A novel media access control (MAC) mechanism utilizing synchronization signaling
that enables nodes from different networks having different technologies and protocols
to coexistence using the same shared media. The present invention is suitable for
use with a wide range of different types of network and technologies and is particularly
useful in providing coexistence capabilities to powerline based data communication
systems. Specific time slots are assigned for the transmission of a frame occupation
signal to indicate to all nodes that the channel is occupied. A synchronization
signal is randomly transmitted during a preassigned time slot within the frame
to provide accurate timing for the frame occupation signal. During times that a
node does not transmit the synchronization signal, it listens to the channel. A
timing signal is derived from the synchronization signals received from other nodes
during this quiet period wherein the node is in a listening mode. The node then
adjusts its internal clock in accordance with the derived timing signal.
