Patent ID: 8462766

Claim:
A method for diffusing channel timing among a plurality of subscriber units operating in Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Direct Mode, the method comprising: a first one of the subscriber units operating in the TDMA Direct Mode and performing: receiving, from a second one of the subscriber units operating in the TDMA Direct Mode, a first message; determining first channel timing from the received message; determining whether the received first channel timing is correct, wherein the determining is based at least on comparing a generation of the first subscriber unit with a generation of the second subscriber unit; when the received first channel timing is correct, starting a random delay; upon expiration of the random delay, transmitting a first forced propagation message to propagate the first channel timing to at least a third one of the subscriber units operating in the TDMA Direct Mode and having a higher generation than the generations of the first and the second subscriber units; receiving before the expiration of the random delay, from one of the subscriber units operating in the TDMA Direct Mode and having the same or a higher generation than the first subscriber unit, a second forced propagation message that includes the first channel timing; and withholding the transmission of the first forced propagation message with the first channel timing.