Patent ID: 8593991

Claim:
In a wireless network having a plurality of nodes, including a beacon node, a comprising: determining, at each node, whether to replace the beacon node; if a node determines that the beacon node is to be replaced, determining whether the node should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node, wherein determining whether the node should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node is a function of a nomination probability associated with the node; if the node determines that it should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node, sending out one or more beacon signals; receiving beacon signals from other nodes that have nominated themselves as potential replacement beacon nodes; and selecting the replacement beacon node wherein the selecting includes: determining, at each potential replacement beacon node, whether the potential replacement beacon node has received a beacon signal from a higher ranking potential replacement beacon node; and if the potential replacement beacon node has received a beacon signal from a higher ranking potential replacement beacon node, removing itself as a candidate for the replacement beacon node; wherein determining whether the node should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node includes generating a random number at the node and comparing the random number to a threshold value.