Communication unit having spectral adaptability

A subsystem for use in a communications system that is operative in a predetermined frequency band, said subsystem comprising:

• a spectrum analysis unit for monitoring spectral content within said predetermined frequency band;
• a processor for determining transmit signal parameter values for achieving a predetermined performance goal based on said spectral content;
• a signal modulation/coding unit, responsive to said processor, for generating a transmit signal based on said transmit signal parameter values;
• a memory associated with said processor for storing at least one transmit signal parameter determination algorithm;
• and
• said memory includes a plurality of algorithms that each correspond to a different system performance goal.

A method for use in a communications system that is operative in a predetermined frequency band, wherein said communications system includes a transmit unit, a receive unit, and a communications channel for use in carrying a signal between the transmit unit and the receive unit, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first signal from the channel in the receive unit;
• performing a spectrum analysis on said first signal to identify potentially interfering spectral components in the predetermined frequency band;
• determining transmit signal parameter values based on potentially interfering spectral components identified in said performing step;
• generating a transmit signal in the transmit unit using said transmit signal parameter values;
• and
• said step of determining includes determining transmit signal parameter values that result in a transmit signal having a spectral content that occupies portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not substantially occupied by the potentially interfering spectral components.