Impact Prediction Method For Use In Cognitive Coexistence Radio (Addition to the Techniques Already Described in MIT Case No. 15918L)

In a radio network having a plurality of first users on channel (FUOCs) and one or more second users on channel (SUOCs), a method and apparatus for a SUOC to select a channel to co-occupy based in part upon the expected impact on the FUOC. The FUOC collects signal parameters associated with the FUOC, such as actual rate, bandwidth, received signal power, and noise power, and uses the signal parameters to calculate the expected impact. In some embodiments, the expected impact is proportional to the ratio of the FUOC's actual rate and the FUOC's possible code rate.