Patent ID: 8077614

Claim:
A method for synchronizing a first wireless access point and a second wireless access point transmitting and receiving data on a common radiofrequency (RF) channel, wherein the RF coverage area of said first wireless access point and the RF coverage area of said second wireless access point overlap in an overlap area, wherein data transmission from said first wireless access point is partitioned into a first contention-free period followed by a first contention period, said first contention-free period having a first start time and a first end time, wherein data transmission from said second wireless access point is partitioned into a second contention-free period followed by a second contention period, said second contention-free period having a second start time and a second end time, comprising the steps of: recording by a monitor station positioned in said overlap area said first start time of said first contention-free period, wherein the recorded first start time is referenced to a clock in said monitor station; recording by said monitor station said second start time of said second contention-free period, wherein the recorded second start time is referenced to said clock; calculating a retardation interval based on the recorded first start time and the recorded second start time; and, transmitting a control command to said second wireless access point to retard transmission of said second contention-free period by said retardation interval to generate a retarded second contention-free period having a retarded start time.