Method and system of synchronization in dual-beacon wireless networks

In a system (300) adapted to include at least two different types of wireless devices including Type-A wireless devices (320) and Type-B wireless devices (310), wherein Type-B wireless devices (310) are adapted to transmit Type-A beacons (325) having a first format and Type-B beacons (315) having a second format different from the first format and to receive only the Type-B beacons (315) having the second format, and wherein Type-A wireless devices (320) are adapted to transmit and receive only the Type-A beacons (325) having the first format, a method of beacon synchronization for a first Type-A wireless device (320), the method comprising.

• when the first Type-A wireless device (320) receives at least one Type-A beacon (325) from one or more Type-B wireless devices (310), then synchronizing the first Type-A wireless device (320) to a one of the one or more Type-B wireless devices (310) having a slowest clock, and transmitting Type-A beacons (325) from the first Type-A wireless device (320) that indicate that the first Type-A wireless device (320) is operating as a forced synchronization device;
• when the first Type-A wireless device (320) does not receive any Type-A beacons (325) from any Type-B wireless devices, and receives a Type-A beacon (325) from a second Type-A wireless device (320) which Type-A beacon (325) indicates that the second Type-A wireless device (320) is not operating as a forced synchronization device, then synchronizing whichever of the first and second Type-A wireless devices (320) that has a faster clock to whichever of the first and second Type-A wireless devices (320) that has a slower clock, and transmitting Type-A beacons (325) from the first Type-A wireless device (320) that indicate that the first Type-A wireless device (320) is not operating as a forced synchronization device;
• when the first Type-A wireless device (320) does not receive any Type-A beacons (325) from any Type-B wireless devices, and receives a Type-A beacon (325) from a second Type-A wireless device (320) which Type-A beacon (325) indicates that the second Type-A wireless device (320) is operating as a forced synchronization device, then synchronizing the first Type-A wireless device (320) to the second Type-A wireless device (320) and transmitting Type-A beacons (325) from the first Type-A wireless device (320) that indicate that the first Type-A wireless device (320) is operating as a forced synchronization device;
• and
• when the first Type-A wireless device (320) is operating as a forced synchronization device synchronized to a first Type-B wireless device, and the first Type-A wireless device (320) receives a Type-A beacon (325) from a second Type-A wireless device (320) which Type-A beacon (325) indicates that the second Type-A wireless device (320) is operating as a forced synchronization device that is synchronized to a second Type-B wireless device (310) in a foreign network, then switching a channel on which at least one of the first Type-A wireless device (320) and the second Type-A wireless device (320) is operating.