Cognitive allocation of TDMA resources in the presence of a radio altimeter

A method of communicating data, comprising:

• predicting a frequency of a radio altimeter signal for a future time-division multiple access (TDMA) frame of communication, wherein the future TDMA frame of communication includes a plurality of channels, wherein each respective channel of the plurality of channels has a plurality of timeslots associated with the respective channel;
• identifying conflicting timeslots associated with each respective channel, wherein the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal overlaps with the respective channel during the conflicting timeslots;
• and
• transmitting a TDMA timeslot allocation, for wireless communications during the future TDMA frame of communication, to a plurality of device nodes, wherein the TDMA timeslot allocation includes non-conflicting timeslots associated with each respective channel, wherein the radio altimeter signal does not overlap with the respective channel during the non-conflicting timeslots.

A timeslot allocation device for a time division multiple access (TDMA) network sharing bandwidth with a frequency sweeping element, the device comprising:

• a wireless radio interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to:
• receive signal characterization data characterizing a radio altimeter signal transmitted by a radio altimeter;
• using the signal characterization data, predict a frequency of the radio altimeter signal during a future TDMA frame of communication, wherein the future TDMA frame of communication includes a plurality of channels, wherein each respective channel of the plurality of channels has a plurality of timeslots associated with the respective channel;
• identify conflicting timeslots associated with each respective channel of the plurality of channels, wherein the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal overlaps with the respective channel during the conflicting timeslots;
• and
• transmit a TDMA timeslot allocation, for wireless communications during the future TDMA frame of communication, to a plurality of device nodes, wherein the TDMA timeslot allocation includes non-conflicting timeslots associated with each respective channel of the plurality of channels, wherein the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal does not overlap with the respective channel during the non-conflicting timeslots.