Patent ID: 7903601

Claim:
A method for synchronizing a wireless network, comprising: defining a first epoch at a first node to include a first continually repeated timing cycle at said first node; defining a second epoch at a second node to include a second continually repeated timing cycle at said second node; broadcasting a first signal including a join message from said first node; generating a first timestamp value representing a duration of time between a beginning of said first epoch and a time when said first signal including said join message is broadcasted; saving said first timestamp in a memory device internal to said first node; generating at said second node a second signal including a join response message after receiving said first signal, said join response message comprising a second timestamp selected to be a value representing a duration of time between a beginning of said second epoch and a time when said first signal is received at said second node; determining an initial time offset by computing a difference between said first timestamp and said second timestamp; using said initial time offset, exclusive of any additional timing information received from said second node, to determine a time period associated with an active portion of a receiver duty cycle at said second node, and to synchronize a timing of a subsequent communication between said first node and said second node; and selectively transmitting said subsequent communication from said first node to said second node exclusively during said active portion of said receiver duty cycle; wherein said active portion of a receiver duty cycle begins at a time determined by the beginning of said first epoch at said first node, plus an increment defined by said initial time offset.