Systems, apparatus and methods for synchronizing a global time reference for access points over the air
First Claim
1. A method for synchronizing a global time of an access point, comprising:
- receiving a message comprising a global time indication from a second access point, andupdating the global time of the access point to the global time indication from the second access point by updating a timer of the access point by an increment not to exceed a predetermined value selected small enough to ensure a maintenance of synchronization between the access point and at least one associated wireless station, wherein when an anchor device is a common anchor device for the access point and the second access point, wherein updating the global time of the access point to the global time of the second access point is when a second difference is larger than a first difference, and wherein the global time of the access point is maintained if the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the first difference being between the global time indication of the second access point and a most recent global time received by the second access point from the anchor device, the second difference being between a stored global time of the access point and the most recent global time received by the access point from the anchor device.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for synchronizing a global time reference for access points over the air are provided. In one aspect, a method for synchronizing a global time of an access point comprises receiving a message comprising a global time indication from a second access point. The method further includes updating the global time of the access point to the global time indication from the second access point by updating a timer of the access point by an increment not to exceed a predetermined value selected small enough to ensure a maintenance of synchronization between the access point and at least one associated wireless station. The global time of the access point is updated to the global time indication from the second access point when the global time indication from the second access point indicated a later global time than the global time of the access point.
8 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing a global time of an access point, comprising:
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receiving a message comprising a global time indication from a second access point, and updating the global time of the access point to the global time indication from the second access point by updating a timer of the access point by an increment not to exceed a predetermined value selected small enough to ensure a maintenance of synchronization between the access point and at least one associated wireless station, wherein when an anchor device is a common anchor device for the access point and the second access point, wherein updating the global time of the access point to the global time of the second access point is when a second difference is larger than a first difference, and wherein the global time of the access point is maintained if the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the first difference being between the global time indication of the second access point and a most recent global time received by the second access point from the anchor device, the second difference being between a stored global time of the access point and the most recent global time received by the access point from the anchor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for synchronizing a global time of the apparatus, comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a message comprising a global time indication from a second access point; and a processor configured to update the global time of the apparatus to the global time indication from the second access point by updating a timer of the apparatus by an increment not to exceed a predetermined value selected small enough to ensure a maintenance of synchronization between the apparatus and at least one associated wireless station, wherein when an anchor device is a common anchor device for the apparatus and the second access point, wherein the processor is further configured to update the global time of the apparatus to the global time of the second access point when a second difference is larger than a first difference, and wherein the global time of the apparatus is maintained if the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the first difference being between the global time indication of the second access point and a most recent global time received by the second access point from the anchor device, the second difference being between a stored global time of the apparatus and the most recent global time received by the apparatus from the anchor device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:
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receive a message comprising a global time indication from a second access point, and update the global time of the apparatus to the global time indication from the second access point by updating a timer of the apparatus by an increment not to exceed a predetermined value selected small enough to ensure a maintenance of synchronization between the apparatus and at least one associated wireless station, wherein when an anchor device is a common anchor device for the apparatus and the second access point, wherein updating the global time of the apparatus to the global time of the second access point is when a second difference is larger than a first difference, and wherein the global time of the apparatus is maintained if the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the first difference being between the global time indication of the second access point and a most recent global time received by the second access point from the anchor device, the second difference being between a stored global time of the apparatus and the most recent global time received by the apparatus from the anchor device.
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22. An apparatus for synchronizing a global time of the apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving a message comprising a global time indication from a second access point; and means for updating the global time of the apparatus to the global time indication from the second access point by updating a timer of the apparatus by an increment not to exceed a predetermined value selected small enough to ensure a maintenance of synchronization between the apparatus and at least one associated wireless station, wherein when an anchor device is a common anchor device for the apparatus and the second access point, wherein the means for updating is further configured to update the global time of the apparatus to the global time of the second access point when a second difference is larger than a first difference, and wherein the global time of the apparatus is maintained if the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the first difference being between the global time indication of the second access point and a most recent global time received by the second access point from the anchor device, the second difference being between a stored global time of the apparatus and the most recent global time received by the apparatus from the anchor device.
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Specification