Systems and methods for parasitic synchronization of radio networks

A radio frequency (RF) receiving node, comprising:

• a first receiver configured to receive a synchronization pattern from an RF transmitting node;
• a second receiver configured to receive an aperiodic cue from a source external to the RF receiving node, wherein the external source does not include the RF transmitting node;
• a processing unit configured to power up the first receiver at the RF receiving node responsive to receipt of the aperiodic cue;
• and
• a correlator configured to synchronize the RF receiving node to the RF transmitting node using the received synchronization pattern.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one processor to perform a method of synchronizing a receiving node to a transmitting node in a network, the method comprising:

• obtaining an aperiodic cue received by a first receiver of the receiving node from a source external to the receiving node that does not include the transmitting node;
• powering up a second receiver at the receiving node responsive to receipt of the aperiodic cue;
• obtaining a synchronization pattern received by the second receiver from the transmitting node;
• and
• synchronizing the receiving node to the transmitting node using the obtained synchronization pattern.

A method of synchronizing a receiving node to a transmitting node in a network, comprising:

• receiving an external cue, transmitted from a node other than the transmitting node that is external to the receiving node, at a first receiver of the receiving node;
• powering up a second receiver at the receiving node responsive to receipt of the external cue;
• receiving a synchronization signal from the transmitting node at the second receiver;
• and
• determining when the transmitting node started transmitting the synchronization signal in a reference time-frame common to both the transmitting node and the receiving node.

A radio frequency (RF) receiving device, comprising:

• a first receiver configured to receive a synchronization signal from a RF transmitting device;
• a second receiver configured to receive an external cue from a source external to the RF receiving device that does not include the RF transmitting device;
• a processing unit configured to power up the second receiver of the RF receiving device responsive to receipt of the external cue;
• and
• a correlator configured to synchronize the RF receiving device to the RF transmitting device based on the synchronization signal.

A system for synchronizing a receiving node to a transmitting node in a network, comprising:

• first receiving means for receiving an external cue, transmitted from a node other than the transmitting node and that is external to the receiving node, at the receiving node, the external cue comprising at least one of a television blanking signal, a zero-crossing of a FM radio transmission, a zero-crossing of an analog voice transmission, a zero-crossing of an analog video transmission, a cellular telephony control channel signal, a cellular telephony traffic channel signals, a digital sub-band for an AM or FM radio station signal, a digital or analog signal in a short-wave radio transmission, a digital television signal, a digital or analog signal in a land mobile radio transmission, a radio-navigation signal, a radar signal, a satellite signal, an acoustic event or signal, a magnetic event or signal, or an optical event or signal;
• second receiving means for receiving a synchronization signal from the transmitting node;
• and
• means for powering up the second receiving means at the receiving node responsive to receipt of the external cue;
• and
• means for determining when the transmitting node started transmitting the synchronization signal in a reference time-frame common to both the transmitting node and the receiving node.

A method of conserving energy in a first radio frequency (RF) node of a network comprising a plurality of RF nodes, the method comprising:

• determining whether all RF nodes in the network are synchronized;
• powering down an external cue receiver of the first RF node based on the determination;
• powering up the external cue receiver if an RF node of the plurality of RF nodes becomes unsynchronized;
• receiving an external cue at the external cue receiver of the first RF node, the external cue comprising at least one of a television blanking signal, a zero-crossing of a FM radio transmission, a zero-crossing of an analog voice transmission, a zero-crossing of an analog video transmission, a cellular telephony control channel signal, a cellular telephony traffic channel signals, a digital sub-band for an AM or FM radio station signal, a digital or analog signal in a short-wave radio transmission, a digital television signal, a digital or analog signal in a land mobile radio transmission, a radio-navigation signal, a radar signal, a satellite signal, an acoustic event or signal, a magnetic event or signal, or an optical event or signal;
• and
• transmitting a synchronization pattern to the plurality of RF nodes based on the received external cue.

A radio frequency (RF) receiving device, comprising:

• a processing unit configured to determine whether all RF nodes of a plurality of RF nodes in a network are synchronized;
• a first receiving unit configured to power down based on the determination, wherein the first receiving unit powers up when an RF node of the plurality of RF nodes becomes unsynchronized and wherein the first receiving unit receives an external cue, the external cue comprising at least one of a television blanking signal, a zero-crossing of a FM radio transmission, a zero-crossing of an analog voice transmission, a zero-crossing of an analog video transmission, a cellular telephony control channel signal, a cellular telephony traffic channel signal, a digital sub-band for an AM or FM radio station signal, a digital or analog signal in a short-wave radio transmission, a digital television signal, a digital or analog signal in a land mobile radio transmission, a radio-navigation signal, a radar signal, a satellite signal, an acoustic event or signal, a magnetic event or signal, or an optical event or signal;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit a synchronization pattern to the plurality of RF nodes based on the received external cue.