Method and apparatus for a carrier frequency control in a wireless communication system

A method of providing a carrier frequency control in a wireless communications network for at least one first signal respectively produced for transmission in at least one first station at a first carrier frequency and transmitted from the at least one first station to a second station having a defined carrier frequency acquisition range, the method comprising:

• receiving in each of the at least one first station a second signal transmitted from the second station;
• producing in each of the at least one first station the second signal received at a respective second carrier frequency;
• estimating in each of the at least one first station a respective carrier frequency offset between the corresponding second carrier frequency and an expected carrier frequency;
• preemptively shifting in each of the at least one first station the first carrier frequency based on the respective carrier frequency offset estimated for maintaining the first signal within the defined carrier acquisition range of the second station;
• at the second station, polling the at least one first station to request carrier frequency offset estimates;
• at each of the at least one first station where a poll request is received, reporting the respective carrier frequency offset estimate to the second station;
• at the second station, receiving the respective carrier frequency offset estimates reported;
• based on the carrier frequency offset estimates received, calculating in the second station a frequency adjustment;
• and
• applying in the second station the frequency adjustment calculated to shift a third carrier frequency at which the second signal is produced so as to minimize carrier frequency variations in the second signal.