Method, apparatus, and computer program product for hop count usage in cluster selection

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• receive one or more first synchronization messages from a wireless device transmitting synchronization messages in a first neighbor awareness network cluster, the first synchronization message including a first hop count value to a first anchor master in the first cluster and information describing a first master rank value of the first anchor master;
• receive one or more second synchronization messages from a wireless device transmitting synchronization messages in a second neighbor awareness network cluster, the second synchronization message including a second hop count value to a second anchor master in the second cluster and information describing a second master rank value of the second anchor master;
• and
• compare the first and second master rank values and select the neighbor awareness network cluster corresponding to the synchronization message having the greater master rank value.

A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

• code for receiving, by an apparatus, one or more first synchronization messages from a wireless device transmitting synchronization messages in a first neighbor awareness network cluster, the first synchronization message including a first hop count value to a first anchor master in the first cluster and information describing a first master rank value of the first anchor master;
• code for receiving, by the apparatus, one or more second synchronization messages from a wireless device transmitting synchronization messages in a second neighbor awareness network cluster, the second synchronization message including a second hop count value to a second anchor master in the second cluster and information describing a second master rank value of the second anchor master;
• and
• code for comparing, by the apparatus, the first and second master rank values and selecting the neighbor awareness network cluster corresponding to the synchronization message having the greater master rank value.