METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A SYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT

摘要

An apparatus and method provides synchronous communication in a communication environment (102) wherein multiple base stations are adapted to operate on the same frequencies. In particular, the base stations which operate within range of one another must be coordinated to minimize interference with other base stations which may otherwise operate independently. Each base station operating in a system will determine whether another base station operating on the same frequencies is within range (310). One of the base stations will assume a role as a master and the remaining base station will then synchronize to the master base station (312). The preferred methods for synchronizing the base stations includes signaling protocols (702, 902) and collision avoidance techniques for digital multiple access communication systems.