Identifying a synchronization master for radio nodes

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a radio node, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the radio node, receive synchronization information by causing the radio node to perform one or more operations comprising:

• measuring, via an interface circuit in the radio node and during a time interval, electrical signals corresponding to satellite signals or wireless signals, wherein the satellite signals are associated with a global positioning system, and the wireless signals are associated with a cellular-telephone network;
• calculating one or more performance metrics based on the electrical signals;
• determining, based on the one or more performance metrics, whether the radio node is a synchronization master in a cluster of radio nodes based at least in part on the one or more performance metrics;
• and
• when the radio node is not the synchronization master, the one or more operations comprise:
• receiving, via the interface circuit, information associated with a computer specifying another synchronization master for the radio node, wherein the information comprises a network address of the other synchronization master;
• providing, via the interface circuit, a synchronization request addressed to the other synchronization master;
• and
• receiving, via the interface circuit, the synchronization information intended for the radio node that is associated with the other synchronization master, wherein the synchronization information specifies time, frequency, and phase synchronization for at least the radio node.

A method for receiving synchronization information, comprising:

• by a radio node:
• measuring, via an interface circuit in the radio node and during a time interval, electrical signals corresponding to satellite signals or wireless signals, wherein the satellite signals are associated with a global positioning system, and the wireless signals are associated with a cellular-telephone network;
• calculating one or more performance metrics based on the electrical signals;
• determining, based on the one or more performance metrics, whether the radio node is a synchronization master in a cluster of radio nodes based at least in part on the one or more performance metrics;
• and
• when the radio node is not the synchronization master, the one or more operations comprise:
• receiving, via the interface circuit, information associated with a computer specifying another synchronization master for the radio node, wherein the information comprises a network address of the other synchronization master;
• providing, via the interface circuit, a synchronization request addressed to the other synchronization master;
• and
• receiving, via the interface circuit, the synchronization information intended for the radio node that is associated with the other synchronization master, wherein the synchronization information specifies time, frequency, and phase synchronization for at least the radio node.