Timing synchronization coordination on a shared communication medium

A communication apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor and the at least one memory being configured to determine a level of timing synchronization between a first access point and one or more neighboring access points;
• and
• at least one transceiver configured to:
• send, from the first access point to an access terminal, a synchronization advertisement message that identifies the level of timing synchronization;
• and
• synchronize, at the first access point, reference signal timing with at least one of the one or more neighboring access points based on the determining,
• wherein the reference signal timing corresponds to timing of a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) Transmission Window (DTxW), and
• wherein the synchronizing comprises synchronizing the DTxW of the first access point and the at least one of the one or more neighboring access points to within a margin.

A communication method, comprising:

• receiving, at an access terminal from a first access point, a synchronization advertisement message that identifies a level of timing synchronization between the first access point and one or more neighboring access points;
• and
• performing, by the access terminal, one or more measurements of the one or more neighboring access points based on the level of timing synchronization,
• wherein the one or more measurements of the one or more neighboring access points are performed by the access terminal autonomously in response to the synchronization advertisement message indicating a less than substantial level of synchronization between the first access point and the one or more neighboring access points.

A communication apparatus, comprising:

• at least one transceiver configured to receive, at an access terminal from a first access point, a synchronization advertisement message that identifies a level of timing synchronization between the first access point and one or more neighboring access points;
• at least one processor;
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor and the at least one memory being configured to perform, by the access terminal, one or more measurements of the one or more neighboring access points based on the level of timing synchronization,
• wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured to perform the one or more measurements of the one or more neighboring access points autonomously in response to the synchronization advertisement message indicating a less than substantial level of synchronization between the first access point and the one or more neighboring access points.