METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZED COMMUNICATION OVER WIRELESS BACKBONE ARCHITECTURE

The present invention is directed to providing wireless communication among a plurality of nodes and repeaters that are synchronized for communication with a central hub that constitutes a master repeater. For example, the present invention is directed to a wireless network having a wireless backbone of repeaters which can use frequency hopping to automatically establish synchronization despite dynamic changes in the wireless communication system. Exemplary embodiments provide for control of synchronization whereby a repeater, when introduced to the system, automatically scans for, and synchronizes to another repeater, while at the same time continuing to listen for other repeater signals which identify either the master repeater, or another repeater which is closer to the master repeater (i.e., communicates to the master repeater through a more direct communication link).