Selection of synchronization stations in a peer-to-peer network environment

A network of peer communication devices, comprising:

• a branch synchronization station;
• and
• a root synchronization station configure to issue synchronization frames comprising a first sequence of availability windows, wherein the first sequence of availability windows is attended by the branch synchronization station;
• wherein the branch synchronization station is synchronized with the root synchronization station, and wherein the branch synchronization station is configured to issue synchronization frames identifying the first sequence of availability windows and a second sequence of availability windows.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a first peer communication device of a network of peer communication devices, cause the first peer communication device to perform operations to identify the first peer communication device's role, the operations comprising:

• receiving synchronization frames broadcast by peer communication devices of the network;
• extracting from the received synchronization frames preference values that are used to select a synchronization station;
• identifying the first peer communication device as a root synchronization station in response to the first peer communication device having a highest preference value of the peer communication devices;
• identifying the first peer communication device as a branch synchronization station in response to the first peer communication device being among a selected number of the peer communication devices having a next highest preference value;
• and
• identifying the first peer communication device as a leaf in response to the first peer communication device not being identified as the root synchronization station or a branch synchronization station.

A first peer communication device, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
• extract, from received periodic synchronization frames, preference values of identified peer communication devices associated with the periodic synchronization frames, wherein the preference values are used to select a synchronization station;
• identify a role of the first peer communication device within a network of peer communication devices based at least in part on the preference values extracted, wherein the role of the first peer communication device is one of:
• a root synchronization station;
• a branch synchronization station that disseminates throughout the network, a preference value of the root synchronization station, and a preference value of the branch synchronization station;
• or
• a leaf device.