Patent attributes
A method of utilizing communication channel resources between nodes in a network of nodes is provided. Communication between a set of nodes in a communication network uses a time division multiple access protocol that includes a plurality of time slots. A set of time slots is allocated from the plurality of time slots to a first node of the set of nodes for transmission of a communication signal. At the first node, a time slot of the allocated set of time slots is identified that is no longer needed for transmission of the communication signal. Instead, the first node tunes to a network synchronization frequency during the identified time slot and receives a synchronization signal transmitted by a second node. The second node is not one of the set of nodes in the communication network. The first node synchronizes with the second node using the synchronization signal thereby allowing communication between the second node and the set of nodes.
