Cluster head selection in a communications network

1. A wireless device for cluster head selection in a communications network, the wireless device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a respective beacon signal from each wireless device among a plurality of wireless devices, each beacon signal comprising a cluster head capability metric; and

a processing circuit configured to:

compare each of the received cluster head capability metrics to at least one qualifying criterion;

select a first wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices as the cluster head of the wireless device based on the comparison;

send an establishment request message to the first wireless device; and

select a second wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices as the cluster head of the wireless device based on the comparison, responsive to a receipt of a rejection of the establishment request message to the first wireless device.

2. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

compare all received cluster head capability metrics to a minimum value; and

select, as the first wireless device, one of the wireless devices having a cluster head capability metric above the minimum value.

3. The wireless device of claim 2 :

wherein the wireless device is associated with a cluster head capability metric of its own;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

compare all received cluster head capability metrics above the minimum value to the own cluster head capability metric; and

select, as the first wireless device, one of the wireless devices having a cluster head capability metrics above the own cluster head capability metric.

4. The wireless device of claim 1 :

wherein the wireless device is associated with a cluster head capability metric of its own;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to adjust its own cluster head capability metric based on the received beacon signal; and

wherein the wireless device further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a beacon signal comprising the adjusted cluster head capability metric.

5. The wireless device of claim 1 :

wherein the receiver is configured to receive at least one reference signal (RS); and

wherein the processing circuit is configured to establish synchronization with other wireless devices based on the received RS.

6. A method for cluster head selection in a communications network, the method implemented in a wireless device and comprising:

receiving a respective beacon signal from each wireless device among a plurality of wireless devices, each beacon signal comprising a cluster head capability metric;

comparing each of the received cluster head capability metrics to at least one qualifying criterion;

selecting a first wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices as the cluster head of the wireless device based on the comparison;

sending an establishment request message to the first wireless device; and

selecting a second wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices as the cluster head of the wireless device based on the comparison, responsive to a receipt of a rejection of the establishment request message to the first wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

said comparing comprises comparing all received cluster head capability metrics to a minimum value; and

said selecting the first wireless device comprises selecting, as the first wireless device, one of the wireless devices having a cluster head capability metric above the minimum value.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the wireless device is associated with a cluster head capability metric of its own, and wherein:

said comparing comprises comparing all received cluster head capability metrics above the minimum value to the own cluster head capability metric; and

said selecting the first wireless device comprises selecting, as the first wireless device, one of the wireless devices having a cluster head capability metrics above the own cluster head capability metric.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the wireless device is associated with a cluster head capability metric of its own, the method further comprising the wireless device:

adjusting its own cluster head capability metric based on the received beacon signal; and

transmitting a beacon signal comprising the adjusted cluster head capability metric.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving at least one reference signal (RS); and

establishing synchronization with other wireless devices based on the received RS.

11. A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for controlling cluster head selection in a communications network, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on a processing circuit of a wireless device causes the wireless device to:

receive a respective beacon signal from each wireless device among a plurality of wireless devices, each beacon signal comprising a cluster head capability metric;

compare each of the received cluster head capability metrics to at least one qualifying criterion;

select a first wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices as the cluster head of the wireless device based on the comparison;

send an establishment request message to the first wireless device; and

select a second wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices as the cluster head of the wireless device based on the comparison, responsive to a receipt of a rejection of the establishment request message to the first wireless device.