to said bandwidth request if said bandwidth request is associated with a transmission having the primary purpose of channel estimation, when a network condition occurs, wherein said network condition is selected from the set consisting of a known periodic channel disruption, an inability to combine NCCM transmissions with other transmissions, a historical record of high channel dynamics and a gross channel disruption;

c) assigning a second priority, based on said determining, to said bandwidth request if said bandwidth request is associated with a transmission having the primary purpose of channel estimation, when said network condition does not occur; and

d) assigning a third priority, based on said determining, to said bandwidth request if said bandwidth request is associated with a transmission having the primary purpose of user traffic transmission.