Piconet spanning tree network

A communication device for communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver configured to connect to the piconet network;
• and
• a controller coupled to the transceiver, the controller configured to transmit, via the transceiver, at least one available piconet identifier prior to receiving a request for the available piconet identifier, the available piconet identifier providing a parent piconet coordinator identification for the communication devices,
• wherein the controller is further configured to transmit, via the transceiver, information for the calculation of a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators, and
• wherein the size of the block of available piconet identifiers is based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators and a maximum number of levels of piconet coordinators.

A method in a communication device of communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the method comprising:

• connecting to the piconet network;
• determining if the communication device can support a dependent piconet;
• and
• receiving at least one available piconet identifier prior to transmitting information regarding requesting establishing a dependent piconet, the available piconet identifier providing parent piconet identification for the communication device for the dependent piconet,
• wherein the method further comprises calculating a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators, and
• wherein the size of the block of available piconet identifiers is based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators and a maximum number of levels of piconet coordinators.

A communication device for communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the communication device comprising:

• a transceiver configured to connect to the piconet network;
• and
• a controller coupled to the transceiver, the controller configured to determine if the communication device can support a dependent piconet, the controller further configured to receive, via the transceiver, at least one available piconet identifier prior to requesting information regarding establishing a dependent piconet, the available piconet identifier providing parent piconet identification for the communication device for the dependent piconet,
• wherein the controller is further configured to calculate a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators, and
• wherein the size of the block of available piconet identifiers is based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators and a maximum number of levels of piconet coordinators.