Patent ID: 8340035

Claim:
A method of changing a communication link between source devices and sink devices in a network in which uplink periods for uplink transmission and downlink periods for downlink transmission are alternately scheduled, the method comprising: during a first downlink period, broadcasting an uplink period allocation message to the sink devices and passive source devices by an active source device, which establishes a communication link with a primary sink device from among the sink devices, wherein the uplink period allocation message instructs that a subsequent uplink period be allocated to the passive source devices to which a communication link is not set; during a first uplink period following the first downlink period, broadcasting a link set message for establishing a communication link with the primary sink device to all the source devices in the network, wherein the link set message is broadcast by a primary passive source device from among the passive source devices; during a second downlink period following the first uplink period, relaying the link set message to all the sink devices in the network, wherein the link set message is relayed by the active source device; and during a second uplink period following the second downlink period, establishing a communication link between the primary sink device and the primary passive source device by the primary sink device.