Hopping master in wireless conference

A method for switching a radio from being a slave radio to a master radio in a time-division multiplexed communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving, using a first radio, a first transmission from a second radio using a time-division multiple access (TDMA) protocol, wherein:
• the second radio functions as a master radio for the TDMA protocol during the first transmission;
• the first radio has a parameter set to indicate the first radio has preference to be a master radio;
• the parameter is set before the first transmission;
• the first radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• and
• the second radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• determining, using the first radio, that the first radio has the parameter set to indicate that the first radio has preference to be a master radio, wherein determining, using the first radio, that the first radio has the parameter set to indicate the first radio has preference to be the master radio is performed after the first transmission and while the second radio functions as the master radio;
• transmitting, using the first radio, a second transmission, wherein:
• the second transmission is from the first radio to the second radio and to a third radio;
• the third radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• the second transmission occurs after the first transmission;
• and
• the second transmission includes a request to the second radio for the first radio to function as the master radio for the TDMA protocol based on the first radio determining that the first radio has the parameter set to indicate that the first radio has preference to be the master radio;
• and
• transmitting, using the first radio, a third transmission using the TDMA protocol, wherein:
• the third transmission occurs after the second transmission;
• the first radio does not power off between receiving the first transmission and sending the third transmission;
• the first radio functions as the master radio for the TDMA protocol during the third transmission;
• the TDMA protocol enables the first radio and the second radio to communicate directly with each other without using a base station while the first radio functions as the master radio;
• the TDMA protocol enables the first radio and the third radio to communicate directly with each other without using a base station while the first radio functions as the master radio;
• and
• the TDMA protocol enables the second radio and the third radio to communicate directly with each other without using a base station while the first radio functions as the master radio.

A method comprising:

• receiving, using a first radio, a first transmission from a second radio, using a time-division multiple access (TDMA) protocol, wherein:
• the second radio functions as a master radio for the TDMA protocol during the first transmission;
• the first radio has a parameter set to indicate the first radio has preference to be a master radio;
• the parameter is set before the first transmission;
• the first radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• and
• the second radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• determining, using the first radio, that the first radio has the parameter set to indicate that the first radio has preference to be a master radio;
• transmitting, using the first radio, a second transmission using the TDMA protocol, wherein:
• the second transmission is from the first radio to the second radio and to a third radio;
• the third radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• the second transmission occurs after the first transmission;
• the second transmission includes a request to the second radio for the first radio to function as the master radio for the TDMA protocol;
• transmitting, using the first radio, a third transmission using the TDMA protocol, wherein:
• the third transmission occurs after the second transmission;
• the first radio does not power off between receiving the first transmission and sending the third transmission;
• the first radio functions as a slave for the TDMA protocol during the third transmission
• the TDMA protocol enables the first radio and the second radio to communicate directly with each other without using a base station while the second radio functions as the master radio;
• the TDMA protocol enables the first radio and the third radio to communicate directly with each other without using a base station while the second radio functions as the master radio;
• and
• the TDMA protocol enables the second radio and the third radio to communicate directly with each other without using a base station while the second radio functions as the master radio.