Hopping master in wireless conference

A radio configured to switch from being a slave radio to a master radio, the radio comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a first transmission, wherein:
• the radio is a first radio;
• the first transmission is received from a second radio;
• the first transmission uses a time-division multiple access (TDMA) protocol;
• the second radio functions as a master radio for the TDMA protocol during the first transmission;
• the first radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• and
• the second radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• and
• a transmitter configured to:
• transmit a second transmission using the TDMA protocol, wherein:
• the second transmission is from the first radio to the second radio;
• the second transmission is configured to occur 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;
• transmit a third transmission using the TDMA protocol, wherein:
• the third transmission is configured to occur after the second transmission;
• the third transmission is based on the first radio determining that the first radio has an indicator that the first radio is to function as a master radio;
• the first radio is configured to not power off between receiving the first transmission and sending the third transmission;
• and
• the first radio functions as the master radio for the TDMA protocol during the third transmission.

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 is a mobile, handheld radio;
• and
• the second radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• determining, using the first radio, that the first radio has an indicator that the first radio is to function as a master radio;
• transmitting, using the first radio, a second transmission, wherein:
• the second transmission is from the first radio to the second 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;
• 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;
• and
• the first radio functions as the master radio for the TDMA protocol during the third transmission.

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 is a mobile, handheld radio;
• and
• the second radio is a mobile, handheld radio;
• determining, using the first radio, that the first radio has an indicator that the first radio is to function as 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;
• 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;
• and
• the first radio functions as a slave for the TDMA protocol during the third transmission.