Patent ID: 8599826

Claim:
A method for synchronizing direct mode time division multiple access (TDMA) transmissions among a plurality of radios, the method comprising: receiving, by a first radio, direct mode RF transmissions from a second radio defining time slot boundaries being used by the second radio; determining, by the first radio, using information received in the RF transmissions from the second radio, that a timing leader radio being used by the second radio and a timing leader radio being used by the first radio are the same; responsive to determining that the timing leader radio being used by the second radio and a timing leader radio being used by the first radio are the same: identifying, using the information received in the RF transmission from the second radio, a second synchronization age of the second radio; determining, by the first radio, whether a first synchronization age of the first radio indicates a longer time period has passed since synchronization with the timing leader radio than as indicated by the second synchronization age; and responsive to determining that the first synchronization age of the first radio indicates a longer time period has passed than as indicated by the second synchronization age: synchronizing, by the first radio, a time slot boundary of the first radio with a time slot boundary of the second radio; and setting, by the first radio, a value of the first synchronization age of the first radio equal to a value of the second synchronization age of the second radio.