Patent ID: 7177661
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: H04J,H04W

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for network communication, comprising: a cable arranged to form a wired local area network (LAN), the cable comprising at least first and second conductors; and a plurality of access points interconnected by the cable and arranged in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to communicate over the air on a common frequency channel with a mobile station, the access points being adapted to convey data to and from the mobile station over the LAN via the first conductor and to exchange control messages among the access points via the second conductor, wherein the access points comprise message processors, coupled to the second conductor, which are adapted, upon receiving at one or more of the access points an uplink signal transmitted over the WLAN by the mobile station on the common frequency channel, to arbitrate among the access points receiving the uplink signal by sending and receiving the control messages over the second conductor so as to select one of the access points to respond to the uplink signal.