Patent Publication Number: US-11653318-B2

Title: Network coordination

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/234,427 entitled “NETWORK COORDINATION” and filed on Dec. 27, 2018, which is assigned to the assignee hereof, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     INTRODUCTION 
     Aspects of this disclosure relate generally to wireless communication, and more particularly to network coordination and the like. 
     Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, data, multimedia, and so on. Typical wireless communication systems are multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, etc.). Examples of such multiple-access systems include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, and others. These systems are often deployed in conformity with specifications such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) provided by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) provided by the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), 802.11 provided by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), etc. 
     Wireless devices increasingly communicate by using multiple networks simultaneously. Moreover, they may compete with other devices to access the medium. For example, a host device may communicate with a first device in accordance with a first network (for example, a short-range network like Bluetooth) while simultaneously communicating with a second device in accordance with a second network (for example, a mid-range network like WiFi). Meanwhile, a third device may be communicating in accordance with a third network, interfering with efforts of the host device to communicate on the first network and/or the second network. 
     When multiple networks are used simultaneously, coexistence issues arise. For example, the host device may be forced to communicate in bursts on the first network in order to avoid interfering with the second network and/or the third network. As a result, latency and bandwidth usage associated with the first network may increase. These improvements may be of special importance for time-critical communications, for example, those using classic Bluetooth Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR) for operating in accordance with streaming audio protocols like Bluetooth&#39;s Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). New techniques are needed for improving latency and reducing bandwidth usage. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary is an overview provided solely to aid in the description of various aspects of the disclosure and is provided solely for illustration of the aspects and not limitation thereof. 
     In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a method is disclosed. The method may comprise listening to a primary device during a receiving slot group of a primary/secondary (P/S) piconet shared between the primary device and the secondary device, determining based on the listening during the receiving slot group whether the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device, listening to a host device on a host piconet during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device, and transmitting to the primary device over the P/S piconet during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a transceiver system, a memory system configured to store data, instructions, or a combination thereof, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver system and the memory system. The transceiver system may be configured to listen to a primary device during a receiving slot group of a primary/secondary (P/S) piconet shared between the primary device and a secondary device. The processing system may be configured to determine based on the listening during the receiving slot group whether the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device. The transceiver system may be further configured to listen to a host device on a host piconet during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device, and transmit to the primary device over the P/S piconet during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, another apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise means for listening to a primary device during a receiving slot group of a primary/secondary (P/S) piconet shared between the primary device and the secondary device, means for determining based on the listening during the receiving slot group whether the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device, means for listening to a host device on a host piconet during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device, and means for transmitting to the primary device over the P/S piconet during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is disclosed. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may comprise code for listening to a primary device during a receiving slot group of a primary/secondary (P/S) piconet shared between the primary device and the secondary device, code for determining based on the listening during the receiving slot group whether the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device, code for listening to a host device on a host piconet during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device, and code for transmitting to the primary device over the P/S piconet during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, another method is disclosed. The method may comprise listening to a host device during a receiving slot group of a host piconet, determining whether a secondary device synchronization condition is met, synchronizing with a secondary device over a P/S piconet in response to a determination that the secondary device synchronization condition is met, and listening to the host device during a subsequent receiving slot group of the host piconet in response to a determination that the synchronization condition is not met. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, another apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a transceiver system, a memory system configured to store data, instructions, or a combination thereof, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver system and the memory system. The transceiver system may be configured to listen to a host device during a receiving slot group of a host piconet. The processing system may be configured to determine whether a secondary device synchronization condition is met, and synchronize with a secondary device over a P/S piconet in response to a determination that the secondary device synchronization condition is met. The transceiver system may be further configured to listen to the host device during a subsequent receiving slot group of the host piconet in response to a determination that the synchronization condition is not met. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, another apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise means for listening to a host device during a receiving slot group of a host piconet, means for determining whether a secondary device synchronization condition is met, means for synchronizing with a secondary device over a P/S piconet in response to a determination that the secondary device synchronization condition is met, and means for listening to the host device during a subsequent receiving slot group of the host piconet in response to a determination that the synchronization condition is not met. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, another non-transitory computer-readable medium is disclosed. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may comprise code for listening to a host device during a receiving slot group of a host piconet, code for determining whether a secondary device synchronization condition is met, code for synchronizing with a secondary device over a P/S piconet in response to a determination that the secondary device synchronization condition is met, and code for listening to the host device during a subsequent receiving slot group of the host piconet in response to a determination that the synchronization condition is not met. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are presented to aid in the description of various aspects of the disclosure and are provided solely for illustration of the aspects and not limitation thereof. 
         FIG.  1    generally illustrates a wireless environment that includes a primary device, a secondary device, and a host device. 
         FIG.  2 A  generally illustrates a timing diagram of a host piconet shared by the host device and the primary device depicted in  FIG.  1   , in which the host device is master. 
         FIG.  2 B  generally illustrates a timing diagram of a host piconet shared by the host device and the primary device depicted in  FIG.  1   , in which the primary device is master. 
         FIG.  3    generally illustrates a method performed by the secondary device depicted in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    generally illustrates a method performed by the primary device depicted in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    generally illustrates a timing diagram for a first topology in which the primary device is a master of the P/S piconet and a slave of the host piconet. 
         FIG.  6    generally illustrates a timing diagram for a second topology in which the primary device is master of both the P/S piconet and the host piconet. 
         FIG.  7    generally illustrates a timing diagram for a third topology in which the secondary device is the master of the P/S piconet and the primary device is the slave of the host piconet. 
         FIG.  8    generally illustrates a timing diagram for a fourth topology in which the secondary device is the master of the P/S piconet  15  and the primary device is the master of the host piconet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    generally illustrates a wireless environment  100  that includes a primary device  110 , a secondary device  120 , and a host device  130 . The primary device  110  and the host device  130  may establish a host piconet  140  to facilitate communication between the primary device  110  and the host device  130 . In some implementations, the primary device  110  may be a master of the host piconet  140  (with the host device  130  as a slave), and in other implementations, the host device  130  may be the master of the host piconet  140  (with the primary device  110  as the slave). The host device  130  may be configured to transmit a series of data packets to the primary device  110  over the host piconet  140 . If the primary device  110  receives a particular data packet, it may transmit an acknowledgement (ACK) to the host device  130 . When the host device  130  receives the ACK, it may select a next data packet from the series for transmission. In this manner, the host device  130  may transmit each data packet in a series of data packets to the primary device  110 . However, the host device  130  may also be obliged to coexist with other networks (not shown in  FIG.  1   ). For example, the host device  130  may be required to observe a discontinuous transmission/reception scheme when communicating on the host piconet  140  in order to avoid undue interference with a nearby WiFi network. As a result, the primary device  110  may receive intermittent bursts of data packets from the host device  130 . The bursts may arrive at unpredictable times, and may be punctuated by indefinite periods of reduced network activity. 
     The primary device  110  and the secondary device  120  may establish a primary/secondary (P/S) piconet  150  to facilitate communication within the wireless environment  100 . It will be understood that there may be any number of secondary devices operating on the P/S piconet  150 , but for brevity, the present disclosure will describe the behavior of a single secondary device, the secondary device  120 . In some implementations, the primary device  110  may be a master of the P/S piconet  150  (with the secondary device  120  as a slave), and in other implementations, the secondary device  120  may be the master of the P/S piconet  150  (with the primary device  110  as the slave). In the present disclosure, communications between the primary device  110  and the secondary device  120  over the P/S piconet  150  may be broadly referred to as “synchronizations”. 
     In one example of a synchronization, the primary device  110  may provide the secondary device  120  (over the P/S piconet  150 ) with host piconet configuration data relating to the host piconet  140 . This host piconet configuration data may enable the secondary device  120  to ‘eavesdrop’ on the host piconet  140  without joining the host piconet  140  (sometimes referred to as “sniffing”). This may enable the secondary device  120  to receive one or more of the data packets that are transmitted from the host device  130  to the primary device  110 . The host piconet configuration data may include a device address of a master of the host piconet  140  (i.e., the host device  130  or the primary device  110 ), a clock offset and a slot offset of the host piconet  140 , a maximum packet size for communicating with the host device  130 , a packet type table indicating a data rate of the host piconet  140 , a channel map indicating frequencies used by the host piconet  140 , a preferred data rate indicating an error coding scheme, a logical transport address of an asynchronous connection-oriented logical transport, synchronous connection-oriented logical transport, or enhanced synchronous connection-oriented logical transport between the host device and the primary device, any other suitable information, or any combination thereof. The secondary device  120 , having been provided with the host piconet configuration data, may be enabled to determine a host piconet timing associated with the host piconet  140 . For example, the host piconet configuration data may enable the secondary device  120  to identify transmissions from a master of the host piconet  140  and determine the host piconet timing based on the identified transmissions. Once the host piconet timing is determined, the secondary device  120  may be configured to listen to the host device  130  on the host piconet  140  in accordance with the determine host piconet timing. 
     As noted above, once the secondary device  120  is provided with the host piconet configuration data, the secondary device  120  may be capable of listening for data packets transmitted on the host piconet  140 . However, it will be understood that the secondary device  120  may not send ACKs (a task which is left to the primary device  110 ). As a result, if the secondary device  120  misses a particular data packet, the host device  130  may proceed to the next without knowing that the secondary device  120  has missed the data packet. 
     Accordingly, the primary device  110  may be configured to synchronize with the secondary device  120  for the purpose of determining if any packets have been missed, identifying the missed packets (if there are any), and selectively relaying any missed data packets to the secondary device  120  (if necessary). Planned periodic synchronizations between the primary device  110  and the secondary device  120  may be complicated by the unpredictability of the bursts of data packets provided by the host device  130 . The overall efficiency of the system depicted in  FIG.  1    can be improved if the primary device  110  is configured to capture sudden bursts of data packets from the host device  130  while simultaneously meeting its obligations to the secondary device  120 . 
     The primary device  110  may include a transceiver system  112 , a memory system  114 , a processing system  116 , and optional other components  118 . The transceiver system  112  may be configured to transmit and/or receive signals over the host piconet  140 , the P/S piconet  150 , and/or any other medium. The transceiver system  112  may be configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth protocol, a wireless land area network (WLAN) protocol, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) protocol, and/or any other suitable protocol. As an example, the transceiver system  112  may be configured to transmit and/or receive streaming audio data. The streaming audio data may be transmitted asynchronously using, for example, Bluetooth Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR) protocol. 
     The memory system  114  may be configured to store data, instructions, or a combination thereof. The memory system  114  may comprise Random-Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read-only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory storage medium. As used herein the term “non-transitory” does not exclude any physical storage medium or memory and particularly does not exclude dynamic memory (e.g., RAM) but rather excludes only the interpretation that the medium can be construed as a transitory propagating signal. 
     The processing system  116  may be coupled to the transceiver system  112 , the memory system  114 , and the other components  118 . The processing system  116  may be configured to perform operations in accordance with the instructions stored in the memory system  114 . The processing system  116  may be configured to transmit commands to the other components of the primary device  110 . The commands may be transceiver commands associated with tuning to a particular frequency, transmitting and receiving in accordance with a particular timing, or transferring data to or from the transceiver system  112 . Additionally or alternatively, the commands may be memory commands associated with storing and/or retrieving data and/or instructions. 
     The other components  118  may include one or more user inputs, one or more user output, a battery, and/or any other suitable components. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the other components  118  may include a speaker configured to transmit an audio signal. In particular, the speaker may be configured to receive an electronic signal from within the primary device  110  and convert the electronic signal into an audio signal. 
     The secondary device  120  may include a transceiver system  122 , a memory system  124 , a processing system  126 , and optional other components  128 . The transceiver system  122 , the memory system  124 , the processing system  126 , and the other components  128  may be analogous to the transceiver system  112 , the memory system  114 , the processing system  116 , and the other components  118  included in the primary device  110 . For brevity, further description of these components will be omitted. 
     In some implementations, the primary device  110  and the secondary device  120  may collectively be provided as wireless earbuds. For example, the wireless earbuds may be configured to play, into the ears of a listener, stereo sound comprising left and right audio streams. The primary device  110  may transmit the left audio stream while the secondary device  120  transmits the right audio stream, or vice-versa. 
     The host device  130  may include a transceiver system  132 , a memory system  134 , a processing system  136 , and optional other components  138 . The transceiver system  132 , the memory system  134 , the processing system  136 , and the other components  138  may be analogous to the transceiver system  112 , the memory system  114 , the processing system  116 , and the other components  118  included in the primary device  110 . For brevity, further description of these components will be omitted. The host device  130  may comprise a set top box, a music player, a video player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a fixed location data unit, a computer, a laptop, a tablet, a communications device, a mobile phone, or any other suitable device. 
     Certain conditions in the wireless environment  100  may prevent consistent transmission and/or reception of the data. Accordingly, new techniques are required for improving transmission of host data in a wireless environment analogous to the wireless environment  100 . As noted above, to minimize latency and bandwidth usage, new techniques may meet two requirements. First, whenever the host device  130  is transmitting to the primary device  110 , the secondary device  120  should be listening to that communication. This enables the secondary device  120  to, for example, receive data packets transmitted from the host device  130  to the primary device  110 . Second, whenever the primary device  110  elects to communicate with the secondary device  120 , the secondary device  120  should be available and listening to the primary device  110 . This enables the primary device  110  and the secondary device  120  to flexibly and opportunistically exchange control signaling and/or missed packets as necessary. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the secondary device  120  meets these two requirements by observing an alternating listening pattern in which it listens to the primary device  110  and the host device  130  in alternating slot groups, occasionally interrupting the alternating listening pattern to synchronize with the primary device  110 . The alternating listening patterns will be as will be discussed in greater detail below, with reference to  FIG.  3   . 
       FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  generally illustrate timing diagrams of the host piconet  140  shared by the host device  130  and the primary device  110 . A piconet such as the host piconet  140  may have a master device and a slave device. In the scenario of  FIG.  2 A , the host device  130  is the master of the host piconet  140 , whereas in  FIG.  2 B , the primary device  110  is the master of the host piconet  140 . Although the following description is directed to the host piconet  140 , it will be understood that other piconets described in the present disclosure (for example, the P/S piconet  150 ) may have similar features. 
       FIG.  2 A  generally illustrates a timing diagram  200 A of the host piconet  140  shared by the host device  130  and the primary device  110  in which the host device  130  is master of a host piconet  140 . The timing diagram  200 A includes a host device timeline  203  and a primary device timeline  201 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the host piconet  140  may operate in accordance with a time-division duplexing (TDD) scheme in which a master device transmits for the duration of a particular group of consecutive time slots (hereinafter “slot group”) while one or more slave devices receive. The roles may then reverse, such that in a subsequent slot group (for example, an immediately subsequent slot group), one of the one or more slave devices transmits while the master device receives. Each pair of consecutive slot groups, in which the master transmits and then the slave transmits, may be referred to as a “frame”. In Bluetooth, for example, a single time slot may have a duration of six-hundred and twenty-five microseconds [625 μs], and a frame may have a duration of twelve-hundred and fifty microseconds [1250 μs]. A single slot group may occupy one, three, or five slots. Accordingly, a frame may occupy two, four, six, eight, or ten slots. For purposes of illustration, each slot group in the present example occupies one slot. However, it will be understood that the term slot group may refer to a duration that includes any suitable number of time slots. 
     The host device timeline  203  shows the transmission and reception pattern of the host device  130 , whereas the primary device timeline  201  shows the transmission and reception pattern of the primary device  110 . The host piconet  140  is established such that the slots of the TDD scheme (labeled ‘0’ through ‘9’ in  FIG.  2 A ) are of uniform duration and alignment, known to both the host device  130  and the primary device  110 . In the present example, each time slot corresponds to a single slot group, however this is merely an example since, as noted above, a slot group may include more than one slot. 
     The slots may be divided into pairs of consecutive slot groups (frames, as noted above). In the example of  FIG.  2 A , a first frame  210  includes a zeroth slot and a first slot (labeled ‘0’ and ‘1’). Similarly, a second frame  220  includes slots ‘2’ and ‘3’, a third frame  230  includes slots ‘4’ and ‘5’, a fourth frame  240  includes slots ‘6’ and ‘7’, and a fifth frame  250  include slots ‘8’ and ‘9’. Although only five frames are depicted in  FIG.  2 A , it will be understood that the transmission and reception pattern depicted in  FIG.  2 A  may continue indefinitely. 
     As noted above,  FIG.  2 A  depicts a scenario wherein the host device  130  is the master of the host piconet  140 . As master, the host device  130  may have a host piconet transmission opportunity  231  in the first slot of each frame (each even-numbered slot in the present example). By contrast, the primary device  110  has an opportunity to transmit during a host piconet transmission opportunity  213  appearing in the last slot of each frame (each odd-numbered slot in the present example). Although only one of each is labeled in  FIG.  2 A , it will be understood that  FIG.  2 A  depicts five instances of the host piconet transmission opportunity  231  and another five instances of the host piconet transmission opportunity  213 . 
       FIG.  2 B  generally illustrates a timing diagram  200 B of the host piconet  140  shared by the host device  130  and the primary device  110  in which the primary device  110  is master of the host piconet  140 . 
     Like the timing diagram  200 A, the timing diagram  200 B depicts the host device timeline  203  and the primary device timeline  201 . Moreover, the slots are labeled ‘0’ through ‘9’ and are grouped into five frames. Moreover, the host piconet transmission opportunity  213  is an opportunity for the primary device  110  to transmit to the host device  130  and the host piconet transmission opportunity  231  is an opportunity for the host device  130  to transmit to the primary device  110 . However, by contrast to the scenario depicted in  FIG.  2 A , the primary device  110  is master of the host piconet  140 . As a result, the host piconet transmission opportunity  213  (reserved for transmissions from the primary device  110  to the host device  130 ) occurs in the first slot of each frame (i.e., even-numbered slots in the present example) rather than the last slot of each frame (i.e., odd-numbered slots in the present example). 
     Although  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  are directed to example communications over the host piconet  140 , it will be understood that a similar TDD scheme may be used for communications over the P/S piconet  150 . In particular, a master of the P/S piconet  150  (which may be the primary device  110  or the secondary device  120 ) may transmit in a first slot group of a frame, and a slave may transmit in a second slot group of the frame. 
       FIG.  3    generally illustrates a method  300  performed by the secondary device  120 . The method  300  depicted in  FIG.  3    will be described as it would be performed by the secondary device  120  depicted in  FIG.  1   . 
     At  310 , the secondary device  120  listens to the primary device  110  during a receiving slot group of the P/S piconet  150  shared between the primary device  110  and the secondary device  120 . The listening at  310  may be performed by, for example, the transceiver system  122  depicted in  FIG.  1   . Accordingly, the transceiver system  122  may constitute means for listening to a primary device during a receiving slot group of a P/S piconet shared between the primary device and the secondary device. Moreover, the processing system  126  may be configured to operate the transceiver system  122  by executing code stored in the memory system  124 . Accordingly, the memory system  124  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for listening to a primary device during a receiving slot group of a P/S piconet shared between the primary device and the secondary device. 
     As used herein, the term “receiving slot group” corresponds to the perspective of a particular device. For example, the listening at  310  is performed by the secondary device  120 , therefore the “receiving slot group of the P/S piconet  150 ” corresponds to a slot group in the TDD scheme in which the secondary device  120  is configured to receive a data packet over the P/S piconet  150 . If the secondary device  120  is a master of the P/S piconet  150 , then the “receiving slot group” of the secondary device  120  is the first slot group of a frame, whereas if the secondary device  120  is a slave of the P/S piconet  150 , then the “receiving slot group” of the secondary device  120  is the second slot group of the frame. This explanation is important because elsewhere in the field, the term “receiving slot group” may refer to the slot group in which the master of the P/S piconet  150  is configured to receive (i.e., always corresponding to the second slot group of a particular frame). Accordingly, it will be understood that in the method  300 , the “receiving slot group” may be the first slot group of a particular frame or the second slot group of the particular frame, i.e., in whichever slot group the secondary device  120  is configured to receive over the P/S piconet  150 , regardless of whether the secondary device  120  is a master or a slave of the P/S piconet  150 . 
     At  320 , the secondary device  120  determines based on the listening at  310  whether a packet is received from the primary device  110 . If no packet is received at  310  (‘no’ at  320 ), then the method  300  proceeds to  330 . If a packet is received at  310  (‘yes’ at  320 ), then the method  300  proceeds to  340 . The determining at  320  may be performed by, for example, the memory system  124  and/or the processing system  126  depicted in  FIG.  1   . Accordingly, the memory system  124  and/or the processing system  126  may constitute means for determining based on the listening during the receiving slot group at  310  whether the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . Moreover, the processing system  126  may be configured to perform the determining at  320  by executing code stored in the memory system  124 . Accordingly, the memory system  124  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for determining based on the listening during the receiving slot group at  310  whether the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . 
     At  330 , the secondary device  120  listens to the host device  130  on the host piconet  140  during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150  in response to a determination at  320  that the primary device  110  is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . The listening at  330  may enable the secondary device  120  to receive a data packet from the host device  130  (in the event that the host device  130  has transmitted a data packet). The listening at  330  may be performed by, for example, the transceiver system  122  depicted in  FIG.  1   . Accordingly, the transceiver system  122  may constitute means for listening to the host device  130  on the host piconet  140  during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150  in response to a determination at  320  that the primary device  110  is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . Moreover, the processing system  126  may be configured to operate the transceiver system  122  by executing code stored in the memory system  124 . Accordingly, the memory system  124  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for to the host device  130  on the host piconet  140  during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150  in response to a determination at  320  that the primary device  110  is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . 
     As used herein, the term “transmitting slot group” is analogous to the term “receiving slot group” in that it corresponds to the perspective of a particular device. For example, the listening at  330  is performed by the secondary device  120 , therefore the “transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150 ” corresponds to a slot group in the TDD scheme in which the secondary device  120  is configured to transmit a data packet over the P/S piconet  150 . If the secondary device  120  is a master of the P/S piconet  150 , then the “transmitting slot group” of the secondary device  120  is the first slot group of a frame, whereas if the secondary device  120  is a slave of the P/S piconet  150 , then the “transmitting slot group” of the secondary device  120  is the second slot group of the frame. 
     At  340 , the secondary device  120  transmits to the primary device  110  over the P/S piconet  150  during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150  in response to a determination at  320  that the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . The transmitting at  340  may be performed by, for example, the transceiver system  122  depicted in  FIG.  1   . Accordingly, the transceiver system  122  may constitute means for transmitting to the primary device  110  over the P/S piconet  150  during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150  in response to a determination at  320  that the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . Moreover, the processing system  126  may be configured to operate the transceiver system  122  by executing code stored in the memory system  124 . Accordingly, the memory system  124  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for transmitting to the primary device  110  over the P/S piconet  150  during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150  in response to a determination at  320  that the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 . 
     At  350 , the secondary device  120  optionally determines whether to listen to the host device  130  or the primary device  110 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the decision to listen to a particular device to may depend on a timing difference between the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150 , or any other suitable factor. If the secondary device  120  determines to listen to the host device  130  (‘host’ at  350 ), then the method  300  proceeds to the listening at  330 , described above. If the secondary device  120  determines to listen to the primary device  110  (‘pri’ at  350 ), then the method  300  returns to the listening at  310 , described above. 
     After listening at  330  to the host device  130 , the secondary device  120  may optionally proceed to  360 ,  370 , and  380 . These optional blocks may correspond to a scenario in which the secondary device  120  is configured to occasionally, as needed, step into the shoes of the primary device  110 . For example, as noted above, the primary device  110  is configured to transmit ACKs to the host device  130  every time a data packet is received. If the primary device  110  is low on battery, processing power, etc., it may determine that overall system efficiency and/or longevity is improved if secondary device  120  takes over responsibility for transmitting ACKs. The optional blocks at  360 ,  370 , and  380 , described below, correspond to a scenario in which the secondary device  120  is configured to take responsibility for such tasks. 
     At  360 , the secondary device  120  determines whether a packet has been received from the host device  130 . If a packet has been received from the host device  130  (‘yes’ at  360 ), then the method proceeds to  370 . If a packet has not been received from the host device  130  (‘no’ at  360 ), then the method returns to the determining at  350 . 
     At  370 , the secondary device  120  determines whether the secondary device  120  is designated to respond to the host device  130 . If the secondary device  120  is designated to respond to the host device  130  (‘yes’ at  370 ), then the method proceeds to  380 . If the secondary device  120  is not designated to respond to the host device  130  (‘no’ at  370 ), then the method returns to the determining at  350 . The determining at  370  may be based on designation information received from the primary device  110  over the P/S piconet  150 . For example, if the designation information indicates that the secondary device  120  is designated to respond to the host device  130 , then the secondary device  120  may determine at  370  that the secondary device  120  is designated to respond to the host device  130 . If the designation information is not received, or the received designation information indicates that the secondary device  120  is not designated to respond to the host device  130 , then the secondary device  120  may determine at  370  that the secondary device  120  is not designated to respond to the host device  130 . 
     At  380 , the secondary device  120  transmits to the host device  130 . The transmitting at  380  may include, for example, transmitting of an ACK that acknowledges receipt of the data packet received from the host device  130  during the listening at  330 . 
     It will be understood that performance of the method  300  depicted in  FIG.  3    may result in the alternating listening pattern described above. In particular, the secondary device  120  may use a receiving slot group of the P/S piconet  150  to listen to the primary device  110 , and then use an immediately subsequent transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet  150  to listen to the host device  130 . This may continue indefinitely until a packet is received from the primary device  110  during a receiving slot group of the P/S piconet  150 , indicating that there will be a synchronization (or at least an attempt to synchronize) between the primary device  110  and the secondary device  120  over the P/S piconet  150 . In the event of a synchronization attempt, the secondary device  120  may temporarily abandon the alternating listening pattern and instead use the immediately subsequent transmitting slot of the P/S piconet  150  to provide a reply to the primary device  110 . 
     In one example, a synchronization attempt may correspond to a process for selective relay of missed data packets. Accordingly, the synchronization may comprise transmitting to or receiving from the primary device  110  a selective relay information signal, wherein the selective relay information signal facilitates identification of one or more missed data packets that were transmitted by the host device and missed by the primary device  110  or the secondary device  120 . Additionally or alternatively, the synchronization may comprise transmitting to or receiving from the primary device  110  ( a ) one or more missed data packets that were transmitted by the host device and missed by the primary device or the secondary device and/or (b) auxiliary information relating to the one or more missed data packets. Additionally or alternatively, the synchronization may comprise transmitting or receiving an ACK indicating that a packet has been received from the primary device  110  or a no-acknowledgement (NACK) indicating that the packet was received with errors. The selective relay may include any combination of the above, and may be carried out over a plurality of time slot groups. The plurality of time slot groups may be sequential, or alternatively, non-sequential, i.e., interrupted by an occasional return to the alternating listening pattern. 
     In another example, a synchronization attempt may correspond to a process for exchange of control data relating to one or more piconets. Accordingly, the synchronization may comprise receiving from the primary device updated host piconet configuration data facilitating continued listening to the host device. Additionally or alternatively, the synchronization may comprise transmitting to or receiving from the primary device updated P/S piconet configuration data facilitating continued communication over the P/S piconet. Additionally or alternatively, the synchronization may comprise transmitting to or receiving from the primary device handover information configured to enable the secondary device to switch from a master of the P/S piconet to a slave of the P/S piconet or vice-versa. Handover may comprise a mandatory step of switching the role of the primary device  110  and the secondary device  120 . The switching may further result in a role switch for the master and the slave of the P/S piconet  150 . The selective relay may include any combination of the above, and may be carried out over a plurality of time slot groups. The plurality of time slot groups may be sequential, or alternatively, non-sequential, i.e., interrupted by an occasional return to the alternating listening pattern. 
       FIG.  4    generally illustrates a method  400  performed by the primary device  110 . The method  400  depicted in  FIG.  4    will be described as it would be performed by the primary device  110  depicted in  FIG.  1   . As noted above with respect to  FIG.  3   , the secondary device  120  may observe an alternating listening pattern until such time as the primary device  110  attempts to synchronize with the secondary device  120 . The method  400  depicted in  FIG.  4    relates to a decision by the primary device  110  as to whether to attempt to perform that synchronization. 
     At  410 , the primary device  110  listens to the host device  130  during a receiving slot group of the host piconet  140 . The listening at  410  may be performed by, for example, the transceiver system  112  depicted in  FIG.  1   . Accordingly, the transceiver system  112  may constitute means for listening to the host device  130  during a receiving slot group of the host piconet  140 . Moreover, the processing system  116  may be configured to operate the transceiver system  112  by executing code stored in the memory system  114 . Accordingly, the memory system  114  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for listening to the host device  130  during a receiving slot group of the host piconet  140 . 
     At  420 , the primary device  110  optionally receives a packet from the host device  130  during the listening at  410 . 
     At  430 , the primary device  110  determines whether a secondary device synchronization condition is met. If the secondary device synchronization condition is met (‘yes’ at  430 ), then the method proceeds to  440 . If the secondary device synchronization condition is not met (‘no’ at  430 ), then the method proceeds to  450 . Examples of the secondary device synchronization condition will be discussed in greater detail below. The determining at  430  may be performed by, for example, the memory system  114  and/or the processing system  116  depicted in  FIG.  1   . Accordingly, the memory system  114  and/or the processing system  116  may constitute means for determining whether a secondary device synchronization condition is met. Moreover, the processing system  116  may be configured to perform the determining at  430  by executing code stored in the memory system  114 . Accordingly, the memory system  114  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for determining whether a secondary device synchronization condition is met. 
     At  440 , the primary device  110  synchronizes with the secondary device  120 . The synchronizing at  440  may be performed by, for example, the transceiver system  112 , the memory system  114 , and/or the processing system  116  depicted in  FIG.  1   . Accordingly, the transceiver system  112 , the memory system  114 , and/or the processing system  116  may constitute means for synchronizing with the secondary device  120 . For example, the synchronizing may include transmitting or receiving communications using the transceiver system  112 , retrieving any received communications from the transceiver system  112  using the memory system  114  and/or the processing system  116 , and providing any transmitted communications to the transceiver system  112  using the memory system  114  and/or the processing system  116 . Moreover, the processing system  116  may be configured to perform the synchronizing at  440  by executing code stored in the memory system  114 . Accordingly, the memory system  114  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for synchronizing with the secondary device  120 . 
     As noted above with respect to  FIG.  3   , a synchronization attempt may correspond to, for example, a process for selective relay of missed data packets and/or a process for exchange of control data relating to one or more piconets. For brevity, further description of these examples will be omitted. 
     At  450 , the primary device  110  optionally transmits to the host device  130 . The transmitting may comprise, for example, transmitting an ACK or NACK relating to a data packet that is received (or not received, or received with errors) during the listening at  410 . The optional transmitting at  450  may be omitted if there is nothing to transmit. Moreover, the transmitting at  450  may also be omitted if the determining at  430  or the synchronizing at  440  completes at a time wherein the host device  130  is presently transmitting or (about to transmit) on the host piconet  140 . 
     The secondary device synchronization condition that is the subject of the determining at  430  may be any condition that triggers a synchronization. As a first example, the secondary device synchronization condition may be a data packet reception condition relating to a number of data packets received from the host device  130 , wherein the data packet reception condition is met if the number of data packets received from the host device  130  exceeds a data packet reception threshold. The number of data packets may be, for example, a number of data packets received since the last successful synchronization. Accordingly, having a large number of packets received since the last synchronization may indicate that the secondary device  120  is due for another synchronization. 
     As a second example, the secondary device synchronization condition may be a data readiness condition relating to whether a poll/null signal has been received from the host device, wherein the data readiness condition is met if the poll/null signal has been received. For example, the poll/null signal may be interpreted by the primary device  110  as an indicator that the host device  130  does not have further data at this time or is delaying further transmission of new packets for any suitable reason. Accordingly, the primary device  110  has an opportunity to synchronize with the secondary device  120  without necessarily missing any new packets from the host device  130 . 
     As a third example, the secondary device synchronization condition may be a new control data condition relating to whether new control data has been generated or otherwise obtained by the primary device, wherein the new control data condition is met if new control data has been generated or otherwise obtained by the primary device. As noted above, the host piconet  140  may be established based on host piconet configuration data, and this host piconet configuration data is provided to the secondary device  120  by the primary device  110  so that the secondary device  120  can listen to the host device  130  on the host piconet  140 . It will be understood that if the host piconet configuration data changes, it may be necessary for the primary device  110  to provide updated host piconet configuration data to the secondary device  120 . Similarly, if a configuration of the P/S piconet  150  changes, it may be necessary for the primary device  110  to provide updated P/S piconet configuration data to the secondary device  120 . 
     As a fourth example, the secondary device synchronization condition may be a handover request condition relating to whether the primary device seeks a handover to the secondary device or vice-versa, wherein the handover request condition is met if the primary device seeks the handover to the secondary device or vice-versa. 
       FIGS.  5 - 8    depict various timing alignments relating to particular network topologies.  FIGS.  5 - 6    relate to two topologies in which the primary device  110  is a master of the P/S piconet  150 , whereas  FIGS.  7 - 8    relate to two other topologies in which the secondary device  120  is the master of the P/S piconet  150 . 
     Before proceeding to the details of  FIGS.  5 - 8   , a process for timing alignment will be described. As noted above, the primary device  110  and the host device  130  establish a host piconet  140  on which to communicate. The host piconet  140  has a particular host piconet timing that dictates which of the devices is transmitting and which of the devices is receiving at any given time. The master of the host piconet  140  may set, adjust, and/or maintain the host piconet timing. Adjustment and/or maintenance may be required if, for example, one or more of the clocks of the respective devices is keeping time imperfectly. Similarly, the P/S piconet  150  also has a particular P/S piconet timing that dictates which of the devices is transmitting and which of the devices is receiving at any given time. The master of the P/S piconet  150  may accordingly set, adjust, and/or maintain the P/S piconet timing. 
     It will be understood that for the method  300  and the method  400  to be performed successfully, the respective timings of the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150  must be coordinated. In particular, when setting, adjusting, and/or maintaining the P/S piconet timing, the master of the P/S piconet  150  may calculate a slot-offset of the host piconet  140  with respect to the P/S piconet  150 . The calculated slot-offset may correspond to a value or range of values. The corresponding value or range of values may differ for different topologies, as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIG.  5    generally illustrates a timing diagram  500  for a first topology in which the primary device  110  is a master of the P/S piconet  150  and a slave of the host piconet  140 . The timing diagram  500  shows, from the perspective of the secondary device  120 , a relative alignment of the piconet timings of the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150 . In particular, the timing diagram  500  depicts a secondary device P/S piconet timeline  510 , a secondary device host piconet timeline  520 , and a secondary device host piconet timeline  530 . 
     On the secondary device P/S piconet timeline  510 , there is a receiving slot group  511  corresponding to a duration within the P/S piconet timing where the primary device  110  is transmitting on the P/S piconet  150 . Elsewhere on the secondary device P/S piconet timeline  510  is a transmitting slot group  512  corresponding to a duration within the P/S piconet timing where the secondary device  120  is afforded an opportunity to transmit on the P/S piconet  150 . Accordingly, each pair of slot groups (for example, the receiving slot group  511  and the transmitting slot group  512 ) may be separated from the next pair by a frame boundary  515 . Because, in this scenario, the primary device  110  is a master of the P/S piconet  150 , the first slot group in each frame is the receiving slot group  511  and the second slot group in each frame is the transmitting slot group  512 .  FIG.  5    depicts three frames, although it will be understood that the secondary device P/S piconet timeline  510  may continue in this manner indefinitely. 
     On the secondary device host piconet timeline  520 , there is a receiving slot group  521  corresponding to a duration within the host piconet timing where the secondary device  120  is configured to listen to the host piconet  140 , and potentially receive data from the host device  130 . Elsewhere on the secondary device host piconet timeline  520  is a transmitting slot group  522  corresponding to a duration within the host piconet timing where the host device  130  is configured to listen to the host piconet  140 . Because, in this scenario, the primary device  110  is a slave of the host piconet  140 , the first slot group in each frame is the receiving slot group  521  and the second slot group in each frame is the transmitting slot group  522 . As will be understood from the secondary device host piconet timeline  520 , there is a minimum offset value  525  representing a minimum delay between the frame boundary  515  of the P/S piconet  150  and the beginning of the frame in the host piconet  140 . The transmitting slot group  522  may be used by the secondary device  120  to transmit to the host device  130  if the primary device  110  has designated the secondary device  120  to do so. Otherwise, the transmitting slot group  522  may be used by the primary device  110  to respond to the secondary device  120  if it has received something from the host. 
     On the secondary device host piconet timeline  530 , there is a receiving slot group  531  and a transmitting slot group  532  analogous to the receiving slot group  521  and the transmitting slot group  522  described above. As will be understood from the secondary device host piconet timeline  530 , there is a maximum offset value  535  representing a maximum delay between the frame boundary  515  of the host piconet  140  and the beginning of the frame in the P/S piconet  150 . 
     As noted above, in the scenario of  FIG.  5   , the primary device  110  is the master of the P/S piconet  150 . Accordingly, the primary device  110  may be configured to calculate a slot-offset of the host piconet timing relative to the P/S piconet timing by selecting an offset value that is between the minimum offset value  525  depicted in  FIG.  5    and the maximum offset value  535  depicted in  FIG.  5   . Once the slot-offset is calculated, the primary device  110  may be further configured to set, adjust, and/or maintain the P/S piconet timing based on the calculated slot-offset. In some implementations, the secondary device  120  (i.e., the slave of the P/S piconet  150 ) may simply follow the lead of the primary device  110 . As a result, the secondary device  120  may observe a reception/transmission pattern on the host piconet  140  that begins later than the reception/transmission pattern depicted in the secondary device host piconet timeline  520  and earlier than the reception/transmission pattern depicted in the secondary device host piconet timeline  530  (i.e., between the minimum and maximum offsets). 
     The actual values of the minimum offset value  525  and the maximum offset value  535  may be calculated in any suitable manner. For example, the minimum offset value  525  may be equal to (X+Y) and the maximum offset value  535  may be equal to a duration of a single frame plus Z minus Y, wherein X is an amount of time required for the secondary device  120  to determine whether the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120 , Y is a time required by the secondary device secondary device  120  to switch between the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150 , and Z is a minimum residual time left after transmitting a full-length data packet. Z may correspond to three values Z 1 , Z 3 , and Z 5 , where Z 1  corresponds to a one-slot length, Z 3  corresponds to a three-slot length, and Z 5  corresponds to a five-slot length. In the case of Z 1 , the value may be equal, for example, to 625 μs minus an amount of time required to receive a packet with a maximum payload length of one slot. In the case of Z 3 , the value may be equal, for example, to 1875 μs minus an amount of time required to receive a packet with a maximum payload length of three slots. In the case of Z 5 , the value may be equal, for example, to 3125 μs minus an amount of time required to receive a packet with a maximum payload length of five slots. In general terms, for a packet with a slot length of N, Z may be equal, for example, to N times 625 μs minus an amount of time required to receive a packet with a maximum payload length of N slots. The host piconet  140  may be configured to use all of one-slot packets, three-slot packets and five-slots packet or any combination of these. Accordingly, Z may be equal to Minimum(Z N1 , Z N2 , . . . ) μs, where N1, N2, . . . are the packet type lengths which the host piconet  140  is configured to use. So, Z may be equal to a minimum of time left from packet slot length after receiving the maximum payload length packet corresponding to the packet slot length from all the packet slot lengths for which the host piconet  140  is configured. This maximum offset will allow secondary device  120  to complete a reception from the host device  130  and listen to the primary device  110  in the immediate next slot. As will be understood from  FIG.  5   , the host piconet timeline  530  is shifted such that with maximum offset  535 , the host device  130  finishes its reception by the start of the transmitting slot group  532  so that it can listen to the primary device  110  in the transmitting slot group  532  unless it is designated to respond to the host device  130  for a packet received in the receiving slot group  531 . If so, the secondary device  120  will transmit to the host device  130  in the transmitting slot group  532 . 
       FIG.  6    generally illustrates a timing diagram  600  for a second topology in which the primary device  110  is master of both the P/S piconet  150  and the host piconet  140 . In this scenario, the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150  may be described as aligned, wherein the primary device  110  need not set or adjust anything to bring this alignment, since the two piconets may act as a single piconet. Like the timing diagram  500 , the timing diagram  600  shows a relative alignment of the piconet timings of the host piconet  140  with respect to the P/S piconet  150  from the perspective of the secondary device  120 . The timing diagram  600  includes a secondary device P/S piconet timeline  610  analogous to the secondary device P/S piconet timeline  510  and a secondary device P/S piconet timeline  620  analogous to the secondary device host piconet timeline  520 . Moreover, the secondary device host piconet timeline  610  includes a receiving slot group  611  analogous to the receiving slot group  511 , a transmitting slot group  612  analogous to the transmitting slot group  512 , and a frame boundary  615  analogous to the frame boundary  515 . 
     In  FIG.  6   , the receiving slot group  611  and the transmitting slot group  622  correspond to a transmission slot of the primary device  110 , and a reception slot of both the secondary device  120  and the host device  130 . The primary device  110  may send a packet to either device based on, for example, the method  400  depicted in  FIG.  4   . If the primary device  110  transmits a packet to the host device  130 , then the host device  130  will respond back in the receiving slot group  621 . And since the secondary device  120  did not hear anything from the primary device  110  in receiving slot group  611 , it will sniff to the host device  130  in the transmitting slot group  612 . If the primary device  110  transmits a packet to the secondary device  120  in the receiving slot group  611 , then the secondary device  120  will respond back in the transmitting slot group  612 . 
     The secondary device P/S piconet timeline  620  includes a receiving slot group  621  analogous to the receiving slot group  521  and a transmitting slot group  622  analogous to the transmitting slot group  522 , however, in the scenario of  FIG.  6    (in which the primary device  110  is a master rather than a slave of the host piconet  140 ) the transmitting slot group  622  precedes the receiving slot group  621  within the frame. 
     As will be understood from  FIG.  6   , there is no offset of the host piconet timing relative to the P/S piconet timing. Accordingly, the primary device  110  may be configured to calculate a slot-offset equal to zero in response to a determination that the primary device  110  is the master of both the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150 . Once the slot-offset is calculated, the primary device  110  may be further configured to set, adjust, and/or maintain the P/S piconet timing based on the calculated slot-offset. In some implementations, the secondary device  120  (i.e., the slave of the P/S piconet  150 ) may simply follow the lead of the primary device  110 . As a result, the secondary device  120  may observe the reception/transmission pattern depicted on the secondary device host piconet timeline  620  of  FIG.  6   . 
       FIG.  7    generally illustrates a timing diagram  700  for a third topology in which the secondary device  120  is the master of the P/S piconet  150  and the primary device  110  is the slave of the host piconet  140 . Like the timing diagram  500 , the timing diagram  700  depicts a relative alignment of the piconet timings of the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150  from the perspective of the secondary device  120 . The timing diagram  700  includes a secondary device P/S piconet timeline  710  analogous to the secondary device P/S piconet timeline  510  and a secondary device P/S piconet timeline  720  analogous to the secondary device host piconet timeline  520 . Moreover, the secondary device host piconet timeline  710  includes a receiving slot group  711  analogous to the receiving slot group  511 , a transmitting slot group  712  analogous to the transmitting slot group  512 , and a frame boundary  715  analogous to the frame boundary  515 . 
     The secondary device P/S piconet timeline  720  includes a receiving slot group  721  analogous to the receiving slot group  521 , a transmitting slot group  722  analogous to the transmitting slot group  522 , and a minimum offset value  725  analogous to the minimum offset value  525 . The secondary device P/S piconet timeline  730  includes a receiving slot group  731  analogous to the receiving slot group  531 , a transmitting slot group  732  analogous to the transmitting slot group  532 , and a maximum offset value  735  analogous to the maximum offset value  535 . The transmitting slot group  722  may be used by the secondary device  120  to transmit to the host device  130  if the primary device  110  has designated the secondary device  120  to do so. Otherwise, the transmitting slot group  722  may be used by the primary device  110  to respond to the secondary device  120  if it has received something from the host. 
     In the scenario of  FIG.  5   , the primary device  110  is the master of the P/S piconet  150 . By contrast, in the scenario of  FIG.  7   , the secondary device  120  is the master of the P/S piconet  150 . Accordingly, in the scenario of  FIG.  7   , the secondary device  120  may be configured to calculate a slot-offset of the host piconet timing relative to the P/S piconet timing by selecting an offset value that is between the minimum offset value  725  depicted in  FIG.  7    and the maximum offset value  735  depicted in  FIG.  7   . Once the slot-offset is calculated, the secondary device  120  may be further configured to set, adjust, and/or maintain the P/S piconet timing based on the calculated slot-offset. As a result, the secondary device  120  may observe a reception/transmission pattern on the host piconet  140  that is later than the reception/transmission pattern depicted in the secondary device host piconet timeline  720  and earlier than the reception/transmission pattern depicted in the secondary device host piconet timeline  730 . The actual values of the minimum offset value  725  and the maximum offset value  735  may be calculated in any suitable manner. For example, the minimum offset value  725  may be equal to a duration of a single slot group plus X+Y and the maximum offset value  735  may be equal to a duration of the single frame minus (X+Y), wherein X is an amount of time required for the secondary device  120  to determine whether the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120  and Y is a time required by the secondary device  120  to switch between the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150 . 
       FIG.  8    generally illustrates a timing diagram  800  for a fourth topology in which the secondary device  120  is the master of the P/S piconet  150  and the primary device  110  is the master of the host piconet  140 . Like the timing diagrams depicted in  FIGS.  5 - 7   , the timing diagram  800  depicts a relative alignment of the piconet timings of the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150  from the perspective of the secondary device  120 . The timing diagram  800  includes a secondary device P/S piconet timeline  810  analogous to the secondary device P/S piconet timeline  710  and a secondary device P/S piconet timeline  820  analogous to the secondary device host piconet timeline  720 . Moreover, the secondary device host piconet timeline  810  includes a receiving slot group  811  analogous to the receiving slot group  711 , a transmitting slot group  812  analogous to the transmitting slot group  712 , and a frame boundary  815  analogous to the frame boundary  715 . 
     The secondary device P/S piconet timeline  820  includes a receiving slot group  821  analogous to the receiving slot group  721 , a transmitting slot group  822  analogous to the transmitting slot group  722 , and a minimum offset value  825  analogous to the minimum offset value  725 . The secondary device P/S piconet timeline  830  includes a receiving slot group  831  analogous to the receiving slot group  731 , a transmitting slot group  832  analogous to the transmitting slot group  732 , and a maximum offset value  835  analogous to the maximum offset value  735 . However, unlike in  FIG.  7    (corresponding to a scenario in which the primary device  110  is a slave of the host piconet  140 ), the transmitting slot group  822  and the transmitting slot group  832  precede the receiving slot group  821  and the receiving slot group  831 , respectively. The transmitting slot group  822  may belong to the primary device  110  to speak to the host device  130 . If a packet is sniffed by the secondary device  120  which is sent by the host device  130 , and the secondary device  120  is designated to respond to the host device  130  for this packet, then the secondary device  120  will use the transmitting slot group  822  for transmitting to the host device  130 . 
     Similar to the scenario of  FIG.  7   , the secondary device  120  in the scenario of  FIG.  8    is the master of the P/S piconet  150 . Accordingly, the secondary device  120  may be configured to calculate a slot-offset of the host piconet timing relative to the P/S piconet timing by selecting an offset value that is between the minimum offset value  825  depicted in  FIG.  8    and the maximum offset value  835  depicted in  FIG.  8   . Once the slot-offset is calculated, the secondary device  120  may be further configured to set, adjust, and/or maintain the P/S piconet timing based on the calculated slot-offset. As a result, the secondary device  120  may observe a reception/transmission pattern on the host piconet  140  that is later than the reception/transmission pattern depicted in the secondary device host piconet timeline  820  and earlier than the reception/transmission pattern depicted in the secondary device host piconet timeline  830 . The actual values of the minimum offset value  825  and the maximum offset value  835  may be calculated in any suitable manner. For example, the minimum offset value  825  may be equal to (X+Y) and the maximum offset value  835  may be equal to a duration of a single slot group minus (X+Y), wherein X is an amount of time required for the secondary device  120  to determine whether the primary device  110  is attempting to communicate with the secondary device  120  and Y is a time required by the secondary device  120  to switch between the host piconet  140  and the P/S piconet  150 . 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and not to limit any embodiments disclosed herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Similarly, the phrase “based on” as used herein does not necessarily preclude influence of other factors and should be interpreted in all cases as “based at least in part on” rather than, for example, “based solely on”. Moreover, the phrase “coupled to” in electrical contexts encompasses any suitable method for delivering an electrical signal from a first node to a second node. As such, “coupled to” may encompass “coupled directly to” (for example, by direct conductive connection, such as with a copper wire, a solder ball, etc.) as well as “coupled indirectly to” (for example, having one or more intervening structures therebetween, such as a switch, a buffer, a filter, etc.). It will be further understood that terms such as “top” and “bottom”, “left” and “right”, “vertical” and “horizontal”, etc., are relative terms used strictly in relation to one another, and do not express or imply any relation with respect to gravity, a manufacturing device used to manufacture the components described herein, or to some other device to which the components described herein are coupled, mounted, etc. It should be understood that any reference to an element herein using a designation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, these designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not imply that there are only two elements and further does not imply that the first and second elements are consecutive or that the first element precedes the second element in some manner. Also, unless stated otherwise a set of elements may comprise one or more elements. In addition, terminology of the form “at least one of A, B, or C” or “one or more of A, B, or C” or “at least one of the group consisting of A, B, and C” used in the description or the claims means “A or B or C or any combination of these elements.” 
     In view of the descriptions and explanations above, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Accordingly, it will be appreciated, for example, that an apparatus or any component of an apparatus may be configured to (or made operable to or adapted to) provide functionality as taught herein. This may be achieved, for example: by manufacturing (e.g., fabricating) the apparatus or component so that it will provide the functionality; by programming the apparatus or component so that it will provide the functionality; or through the use of some other suitable implementation technique. As one example, an integrated circuit may be fabricated to provide the requisite functionality. As another example, an integrated circuit may be fabricated to support the requisite functionality and then configured (e.g., via programming) to provide the requisite functionality. As yet another example, a processor circuit may execute code for providing the requisite functionality. 
     Moreover, the methods, sequences, and/or algorithms described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in Random-Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read-only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory storage medium known in the art. As used herein the term “non-transitory” does not exclude any physical storage medium or memory and particularly does not exclude dynamic memory (e.g., RAM) but rather excludes only the interpretation that the medium can be construed as a transitory propagating signal. An example storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor (e.g., cache memory). 
     While the foregoing disclosure shows various illustrative aspects, it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specifically illustrated examples alone. For example, unless otherwise noted, the functions, steps, and/or actions of the method claims in accordance with the aspects of the disclosure described herein need not be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, although certain aspects may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.