Interoperability of a network interface protocol with an internet interface protocol

A communication device comprises:

• wireless network interface module to provide connectivity to a wireless local area network (WLAN) in accordance with at least one wireless network interface protocol, wherein the WLAN is coupled to an Internet, and wherein the connectivity is provided via one of a plurality of channels of the WLAN;
• processing module operably coupled to transceive datagrams to and from the Internet via the wireless network interface module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
• process data in accordance with an utility application to produce a message;
• process the message in accordance with a transport application to produce a packet;
• process the packet in accordance with an Internet Protocol to produce at least one of the datagram;
• generate a channel scan request in accordance with the transport application;
• determine whether one of the datagrams is being received when the channel scan request is generated;
• when the one of the datagrams is being received when the channel scan request is received, scan at least one other channel of the plurality of channels, but less than all of the plurality of channels;
• after scanning the at least one other channel, tune to the one of the plurality of channels and transmitting at least one outbound datagram;
• and
• scanning at least another channel of the plurality of channels.

A communication device comprises:

• wireless network interface module to provide connectivity to a wireless local area network (WLAN) in accordance with at least one wireless network interface protocol, wherein the WLAN is coupled to an Internet, and wherein the connectivity is provided via one of a plurality of channels of the WLAN;
• processing module operably coupled to transceive datagrams to and from the Internet via the wireless network interface module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
• process data in accordance with an utility application to produce a message;
• process the message in accordance with a transport application to produce a packet;
• process the packet in accordance with an Internet Protocol to produce at least one of the datagram;
• when a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection is established between a source and the communication device, generate a network interface protocol channel scan request;
• and
• when the network interface protocol channel scan request is received, hop between a channel supporting the TCP connection within the WLAN and other channels of the WLAN and transmitting on the channel supporting the TCP connection to avoid excess latency in acknowledging receipt of a datagram of the at least one datagrams or a portion of the datagram during scanning of the other channels of the WLAN.

A wireless network interface module comprises:

• processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
• receive a channel scan request in accordance with a transport application;
• determine whether one of the datagrams is being received when the channel scan request is generated;
• when the one of the datagrams is being received when the channel scan request is received, scan at least one other channel of the plurality of channels, but less than all of the plurality of channels;
• after scanning the at least one other channel, tune to the one of the plurality of channels and transmitting at least one outbound datagram;
• and
• scanning at least another channel of the plurality of channels.

A wireless network interface module comprises:

• processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
• when a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection is established between a source and a destination, receive a network interface protocol channel scan request;
• and
• when the network interface protocol channel scan request is received, hop between a channel supporting the TCP connection within a wireless local area network (WLAN) and other channels of the WLAN and transmitting on the channel supporting the TCP connection to avoid excess latency in acknowledging receipt of a datagram of the at least one datagrams or a portion of the datagram during scanning of the other channels of the WLAN.