Method and apparatus for estimating distance between network devices in a wireless network

A first wireless communication device in a wireless network including the first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device, the first wireless communication device comprising:

• a timing module configured to provide a timing synchronization function (TSF) time, wherein values of the TSF time correspond to a common time shared between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device;
• and
• a fine timing measurement module configured to
• receive, from the second wireless communication device, a first request to perform a fine timing measurement to determine a distance between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device,
• transmit, in a first attempt, a first response including a first value of the TSF time, wherein the first value of the TSF time indicates a first time to start a burst period for performing the fine timing measurement, and wherein the first value of the TSF time is one of (i) included in the first request received from the second wireless communication device and (ii) selected by the timing module,
• determine whether transmitting the first response in the first attempt was successful,
• in response to a determination that transmitting the first response in the first attempt was not successful, retransmit, in a second attempt subsequent to the first attempt, the first response including the same first value of the TSF time, and
• regardless of whether transmitting the first response in the first attempt was successful, perform the fine timing measurement in the burst period starting at the first time indicated by the first value of the TSF time.