A dual mode communication device utilizes a control channel to exploit
diversity, history, and context in advance of establishing a broadband
data exchange session on a broadband but shorter range wireless data
channel, maximizing productive use of such a session. Appropriate
diversity for the negotiated session further enhance data transfer,
including path diversity, radio technology diversity (e.g., WiMax, Wi-Fi,
ultra wideband, Bluetooth), antenna diversity (e.g., MIMO), modulation
diversity (e.g., rate selection for 802.11, or symbol length selection to
combat multi-path fading), and frequency diversity (e.g., 2.4 GHz versus
5 GHz). Historical information about channel characteristics optimize the
selection of channel parameters with respect to the diversity choices. In
addition, context information such as location and speed can be used to
categorize the historical information that is collected to further
optimize channel parameters.