Patent ID: 8989803
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of beacon synchronization in a system adapted to include at least two different types of wireless devices including Type-A wireless devices and Type-B wireless devices, wherein Type-B wireless devices are adapted to transmit Type-A beacons having a first format and Type-B beacons having a second format different from the first format and to receive only the Type-B beacons having the second format, and wherein Type-A wireless devices are adapted to transmit and receive only the Type-A beacons having the first format, the method comprising: when the first Type-A wireless device receives at least one Type-A beacon from one or more Type-B wireless devices, then synchronizing the first Type-A wireless device to one of the one or more Type-B wireless devices having a slowest clock, and transmitting Type-A beacons from the first Type-A wireless device that indicate that the first Type-A wireless device is operating as a forced synchronization device; when the first Type-A wireless device does not receive any Type-A beacons from any Type-B wireless devices, and receives a Type-A beacon from a second Type-A wireless device which Type-A beacon indicates that the second Type-A wireless device is not operating as a forced synchronization device, then synchronizing whichever of the first and second Type-A wireless devices that has a faster clock to whichever of the first and second Type-A wireless devices that has a slower clock, and transmitting Type-A beacons from the first Type-A wireless device that indicate that the first Type-A wireless device is not operating as a forced synchronization device; when the first Type-A wireless device does not receive any Type-A beacons from any Type-B wireless devices, and receives a Type-A beacon from a second Type-A wireless device which Type-A beacon indicates that the second Type-A wireless device is operating as a forced synchronization device, then synchronizing the first Type-A wireless device to the second Type-A wireless device and transmitting Type-A beacons from the first Type-A wireless device that indicate that the first Type-A wireless device is operating as a forced synchronization device; and when the first Type-A wireless device is operating as a forced synchronization device synchronized to a first Type-B wireless device, and the first Type-A wireless device receives a Type-A beacon from a second Type-A wireless device which Type-A beacon indicates that the second Type-A wireless device is operating as a forced synchronization device that is synchronized to a second Type-B wireless device in a foreign network, then switching a channel on which at least one of the first Type-A wireless device and the second Type-A wireless device is operating.