On-demand pair-wise frequency-hopping synchronization

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface adapted to communicate over a network;
• a processor configured to communicate with the network interface;
• and
• a memory configured to communicate with the processor, the memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;
• receiving a broadcast schedule and storing the broadcast schedule in the memory;
• determining if a neighbor unicast listening schedule is available for a neighboring device;
• when the neighbor unicast listening schedule is available, transmitting a data frame to the neighboring device pursuant to the neighbor unicast listening schedule;
• when
• when the neighbor unicast listening schedule is not available, transmitting the data frame to the neighboring device pursuant to the broadcast schedule.

A tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• determining a local unicast listening schedule and storing the local unicast listening schedule in a memory;
• receiving a broadcast schedule and storing the broadcast schedule in the memory;
• receiving a first data frame pursuant to the broadcast schedule and, in response to receipt of the first data frame, transmitting a first acknowledgement message, the acknowledgement message including the local unicast listening schedule;
• determining if a neighbor unicast listening schedule is available for a neighboring device;
• when the neighbor unicast listening schedule is available, transmitting a second data frame to the neighboring device pursuant to the neighbor unicast listening schedule;
• and
• when the neighbor unicast listening schedule is not available, transmitting the second data frame to the neighboring device pursuant to the broadcast schedule.