Patent ID: 8503486

Claim:
An apparatus for synchronizing a first wireless access point, a second wireless access point, and a third wireless access point transmitting and receiving data on a common radiofrequency (RF) channel, wherein the RF coverage area of the first wireless access point and the RF coverage area of the second wireless access point overlap in a first overlap area, wherein the RF coverage area of the second wireless access point and the RF coverage area of the third wireless access point overlap in a second overlap area, wherein the first wireless access point transmits a first beacon including a first transmission timestamp and a first contention-free period (CFP) schedule, wherein the second wireless access point transmits a second beacon including a second transmission timestamp and a second CFP schedule, and wherein the third wireless access point transmits a third beacon including a third transmission timestamp and a third CFP schedule, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving first beacon information from a first monitor station positioned in the first overlap area, the first beacon information comprising the first transmission timestamp, the first CFP schedule, a first arrival time recording the time at which the first beacon is received at the first monitor station, the second transmission timestamp, the second CFP schedule, and a second arrival time recording the time at which the second beacon is received at the first monitor station; means for receiving second beacon information from a second monitor station positioned in the second overlap area, the second beacon information comprising the second transmission timestamp, the second CFP schedule, a third arrival time recording the time at which the second beacon is received at the second monitor station, the third transmission timestamp, the third CFP schedule, and a fourth arrival time recording the time at which the third beacon is received at the second monitor station; means for determining a common timebase; and, means for transmitting control commands to adjust: the first CFP schedule to generate an adjusted first CFP schedule; the second CFP schedule to generate an adjusted second CFP schedule; and the third CFP schedule to generate an adjusted third CFP schedule.