Dynamic multi-channel power management for neighbor discovery

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to configure the system to transmit a probe signal for locating neighbors to add to a network, including instructions that are executable to configure the system to perform at least the following:
• transmitting a signal during a transmit cycle, the signal having a predetermined total power, the signal including a traffic channel transmitting user data to be communicated to other nodes in the network and a probe channel transmitting probe data to locate new nodes to add to the network, the transmit channel using a first portion of the total power while the probe channel uses a second portion of the total power of the signal;
• performing a probe cycle by lowering the power in the first portion of the total power from a first traffic power level to a second traffic power level and raising the power in the second portion of the total power from a first probe power level to a second probe power level, but maintaining the total power at the same level as the total power during the transmit cycle;
• and
• after the probe cycle, raising the power in the first portion of the total power and lowering the power in the second portion of the total power.

A system comprising:

• communication hardware;
• one or more applications coupled to the communication hardware and configured to provide user data and probe data to the communication hardware;
• wherein the communication hardware is configured to transmit a signal during a transmit cycle, the signal having a predetermined total power, the signal including a traffic channel transmitting the user data to be communicated to other nodes in the network and a probe channel transmitting probe data to transmit probe data to locate new nodes to add to the network, the transmit channel using a first portion of the total power while the probe channel uses a second portion of the total power;
• wherein the communication hardware is configured to perform a probe cycle by lowering the power in the first portion of the total power from a first traffic power level to a second traffic power level and raising the power in the second portion of the total power from a first probe power level to a second probe power level, but maintaining the total power at the same level as the total power during the transmit cycle;
• and
• after the probe cycle, wherein the communication hardware is configured to raise the power in the first portion of the total power and lower the power in the second portion of the total power.