Minimal maintenance link to support synchronization

A base station processor, transmitter, and receiver circuitry to operate within a wireless communication network, wherein the base station processor, transmitter, and receiver circuitry comprises:

• the base station processor circuitry configured to assign a plurality of codes to a field unit;
• the base station transmitter circuitry configured to transmit an indication of a plurality of codes assigned to a field unit;
• the base station receiver circuitry configured to receive a message in at least one time slot, wherein the message includes one of the plurality of codes, wherein the one of the plurality of codes is associated with a type of field unit request;
• the base station processor circuitry configured to analyze the one of the plurality of codes received to determine a timing adjustment to be made at the field unit to synchronize the field unit with a base station;
• and
• the base station transmitter circuitry further configured to transmit a feedback message to the field unit containing the timing adjustment, wherein the timing adjustment indicates an amount to advance timing or alternatively an amount to retard timing.

Non-transitory computer readable storage media having instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by base station processor, transmitter, and receiver circuitry of a base station, the instructions cause the base station to perform operations including:

• assigning, via the base station processor circuitry, a plurality of codes to a field unit;
• transmitting, from the base station transmitter circuitry, an indication of the plurality codes assigned to the field unit;
• receiving, via the base station receiver circuitry, a first message in at least one time slot, wherein the first message includes one of the plurality of codes, wherein the one of the plurality of codes is associated with a type of field unit request;
• analyzing, via the base station processor circuitry, the one of the plurality of codes received to determine a timing adjustment to be made at the field unit to synchronize the field unit with a base station;
• and
• transmitting, from the base station transmitter circuitry, a second message to the field unit that includes the timing adjustment, wherein the timing adjustment indicates an amount to advance timing or alternatively an amount to retard timing.