Method, apparatus, and computer program product for synchronization packet transmitter selection in a wireless network

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a first wireless node, communication events within range in a wireless communication network;

determining, by the first wireless node, that there are not enough master nodes within range, when detecting communication events only from a single node, wherein a master node competes with other master nodes to transmit a synchronization message in the wireless communication network, when detecting communication events having a synchronization message only from a single node; and

assuming, by the first wireless node, a role of a master node to participate in contention to transmit a synchronization message in the wireless communication network, in response to the determination that there are not enough master nodes within range.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether there are enough master nodes within range in the wireless communication network comprises:

detecting, by the first wireless node, communication events within range in the wireless communication network; and

calculating, by the first wireless node, a number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining, by the first wireless node, that there are not enough master nodes within range when the calculated number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message exceeds a first predefined threshold number.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predefined first threshold number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message is 3.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predefined first threshold number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message is 5.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether there are enough master nodes within range in the wireless communication network comprises:

detecting, by the first wireless node, communication events within range in the wireless communication network; and

calculating, by the first wireless node, a number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from a single node.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining, by the first wireless node, that there are not enough master nodes within range when the calculated number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from the single node exceeds a predefined second threshold number.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the predefined second threshold number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from the single node without detection of a synchronization message is 5.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the predefined second threshold number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from the single node without detection of a synchronization message is 7.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the first wireless node, that there are enough master wireless nodes within range in the wireless communication network;

calculating, by the first wireless node, a random draw based on at least one of a current number of master wireless nodes within range or an estimated number of wireless nodes within range in the wireless communication network; and

assuming, by the first wireless node, a role of a master wireless node to participate in synchronization message contention in the communications network, in response to winning the random draw.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

detect communication events within range in a wireless communication network;

determine that there are not enough master nodes within range, when detecting communication events only from a single node, wherein a master node competes with other master nodes to transmit a synchronization message in the wireless communication network, when detecting communication events having a synchronization message only from a single node; and

assume a role of a master node to participate in contention to transmit a synchronization message in the wireless communication network, in response to the determination that there are not enough master nodes within range.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein determining whether there are enough master nodes within range in the wireless communication network comprises:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

detect communication events within range in the wireless communication network; and

calculate a number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine that there are not enough master nodes within range when the calculated number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message exceeds a first predefined threshold number.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the predefined first threshold number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message is 3.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the predefined first threshold number of consecutive communication events without detection of a synchronization message is 5.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein determining whether there are enough master nodes within range in the wireless communication network comprises:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

detect communication events within range in the wireless communication network; and

calculate a number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from a single node.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine that there are not enough master nodes within range when the calculated number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from the single node exceeds a predefined second threshold number.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the predefined second threshold number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from the single node without detection of a synchronization message is 5.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the predefined second threshold number of consecutive communication events with a synchronization message from the single node without detection of a synchronization message is 7.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine that there are enough master wireless nodes within range in the wireless communication network;

calculate a random draw based on at least one of a current number of master wireless nodes within range or an estimated number of wireless nodes within range in the wireless communication network; and

assume a role of a master wireless node to participate in synchronization message contention in the communications network, in response to winning the random draw.

21. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for detecting, by a first wireless node, communication events within range in a wireless communication network;

code for determining, by the first wireless node, that there are not enough master nodes within range, when detecting communication events only from a single node, wherein a master node competes with other master nodes to transmit a synchronization message in the wireless communication network, when detecting communication events having a synchronization message only from a single node; and

code for assuming, by the first wireless node, a role of a master node to participate in contention to transmit a synchronization message in the wireless communication network, in response to the determination that there are not enough master nodes within range.