Patent Publication Number: US-2007109991-A1

Title: Access point supporting direct and indirect downstream delivery based on communication characteristics

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      Various aspects of present invention relate to direct and indirect delivery of packet data to a destination device via a variety of heterogeneous type of packet switched data networks.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A computer, video game box, laptop, phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and many other types of terminals may be connected to a packet switched data network. Each terminal is typically assigned a unique network address by the packet switched data network. The terminal is identified by the unique network address and the packet switched data network uses the unique network address to send data packets to the terminal. The packet switched data network may be, for example, an EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) network, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 network, Bluetooth, WiMax network, Internet, Intranet, satellite network, etc. The data packets typically comprise one or combination of real time and/or archived multimedia information such as text, audio, video, picture and control signal.  
      The terminal may be associated with more than one access points that belong to the same packet switched data network. Alternately or in addition the terminal may be associated with more than one access points that belong to different packet switched data networks which are communicatively incompatible with each other. The different packet switched communicatively compatible and/or incompatible data networks are communicatively coupled to each other. The terminal receives unique network addresses from each of the access points. An association of the terminal with an access point is identified by the unique network address assigned by the access point to the terminal. For example the terminal may be associated with a first access point that belongs to an EDGE network, a second access point that belongs to a GSM network and a third access point that belongs to an IEEE 802.11 network. The first access point, the second access point and the third access point assign a first network address, a second network address and a third network address to the terminal respectively. The terminal may receive data packets from another terminal and/or a network node via the first access point or the second access point or the third access point. In each of the cases an access point uses the corresponding network address for sending data packets to the terminal.  
      The first access point that belongs to the EDGE network sends the data packets destined for the terminal to the terminal using the first network address. The data packets might have originated from another terminal and/or a network node that belongs to a different packet switched data network or might have been generated by the first access point. Communication link between the first access point and the terminal may not be available at an instant of time which may typically happen if the terminal moves away and/or the communication link may not support desired QoS for delivery of the data packets to the terminal at the instant of time. Under above-mentioned cases the first access point fails to deliver the data packets to the terminal or delivery of the data packets via the communication link results in loss of packets.  
      Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with various aspects of the present invention.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An access point that interacts with a downstream destination device and an upstream backbone network and supports both direct and indirect delivery of data packets to the destination device via a variety of heterogeneous type of packet switched data networks, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of illustrative aspects thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      For various aspects of the present invention to be easily understood and readily practiced, various aspects will now be described, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, in conjunction with the following figures:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating direct and indirect interaction of a plurality of access points with a plurality of end-point devices, each of the plurality of access points having information necessary for both direct and an indirect interaction with corresponding end-point devices in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating indirect interaction of a first access point of  FIG. 1  with corresponding client device via Internet backbone and a second access point;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram illustrating communication between a client device and a plurality of associated access points wherein a first access point from the plurality of associated access points communicates with the client device via remaining of the plurality of associated access points;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of pathways from a first access point to a client device via an Internet backbone and a plurality of access points in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of components of a client device that supports a plurality of packet switched data paths from the client device to a plurality of associated access points;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of components of an access point that supports downstream packet switched data communication to at least one client device and upstream packet switched data communication to a backbone network;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic that shows interaction of an access point with a mobile client device via other access points even after the mobile client device moves out of coverage area of the access point;  
       8  is a flow chart illustrating a method of delivering data packet to a client terminal via direct path or indirect path by an access point;  
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating the method of delivering the data packet to the client terminal of  FIG. 8  by the access point wherein the access point attempts to deliver the data packet via all available paths to the client terminal; and  
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating the method of delivering the data packet to the client terminal of  FIG. 8  by the access point via an indirect pathway wherein the indirect pathway is selected from all available indirect pathways to the client terminal based on a communication characteristic.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating direct and indirect interaction of a plurality of access points  111 ,  121  and  131  with a plurality of end-point devices  171 ,  181  and  191 , each of the plurality of access points  111 ,  121 ,  131  having information necessary for both direct and an indirect interaction with corresponding end-point devices. A first end point device (EPD)  171  is communicatively connected to a first access point (AP)  111  via a first wired link and communicatively connected to a second AP  121  via a first wireless link. A second EPD  181  communicates with the second AP  121  via a second wired link. A third EPD  191  interacts with the second AP  121  via a second wireless link and interacts with a third AP  131  via a third wired link. The first AP  111  is communicatively coupled to Internet backbone  141  via a first Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  151 . The second AP  121  and the third AP  131  are communicatively connected to the Internet backbone  141  via a second ISP network  161 . Each of the first ISP network  151  and the second ISP network  161  may support one or more of a variety of protocols for packet data transfer such as IEEE 802.11 protocol, WiMax protocol, EDGE protocol, GPRS protocol, WCDMA protocol etc. Each of the end point devices  171 ,  181  and  191  are able to send and receive data packets from each other via respective access point, respective ISP network and the Internet backbone  141 . As an example the first EPD  171  may send and receive data packets from the second EPD  181 , where the data packets originating at the second EPD  181  reach the first EPD  171  via the second AP  121 , the second ISP network  161 , the Internet backbone  141 , the first ISP network  151  and the first AP  111 . Each of the end point devices  171 ,  181  and  191  may be a laptop, a personal computer, a phone, a PDA, a television or any of a variety of devices that are adapted to handle packet data.  
      Each of the end point devices  171 ,  181  and  191  use unique network addresses to communicate with corresponding access point(s). As an example the first EPD  171  and the first AP  111  exchange data packets that are encapsulated with a downstream network address  175 . “Downstream network address” refers to a network address used by an AP ( 111 ,  121  or  131 ) to communicate directly with an EPD ( 171 ,  181  or  191 ). The first EPD  171  and the second AP  121  use downstream network address  177  to exchange data packets between them. The first EPD  171  stores the downstream network addresses  175  and  177  in a memory of the first EPD  171 . The first EPD  171  may use same or different protocols to communicate respectively with the first AP  111  and the second AP  121 . The first EPD  171  collects and/or retrieves information related to protocol(s) it uses for communicating with associated access points. The first EPD  171  and the first AP  111  store  173  in respective memories, where  173  is information related to a first protocol that they use for packet data communication. The information related to the first protocol  873  may comprise a protocol identifier, version number, maximum data rate supported by the first protocol, security information, QoS provided by the first protocol etc. The first EPD  171  and the second AP  121  store  174  in respective memories, where  174  is information related to a second protocol which is used by the first EPD  171  and the second AP  121  during direct packet data communication between them. The first EPD  171  sends the protocol related information  174  to the first AP  111  for storage. The first AP  111  is thus made aware of the information related to the second protocol that the first EPD  171  uses for communicating with the second AP  121 . The first EPD  171  in addition sends the protocol related information  173  to the second AP  121  to make the second AP  121  aware of information related to the first protocol that is used for packet data communication between the first AP  111  and the first EPD  171 .  
      The first AP  111  receives the network address  177  from the first EPD  171 . The first AP  111  is not adapted to use the network address  177  for direct communication with the first EPD  171  along downstream direction. The first AP  111  stores the network address  177  that is referred as first EPD upstream address of the first AP  111  to indicate that the first AP  111  is adapted to use the network address  177  for packet data communication along upstream direction. “Upstream network address” refers to a network address used by an AP ( 111 ,  121  or  131 ) to send and/or receive data packets from a network node other than an EPD ( 171 ,  181  or  191 ). The second AP  121  receives the network address  175 , which is used by the first AP  111  for downstream communication with the first EPD  171  from the first EPD  171 . The network address  175  is referred to as first EPD upstream address of the second AP  121  to indicate that the second AP  121  is adapted to use the network address  175  for packet data communication along upstream direction. The first AP  111  is communicatively associated with the first EPD  171  and the thus first AP  111  stores network addresses of the first EPD  171  corresponding to all network associations of the first EPD  171 . Similarly the second AP  121  stores network addresses of the first EPD  171 , the second EPD  181  and the third EPD  191  corresponding to all network associations of the first EPD  171 , the second EPD  181  and the third EPD  191 .  
      The first EPD  171  collects communication characteristics corresponding to two communication links the first EPD  171  has with two access points, the first wired link with the first AP  111  and the first wireless link with the second AP  121 . The first EPD  171  stores the collected communication characteristics  172  in the memory of the first EPD  171 . The first EPD  171  sends the collected communication characteristics  172  to all access points with which the first EPD  171  is associated. In this exemplary case the first EPD  171  sends the collected communication characteristics  172  to each of the first AP  111  and the second AP  121 . The first AP  111  and the second AP  121  store the communication characteristics  172  in respective memories. The communication characteristics  172  may, for example, comprise current performance of the first wired link and the first wireless link, such as current traffic load, noise and/or interference level, delay, cost etc. of each of the first wired link and the first wireless link. The first EPD  171  may collect and send the communication characteristics  172  periodically to keep the first AP  111  and the second AP  121  updated about the performance of the first wired link and the first wireless link. The first AP  111  is made aware of performance of communication links between the first EPD  171  and all associated access points (i.e., the first AP  111  and the second AP  121 ). Similarly the second AP  121  is made aware of performance of the communication links between the first EPD  171  and all associated access points (i.e., the first AP  111  and the second AP  121 ).  
      The second AP  121  is communicatively associated with the first EPD  171 , the second EPD  181  and the third EPD  191 . The second AP  121  may use same or different packet switched data protocols to communicate with associated end point devices,  171 ,  181  and  191 . The first wireless link between the second AP  121  and the first EPD  171  may typically support packet data communication using IEEE 802.11 protocol. The second wired link between the second AP  121  and the second EPD  181  may typically support fiber optic data protocol and the second wireless link between the third EPD  191  and the second AP  121  may again support IEEE 802.11 protocol. Network addresses  175  and  177  of the first EPD  171  are available with the second AP  121 . The second EPD  181  communicates with the second AP  121  using network address  187 . The second EPD  181  collects communication characteristics  183  corresponding to the second wired link. The second EPD  181  stores the communication characteristics  183  in a memory of the second EPD  181  and in addition sends the communication characteristics  183  to the second AP  121  for storage in the second AP  121 . Protocol related information  185  is stored in the second AP  121  and in the second EPD  181 . The protocol related information  185  may comprise maximum data rate supported by the fiber optic data protocol, security information, QoS provided by the fiber optic data protocol etc.  
      The third EPD  191  is communicatively connected to the second AP  121  and the third AP  131 . The third EPD  191  uses network address  197  and  199  to exchange data packets respectively with the second AP  121  and the third AP  131 . The network address  197  is referred to as third EPD downstream address of the second AP  121  and the network address  199  is referred to as third EPD downstream address of the third AP  131  as the network addresses  197  and  199  are respectively used for downstream communication of the second AP  121  and the third AP  131  with the third EPD  191 . The second AP  121  receives the network address  199  from the third EPD  191 and stores as third EPD upstream address in the second AP  121  as the second AP  121  is not adapted to use the network address  199  for downstream communication with the third EPD  131 . The second AP  121  is adapted to use the network address  199  for upstream communication with a node (i.e., a server, a switch, a router etc.) other than any of the end point devices  171 ,  181  and  191 . The third AP  831  receives the network address  197  from the third EPD  191  and stores as third EPD upstream address. The third AP  831  is adapted to use the network address  197  for upstream communication with an upstream node and not for downstream communication with any of the end point devices  171 ,  181  and  191 .  
      The third EPD  191  collects communication characteristics  193  corresponding to the second wireless link and the third wired link and sends the communication characteristics  193  to each of the second AP  121  and the third AP  131 . Each of the third EPD  191 , the second AP  121  and the third AP  131  store protocol related information  195  and  196  in respective memories. The protocol related information  195  might typically comprise maximum data rate supported and QOS provided by the IEEE 802.11 protocol. The protocol related information  196  may typically comprise maximum data rate supported and QOS provided by a PSTN data network that is used for packet data communication over the third wired link between the third AP  131  and the third EPD  191 . The second AP  121  thus has network addresses ( 175 ,  177 ,  187 ,  197 ,  199 ), communication characteristics ( 172 ,  183 ,  193 ) and protocol related information ( 173 ,  174 ,  185 ,  195 ,  196 ) corresponding to network associations of all end point devices to which the second AP  121  is associated ( 171 ,  181 ,  191 ) stored in the memory of the second AP  121 .  
      The first AP  111  communicates directly with the first EPD  171  using the first EPD downstream network address  175  and via the first wired link between the first EPD  171  and the first AP  111 . At an instant of time the first AP  111  may not be able to send data packets to the first EPD  171  via the first wired link. This may happen, for example, if the first wired link is broken, or the first EPD  171  may be in a sleep mode and does not receive data packets that are arriving from the first AP  111 . Alternately, the first AP  111  may determine that traffic load on the first wired link has exceeded a maximum allowable limit at the instant of time and may subsequently decide not to send the data packets to the first EPD  171  via the first wired link. The first AP  111  may take the decision using the first EPD communication characteristics  172 . As an example, at the instant of time, the first EPD  171  is not registered with the first AP  111  i.e., the first AP  111  and the first EPD  171  have not yet agreed to communicate with each other using the downstream network address  175  and via the first wired link. The first AP  111  may want to wake up the first EPD  111  i.e., may request the first EPD  111  for registration by sending control data to the first EPD  111 . Under all such above circumstances, the first AP  111  uses the first EPD upstream network address  177  to send packets (control data, commands and/or data) to the first EPD  171 .  
      Whenever the first AP  111  is unable to and/or does not desire to communicate directly with the first EPD  171  via the first wired link, the first AP  111  encapsulates data packets destined for the first EPD  171  with the first EPD upstream network address  177  and transmits the encapsulated data packets to immediate next upstream network node via an upstream communication link. The immediate next network node sends the encapsulated data packets to the Internet backbone  141  that may broadcast the encapsulated data packets. The encapsulated data packets reach all other access points, i.e., the second AP  121  and the third AP  131 . The second AP  121  uses the network address  177  to communicate directly with the first EPD  171 . The second AP  121 , upon receiving the encapsulated data packets from the Internet backbone  141 , deciphers the encapsulated data packets and determines that the encapsulated data packets are destined for the first EPD  171 . The second AP  121  forwards the encapsulated data packets to the first EPD  171 . The data packets destined for the first EPD  171  eventually reaches the first EPD  171  from the first AP  111  via the second AP  121 . Each of the access points  111 ,  121  and  131  uses other network addresses of associated end point devices to send data packets indirectly to associated end point devices via other access points as and when required.  
      Each of the access points,  111 ,  121  and  131  may communicate with an associated end point device simultaneously via a direct downstream path and via an indirect upstream path. As an example, the first AP  111  may decide to send every alternate data packet to the first EPD  171  using the first EPD upstream network address  177  and via the Internet backbone  141  instead of sending all data packets directly to the first EPD  171  using the first EPD downstream network address  175  whenever traffic load on direct path (the first wired link) exceeds a preset value. The first AP  111  which is using the direct path and the first EPD downstream network address  175  for interacting with the first EPD  171  may be adapted to send all subsequent data packets to the first EPD  171  via indirect path (using the first EPD upstream network address  177  and via the Internet backbone  141 ) whenever interference level in the direct path crosses a preset value and/or bit error rate on the direct path exceeds an upper limit, i.e., whenever the direct path fail to support a desired quality of service. The first AP  111  may be adapted to attempt delivery of data packets to the first EPD  171  via the direct path by default and only upon failure may attempt delivery of the data packets via the indirect path. The first AP  111  may alternately be adapted to attempt delivery of a particular type of packets via the indirect path. As an example, the first AP  111  may send only control and/or command data to the first EPD  171  via the indirect path. The first AP  111  may be adapted to use the indirect path to the first EPD  171  only during registration of the first EPD  171  with the first AP  111 . The first AP  111  may use the indirect path and the first EPD upstream network address  177  for interacting with the first EPD  171  in response to a user request received via a user input interface of the first AP  111 .  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating indirect interaction of a first access point  111  of  FIG. 1  with corresponding client device  171  via Internet backbone  203  and a second access point  261 . The first AP (access point)  241  is communicatively connected to a downstream client device  281 . Each of “client device”, “end-point device” and “destination device” refers to a device or a circuitry that is adapted to handle packet data transmission and reception. Typical example of client device is a phone, a PDA, a television, a PC, a laptop etc. The first AP  241  is communicatively connected to a first upstream node  207  that belongs to a packet switched data network  241 . The first packet switched data network  241  (i.e., the first upstream node  207 ) is communicatively connected to an Internet backbone  203 . “Downstream device” refers to a device that is located away from the Internet backbone  203  relative to an access point. “Upstream node” refers to a node that is located nearer to the Internet backbone  203  relative to an access point.  
      The client device  281  is communicatively connected to the second AP  261 . The second AP  261  is communicatively connected to the Internet backbone  203  via a second network node  223  that belongs to a second network  221 . The first network  205 , the first network node  207  and the first AP  241  support a first packet switched data protocol. The second network  221 , the second network node  223  and the second AP  261  support a second packet switched data protocol. The first packet switched data protocol may not be pursuant with the second packet switched data protocol. Each of the first network node  207  and the second network node  223  may be, for example, a switch, a router, a modem or a server. The client device  281  has a first pathway to the Internet backbone  203  that goes through a first wireless link between the client device  281  and the first AP  241 , the first AP  241  and the first network node  207 . In addition the client device  281  has a second pathway to the Internet backbone  203  that goes through a second wireless link between the client device  281  and the second AP  261 , the second AP  261  and the second network node  223 . The client device  281  communicates with the first AP  241  using a first network address  289 . The first AP  241  encapsulates data packets destined for the client device  281  with the first network address  289  and sends the encapsulated data packets to the client device  281  via the first wireless link and using the first packet switched data protocol. The client device exchanges data packets with the second AP  261  using a second network address  291 . The second AP  261  encapsulates data packets destined for the client device  281  with the second network address  291  and sends the encapsulated data packets to the client device  281  via the second wireless link and using the second packet switched data protocol. The first network address  289  and the second network address  291  are typically Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that are assigned by the first AP  241  and the second AP  261  to the client device  281  respectively.  
      The client device  281  collects protocol parameters  283  corresponding to its associations and stores the collected protocol parameters  283  in a memory of the client device  281 . The protocol parameters  283  may typically comprise maximum data rate supported by the first packet switched data protocol and the second packet switched data protocol, version number, protocol identifier, security information, minimum bandwidth requirement, encryption/decryption required for exchange of data packets and quality of service provided by the first packet switched data protocol and the second packet switched data protocol. The client device  281  may have some all of the protocol parameters  283  hardwired into the memory of the client device  281 . The client device  281  may receive some or all of the protocol parameters  283  from any of network nodes including the first AP  241 , the second AP  261 , the first node  207 , the second node  223  and the Internet backbone  203 .  
      The client device  281  in addition collects usage parameters  287  corresponding to its associations and stores the collected usage parameters  287  in the memory of the client device  281 . The usage parameters  287  may comprise current traffic load, noise and/or interference level, delay experienced, cost of the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The usage parameters  287  may change with time as load on any of the first and the second wireless link or interference level in any of the first and the second wireless link may change with time. The client device  281  collects the usage parameters  287  at regular intervals and stores updated usage parameters in the memory of the client device  381 . The usage parameters  287  may include traffic load, interference, latency of any link or network node that is part of the first pathway and/or the second pathway between the client device  281  and the Internet backbone  203 . The usage parameters  287  reflect current performance of the first pathway and the second pathway. A processing circuitry of the client device  281  may evaluate the usage parameters  287  and/or may receive all or some of the usage parameters  287  from any of network nodes including the first AP  241 , the second AP  261 , the first node  207 , the second node  223  and the Internet backbone  203 .  
      The client device  281  receives user parameters  285  entered via a user input interface of the client device  281 . The user parameters  285  may comprise user identity, desirable downstream data rate, desirable cost, user preference for a protocol, user preference for a pathway etc. The user identity may identify a plurality of services that a user using the client device  281  may avail of. The client device  281  transmits the collected protocol parameters  283 , the user parameters  285  and the usage parameters  287  to the first AP  241  using the first network address  289  and also to the second AP  261  using the second network address  291 . The client device  281  in addition sends the second network address  291  to the first AP  241  and the first network address  289  to the second AP  261 . The first AP  241  is thus made aware of the second network address  291 , an address that the second AP  261  uses for communication with the client device  281 . Similarly the second AP  261  knows the first network address  289 , an address that the first AP  241  uses for communication with the client device  281 .  
      The first AP  241  is adapted to send data packets to the client device  281  using the first network address  289 . The first AP  241  is in addition adapted to route the data packets to the client device  281  using the second network address  291  whenever the data packets encapsulated with the first network address  289  fail to reach the client device  281  and/or whenever the client device  281  fails to receive the data packets encapsulated with the first network address  289 . The above situation may happen when the first wireless link between the client device  281  and the first AP  241  fails. The above situation may also happen when the client device  281  is in a “sleep mode” in the first packet switched data network due to a long duration of inactivity and fails to respond to the data packets sent to it by the first AP  241 . The first AP  241  determines that the client device  281  has not received the data packets encapsulated with the first network address  289 . Subsequently the first AP  241  encapsulates the data packets with the second network address  291  and transmits encapsulated data packets to the upstream first node  207 . The first node  207  forwards the encapsulated data packets to the Internet backbone  203 . The first AP  241  may attach an identifier to the encapsulated data packets where the identifier indicates that the encapsulated data packets are destined for all access points communicatively connected to the Internet backbone  203 . The first AP  241  does not have network address of the second AP  261  and hence the encapsulated data packets need to be sent to all access points communicatively connected to the Internet backbone  203 . The Internet backbone  203  broadcasts the encapsulated data packets to all packet switched data networks so that the encapsulated data packets eventually reach the second AP  261 . The second AP  261  deciphers the encapsulated data packets, determines that the encapsulated data packets are destined for the client device  281  and subsequently transmits the encapsulated data packets to the client device  281 . If the client device  281  is in “active mode” in the second packet switched data network then the client device  281  receives the encapsulated data packets. The first AP  241 , which is unable to send to the data packets to the client device  281  directly using the first network address  289 , routes the data packets to the client device  281  via the second AP  261 .  
      The first AP  241  may be adapted to use the first network address  289  and the second network address  291  simultaneously for data packets destined for the client device  281 . As an example, whenever traffic load on the first wireless link between the first AP  241  and the client device  281  exceeds a preset value, the first AP may decide to send a portion of the data packets directly to the client device  281  via the first wireless link and using the first network address  289 , and to route remaining portion of the data packets to the client device  281  indirectly via the Internet backbone  203  and the second AP  261  using the second network address  291 . The first AP  241  may be alternately adapted to use indirect route via the Internet backbone  203  for routing a particular type of data packet, for example, command data. As an example, the first AP  241  may use the indirect route for sending “wake up” command to the client device  281  that has entered into a “sleep mode” in the first packet switched data network. The first AP  241  may choose to use the indirect route for sending data packets to the client device  281  in response to a request from the client device  281  that arrives at the first AP  241  via the indirect route. The first AP  241  may use any of a variety of encryption for data packets that the first AP  241  routes via the indirect route to the client device  281  for added security.  
      The first AP  241  may decide to use the indirect path via the Internet backbone  203  and the second AP  261  in addition and/or in lieu of direct path via the first wireless link depending on a variety of factors. Typical examples of the variety of factors may be cost of the direct path and the indirect path, delay in the direct path and in the indirect path, quality of service guaranteed in the direct path and in the indirect path etc. The first AP  241  may never choose to use the indirect path for delivery of multimedia data packets if the indirect path offers a large delay. Alternately, the first AP  241  may always chose to use the indirect path for delivery of multimedia packets when the first AP  241  is sending signaling information to the client device  281  via the direct path using the first network address  289 . The first AP  241  may use the protocol parameters  283 , the user parameters  285  and the usage parameters  287  to select the first network address  289  and the second network address  291  simultaneously and/or alternately for delivering data packets to the client device  281 .  
      The second AP  261  is in addition adapted to transmit data packets destined for the client device  281  via the second wireless link, i.e., via direct path to the client device  281  using the second network address  291  and/or route the data packets via the Internet backbone  203  and the first AP  241 , i.e., via indirect path to the client device  281  using the first network address  289 . The second AP  261  uses the protocol parameters  283 , the user parameters  285  and the usage parameters  287  received from the client device  281  to perform delivery of the data packets using the first network address  289  and the second network address  291 .  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram illustrating communication between a client device  381  and a plurality of associated access points  331 ,  341 ,  351  and  361  wherein one access point  361  from the plurality of associated access points  331 ,  341 ,  351  and  361  communicates with the client device  381  via remaining of the plurality of associated access points,  331 ,  341  and  351 . The client device  381  is associated with the a first AP  331 , a second AP  341 , a third AP  351  and a fourth AP  361 . Association of the client device  381  with an AP refers to the AP assigning a unique network address that may typically be an IP address to the client device  381 . The client device  381  and the AP agree to use the unique network address for downstream data packet transmission i.e., the AP encapsulates any data packet destined for the client device  381  with the unique network address and the client device  381  agrees to receive any data packet that arrives at the client device  381  encapsulated with the unique network address. Unique network addresses assigned by the first AP  331 , the second AP  341 , the third AP  351  and the fourth AP  361  to the client device  381  are a first network address  391 , a second network address  393 , a third network address  395  and a fourth network address  397  respectively.  
      The first AP  331  uses WiMax protocol for upstream as well as downstream communication, i.e., the first AP  331  communicates with the downstream client device  381  and with an upstream network node  307  that belongs to a WiMax network  305  using the WiMax protocol. The WiMax network  305  is communicatively connected to a backbone network i.e., Internet backbone  303 . The second AP  341 , the third AP  351  and the fourth AP  361  respectively use IEEE 802.11 protocol, IEEE 802.11 protocol and a protocol pursuant to PSTN network  317  for respective upstream and downstream communication. The first AP  331 , the second AP  341  and the fourth AP  361  use communicatively incompatible communication protocols for data packet transmission and reception. The client device  381  has four pathways to the Internet backbone  303 . A first pathway between the client device  381  and the Internet backbone  303  comprises a first wireless link between the client device  381  and the first AP  331 , the first AP  331 , a second wireless link between the first AP  331  and the network node  307  and the Internet backbone  303 . A second pathway between the client device  381  and the Internet backbone  303  comprises a third wireless link between the client device  381  and the second AP  341 , the second AP  341 , a fourth wireless link between the second AP  341  and network node  313  and the Internet backbone  303 . A third pathway between the client device  381  and the Internet backbone  303  comprises a fifth wireless link between the client device  381  and the third AP  351 , the third AP  351 , a sixth wireless link between the third AP  351  and network node  319  and the Internet backbone  303 . A fourth pathway between the client device  381  and the Internet backbone  303  comprise a first wired link between the client device  381  and the fourth AP  361 , the fourth AP  361 , a second wired link between the fourth AP  361  and network node  319  and the Internet backbone  303 . The client device may send and/or receive packet data from the Internet backbone  303  via any of the four pathways.  
      The client device collects protocol parameters  383 , user parameters  385  and usage parameters  387  corresponding to its four network associations with the access points  331 ,  341 ,  351  and  361  and sends the protocol parameters  383 , the user parameters  385  and the usage parameters  387  to each of the first AP  331 , the second AP  341 , the third AP  351  and the fourth AP  361 . The protocol parameters  383  typically comprise maximum bit rate, minimum bandwidth, quality of service, latency etc. offered by protocols corresponding to the four pathways, which in this exemplary case are the WiMax protocol, the IEEE 802.11 protocol and the protocol pursuant to PSTN network  317 . The user parameters  385  comprise user preferences, for example user preference for a particular protocol, user preference for a particular pathway, desired download data rate etc. The usage parameters  387  typically comprise current traffic load, interference level, current offered data rate etc. corresponding to the four pathways. Each of the first AP  331 , the second AP  341 , the third AP  351  and the fourth AP  361  are aware of the protocol parameters  383 , the user parameters  385  and the usage parameters  387  corresponding to four associations of the client device  381 .  
      The client device  381  in addition sends the second network address  393 , the third network address  395  and the fourth network address  397  to the first AP  331 . The first AP  331  is made aware of network addresses of the client device  381  corresponding to network associations of the client device  381  other than the first AP  331 . The second AP  341  receives the first network address  391 , the third network address  395  and the fourth network address  397  from the client device  381 . Each of the third AP  351  and the fourth AP  361  know network addresses of the client device  381  corresponding to other network associations of the client device  381 .  
      The client device  381  may be a mobile device. At an instance of time the client device  381  moves out of coverage area of the fourth AP  361  and the first wired link between the client device  381  and the fourth AP  361  gets unplugged. The fourth AP  361  gets aware of unavailability of the first wired link between the fourth AP  361  and the client device  381 . The fourth AP  361  may subsequently desire to send a plurality of data packets to the client device  381 . The plurality of data packets may comprise signaling information, commands and/or instructions for the client device  381 , information related to association of the client device  381  with the fourth AP  361 , data packets coming from the PSTN network  317  to the fourth AP  361  and meant for the client device  381  etc. The fourth AP  361  determines that the fourth AP  361  can not send the plurality of data packets directly to the client device  381  via the first wireless link and using the fourth network address  397 . The fourth AP  361  encapsulates the plurality of data packets destined for the client device  281  with the first network address  391  and routes the encapsulated data packets to the Internet backbone  303  via the PSTN network  317 . The Internet backbone  303  broadcasts the encapsulated data packets to all downstream packet switched data networks i.e., the WiMax network  305 , the IEEE 802.11 network  311  and the PSTN network  317 . The WiMax network  305 , the IEEE 802.11 network  311  and the PSTN network  317  subsequently forwards the encapsulated data packets to all downstream network nodes and access points. The encapsulated data packets reach the first AP  331 , the second AP  341  and the third AP  351 . The first AP  331  deciphers the encapsulated data packets and determines that the encapsulated data packets are meant for the client device  381 . The first AP  331  forwards the encapsulated data packets to the client device  381 . The client device  381  receives the encapsulated data packets from the first AP  331  if the client device  381  is located within coverage area of the first AP  331 . The plurality of data packets that the fourth AP  361  desired to send to the client device  381 , ultimately reaches the client device  381  via the first AP  331 . Each of the second AP  341  and the third AP  351  receives the encapsulated data packets, that are encapsulated with the first network address  391 , from the Internet backbone  303  but does not forward the encapsulated data packets to the client device  381  because the second AP  341  and the third AP  351  are permitted to communicate with the client device  381  using only the second network address  393  and the third network address  395  respectively.  
      The fourth AP  361  may encapsulate the plurality of data packets that it desires to send to the client device  381  using the second network address  393 . The plurality of data packets encapsulated with the second network address  393  reach the client device  381  via the Internet backbone  303 , the IEEE 802.11 network  311  and the second AP  341 . The fourth AP  361  may encapsulate the plurality of data packets with the first network address  391 , the second network address  393  and the third network address  395 , and send encapsulated data packets to the Internet backbone  303 , one at a time. The plurality of data packets thus reaches the client device  381  via each of the first AP  331 , the second AP  341  and the third AP  351 . This redundancy ensures that the plurality of data packets finally reaches the client device  381 . This redundancy increases processing load on the fourth AP  361  and increases traffic in the Internet backbone  303 . The fourth AP  361  may send multiple copies of the plurality of data packets, each copy encapsulated with a different address, to the Internet backbone  303  only for a particular type of data packets, for e.g., when the plurality of data packets comprise signaling information, instructions to the client device  381 , information related to association of the client device  381  with the fourth AP  361  etc.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of pathways from a first access point  403  to a client device  491  via an Internet backbone  421  and a plurality of access points  461 ,  471  and  481 . The first access point  403  is associated with the client device  491 . The client device  491  is in addition associated with a second AP  461 , a third AP  471  and a fourth AP  481 . The client device  491  receives four unique IP addresses corresponding to its associations with the first AP  403 , the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  from respective access points. The client device  491  sends the four unique IP addresses to each of the first AP  403 , the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481 . Each of the first AP  403 , the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  are aware of IP addresses corresponding to other network associations of the client device  491 . The first AP  403  has knowledge of IP addresses that the client device  491  has received from each of the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  i.e., the first AP  403  is aware of the IP addresses that each of the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  uses for sending data packets directly to the client device  491 .  
      The first AP  403  stores the IP addresses that each of the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  uses for downstream communication with the client device  491  in a storage  407  of the first AP  403 . The first AP  403  comprises a downstream communication interface  408  via which the first AP  403  exchanges data packets directly with the client device  491  using an IP address that the first AP  403  assigns to the client device  491 . The first AP  403  comprises an upstream communication interface  409  via which the first AP  403  exchanges data packets with a first network node  411 . The first network node  411  may be a switch, a hub, a router, a server, an Internet service provider equipment etc. The first network node  411  is communicatively coupled to Internet backbone  421 . A processing circuitry  405  of the first AP  403  decides not to exchange data packets directly with the client device  491  via the downstream communication interface  408 . The processing circuitry  405  may take such a decision at an instant of time if a direct communication link between the downstream communication interface  408  and the client device  491  is unavailable at the instant of time. The processing circuitry  405  may take such a decision based on user preferences, communication characteristics of available pathways, protocol information corresponding to the available pathways between the first AP  403  and the client device  491 .The characteristics corresponding to the four pathways. The communication characteristics may typically include current traffic load in the four pathways, current interference level in the four pathways, current delay in the four pathways etc. The client device  491  in addition collects protocol information corresponding to the four pathways where the protocol information may typically refer to maximum data rate, offered quality of service, minimum bandwidth, cost, robustness, encryption/decryption, transmit power etc. required by protocols that are used for data packet exchange along the four pathways. The first AP  403 , the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  may use different and communicatively compatible and/or incompatible protocols for transmission and reception of packet switched data. The client device  491  may collect all or some of the communication characteristics and the protocol information from any of the network nodes, such as  411 ,  431 ,  441  and  451 , any of the access points, such as  403 ,  461 ,  471  and  481  and the Internet backbone  421 . The client device  491  receives the user preferences via a user input interface of the client device  491 . The user preferences may typically include desired data rate, desired protocol, maximum allowable delay etc. The client device sends the user preferences, the communication characteristics and the protocol information corresponding to the four pathways to each of the first AP  403 , the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481 . Each of the first AP  403 , the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  stores the user preferences, the communication characteristics and the protocol information corresponding to the four pathways in storage  407 ,  463 ,  473  and  483  respectively. Any of the network nodes such as  411 ,  431 ,  441  and  451 , and the Internet backbone  421  may in addition store the user preferences, the communication characteristics and the protocol information corresponding to the four pathways in respective storage unit.  
      As an example, the first AP  403  looks into the user preferences, the communication characteristics and the protocol information corresponding to the four pathways between the client device  491  and the Internet backbone  421  at the instant of time and determines that traffic load on direct communication link between the first AP  403  and the client device  491  is more than traffic load on the fourth pathway between the client device  491  and the Internet backbone  421 . In order to balance traffic load between the direct communication link and the fourth pathway, the first AP  403  encapsulates data packets meant for the client device  491  with a network address that is assigned by the fourth AP  481  to the client device  491 . The first AP  403  sends the encapsulated data packets via the upstream communication interface  409  to the first network node  411 . The first AP  403  attaches an identifier to the encapsulated data packets where the identifier indicates that the encapsulated data packets are to be broadcast to all network nodes. The first network node  411  responds to the identifier and forwards the encapsulated data packets to the Internet backbone  421 . The Internet backbone  421  subsequently broadcasts the encapsulated data packets to all available network nodes except the first network node  411 , i.e., to the second network node  431 , the third network node  441  and the fourth network node  451 . The second network node  431 , the third network node  441  and the fourth network node  451  forward the encapsulated data packets to the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  respectively. Each of the second AP  461 , the third AP  471  and the fourth AP  481  receives the encapsulated data packets from respective upstream network nodes i.e.,  431 ,  441  and  451  via respective upstream communication interfaces. The encapsulated data packets contain the network address that is assigned by the fourth AP  481  to the client device  491 . The fourth AP  481  sends the encapsulated data packets directly to the client device  491  via a second direct communication link between the fourth AP  481  and the client device  491  (where the second direct communication link between the fourth AP  481  and the client device  491  is part of the second pathway between the client device  491  and the Internet backbone  421 ) via a downstream communication interface of the fourth AP  481 . The second AP  461  and the third AP  471  discards the encapsulated data packets that contain the network address that the fourth AP  481  uses for direct and downstream communication with the client device  491 . The data packets meant for the client device  491  reaches the client device from the first AP  403  traveling via the upstream communication interface  409  of the first AP  403 , the first network node  411 , the Internet backbone  421 , the fourth node  451 , the fourth AP  481 , the second direct communication link between the fourth AP  481  and the client device  491  and communication interface  493  of the client device  491 .  
      The first AP  403  may alternately decide to deliver a portion of the data packets directly to the client device  491  via the downstream communication interface  408  and remaining portion of the data packets indirectly to the client device  491  via the upstream communication interface  409  to balance the traffic load between the direct communication link and the fourth pathway. As an example the first AP  403  may send every alternate data packet from the data packets destined for the client device  491  directly via the downstream communication interface  408 , while routes remaining of the data packets via the upstream communication interface  409 . The client device  491  after receiving the data packets from the first AP  403  via the fourth AP  481 , may decide to send a second plurality of data packets to the first AP  403  via the fourth AP  481  and/or via the direct communication link between the client device  491  and the first AP  403 . As a way of example, the first AP  403  sends the data packets indirectly to the client device  491  via the fourth AP  481  to wake up the client device  491  from “inactive mode”. The “inactive mode” of the client device  491  refers to a state of the client device  491  when the client device  491  does not respond to any communication via the direct communication link between the first AP  403  and the client device  491 . The client device  491  that is in the “inactive mode” relative to the first AP  403  may wake up in response to the data packets from the first AP  403  and transmit the second plurality of data packets to the first AP  403  via the direct communication link. The first AP  403  and the client device  491  may subsequently use the direct communication link for packet data exchange.  
      In another embodiment the first AP  403  chooses to communicate with the client device  491  either directly via the downstream communication interface  408  or indirectly via the upstream communication interface  409 , but not simultaneously. The first AP  403  uses the downstream communication interface  408  for exchanging data packets with the client device  491  by default. The first AP  403  looks into the user preferences, the communication characteristics and the protocol information corresponding to the four pathways between the client device  491  and the Internet backbone  421  at regular intervals and decides to use the upstream communication interface  409  (i.e., indirect path) instead of the downstream communication interface  408  (i.e., direct path) for communicating with the client device  491  if, for example, interference in the direct path goes below a preset value, bit error rate in the direct path exceeds a maximum allowable value, cost of the indirect path is less than the cost of the direct path, a user sets a preference for a download data rate that is achievable by the indirect path only etc. The first AP  403  changes its decision to use the direct path and/or the indirect path for communicating with the client device  491  with time depending on changes in the user preferences, the communication characteristics and the protocol information corresponding to the four pathways between the client device  491  and the Internet backbone  421  with time.  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of components of a client device  500  that supports a plurality of packet switched data paths from the client device  500  to a plurality of associated access points. The client device  500  is typically a phone, a television, a laptop, a personal computer, a PDA, a headset, a printer, a video game box or any of a variety of device that is adapted to transmit and receive packet data. The client device  500  comprises a user input interface  531  that may typically be a mouse, a screen, a touch screen, a thumb pad, a pen, a voice based interface, a keyboard etc. For example if the client device  500  is a laptop then the user input interface  531  is typically a mouse and a keyboard. A user using the client device  500  enters user preferences  519  via the user input interface  531 . The client device  500  stores the user preferences  519  in a storage system  509  of the client device  500 .  
      The client device  500  comprises a first wired upstream interface  533 , a second wired upstream interface  537 , a first wireless upstream interface  541  and a second wireless upstream interface  545 . Each of the wired and wireless interfaces ( 533 ,  537 ,  541  and  545 ) interacts with at least a corresponding hardware device, and the corresponding hardware device is uniquely identified by a medium access control (MAC) address. The corresponding hardware device typically comprises a transceiver. The transceiver is used to send and receive a plurality of packet data. The plurality of packet data may contain a video, a voice, a picture, a text, signaling information, control information or any of a variety of multimedia live and/or archived information that is fragmented into packets and encapsulated with destination address.  
      The client device  500  on power on attempts to associate itself with available packet data networks. The packet data networks are communicatively coupled to Internet backbone. As illustrated, the client device  500  comprises four communication interfaces i.e.,  533 ,  537 ,  541  and  545  and the client device  500  is able to associate itself with a maximum of four packet data networks. The client device  500  associates itself with those packet data networks that support packet switched data communication protocol/s that are also supported by a processing circuitry  503  of the client device  500 . For example and without limitation, the client device  500  associates itself with a first access point of a cable data network via the first wired upstream interface  533 . Association with the first access point of the cable data network includes allocation of a first IP address by the first access point to the client device  500 . The client device  500  uses the first IP address and the first wired upstream interface  533  to send data to the first access point and hence to the cable data network and receive data from the cable data network via the first access point. In this non-limiting example the client device  500  is in addition associated with a second access point of a fiber data network via the second wired upstream interface  537  and a second IP address. The client device  500  is further associated with a third access point that belongs to a satellite data network via the first wireless upstream interface  541  and a third IP address. The client device  500  is additionally associated with a fourth access point of an UMTS data network via the second wireless upstream interface  545  and a fourth IP address. The second IP address, the third IP address and the fourth IP address are assigned to the client device  500  by the second access point (i.e., the fiber data network), the third access point (i.e., the satellite data network) and the fourth access point (i.e., the UMTS network) respectively. The first IP address, the second IP address, the third IP address and the fourth IP address are collectively called network addresses  511 . The client device  500  stores the network addresses  511  in the storage system  509 .  
      The network addresses  511  are unique network addresses that are used by four access points, namely, the first AP, the second AP, the third AP and the fourth AP to transmit data packets directly to the client device  500 . The first AP encapsulates data packets destined for the client device  500  with the first IP address and transmits the encapsulated data packets. The client device  500  receives the encapsulated data packets via the first wired upstream interface  533  and reads information conveyed in the data packets. Similarly the second AP, the third AP and the fourth AP encapsulates data packets destined for the client device  500  with the second IP address, the third IP address and the fourth IP address respectively. The client device  500  is uniquely identified by the four access points using the network address  511  (i.e., the first IP address, the second IP address, the third IP address and the fourth IP address). The client device  500  similarly identifies the four access points using four unique AP addresses  513 . The client device  500  receives the AP addresses  513  from the four access points at beginning of association. The client device stores the AP addresses in the storage system  509 . If one or more associations of the client device  500  fails and/or is added due to, for example, movement of the client device  500 , movement of access point, failure or introduction of a communication link, then corresponding IP address and AP address are removed from the storage system  509  and/or make entry into the storage system  509 .  
      The client device  500  collects protocol parameters  515  associated with four pathways and stores in the storage system  509 . The four pathways in this example comprises to a first pathway from the first wired upstream interface  533  of the client device  500  to the Internet backbone via the first AP and the cable data network, a second pathway from the second wired upstream interface  537  of the client device  500  to the Internet backbone via the second AP and the fiber data network, a third pathway from the first wireless upstream interface  541  of the client device  500  to the Internet backbone via the third AP and the satellite data network and a fourth pathway from the second wireless upstream interface  545  of the client device  500  to the Internet backbone via the fourth AP and the UMTS network. The client device  500  further collects current pathway performance parameters  517  corresponding to the four pathways and stores in the storage system  509 .  
      The protocol parameters  515  associated with the four pathways may comprise bandwidth requirements, maximum data rate limitations, security information, quality of service information, encryption and/or decryption requirement, robustness against eavesdropping etc. associated with protocols used in the four pathways. In the example the protocols used in the four pathways may typically be a first protocol that is supported by the cable data network (for. e.g., Ethernet protocol), a second protocol that is supported by the fiber optic data network (for e.g., FDDI protocol), a third protocol that is supported by the satellite data network (for e.g., TCP/IP with some modifications in MAC layer) and a fourth protocol that is supported by the UMTS network (for e.g., W-CDMA for the air-interface). Four protocols, the first protocol, the second protocol, the third protocol and the fourth protocol are communicatively incompatible with each other. The protocol parameters  515  associated with the four pathways may comprise bandwidth requirement of each of the four protocols, maximum upstream and downstream data rate supported by each of the four protocols, level of security supported by each of the four protocols, quality of service provided by each of the four protocols where quality of service may include latency and bit error vs. signal-to-noise performance of a protocol, encryption and/or decryption (if any) required by each of the four protocols, transmit power requirement for each of the four protocols.  
      The current pathway performance parameters  517  corresponding to the four pathways may comprise current performance of communication links between the client device  500  and immediate next network node along the four pathways i.e., the four access points. The current pathway performance parameters  517  comprise the current performance of four communication links between the client device  500  and the four access points i.e., the first wired link, the second wired link, the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The current pathway performance parameters  517  may include current data load on each of the four communication links, current noise and interference level in each of the four communication links, delay currently experienced by data packets in each of the four communication links, current cost of each of the four communication links, transmit power currently required at the client device  500  to maintain a predefined bit error rate on each of the four communication links etc. The current pathway performance parameters  517  at a first instant of time may be different from the same at a second instant of time. The client device  500  periodically updates the current pathway performance parameters  517  and replaces stored values of the pathway performance parameters in the storage system  509  with updated values.  
      The user preferences  519  received by the client device  500  via the user input interface  531  may comprise user identity, desirable downstream data rate, desirable cost, user preference for a protocol, user preference for a pathway etc. The user identity may identify a plurality of services that a user using the client device may avail of.  
      The client device  500  transmits the network addresses  511  (four IP addresses), the protocol parameters  515  associated with the four pathways, the current pathway performance parameters  517  corresponding to the four pathways and the user preferences  519  to each of the four access points, i.e., the first AP, the second AP, the third AP and the fourth AP. The first AP that belongs to the cable data network is aware that the client device  500  is additionally associated with the fiber optic data network, the satellite data network and the UMTS network. The first AP knows unique IP addresses assigned by the fiber optic data network i.e., the second AP, the satellite data network i.e., the third AP and the UMTS network i.e., the fourth AP to the client device  500 . The first AP is not only aware of current performance of the first wired link between the client device  500  and the first AP, the first AP is further aware of current performance of the second wired link, the first wireless link and the second wireless link. The first AP is aware of capabilities and limitations of the fiber optic data network, the satellite data network and the UMTS network. The first AP is thus made aware of all network associations of the client device  500  and related parameters and the user preferences  519  of the client device  500 . The second AP that belongs to the fiber optic data network is similarly aware that the client device  500  is additionally associated with the cable data network, the satellite data network and the UMTS network and associated IP addresses. The second AP is made aware of the protocol parameters and the current pathway performance parameters associated with all network associations of the client device  500  and the user preferences  519  set by the user. The client device  500  passes unique IP address, protocol parameters and current pathway parameters corresponding to a pathway between the client device  500  and the Internet backbone to all other pathways between the client device  500  and the Internet backbone.  
      At an instant the client device  500  may move to a location that is not serviced by the fourth AP. The client device  500  disassociates with the fourth AP. The client device  500  updates the network addresses  511 , the associated AP addresses  513 , the protocol parameters  515  and the current pathway performance parameters and sends updated protocol parameters and the current pathway performance parameters  517  to each of currently associated access points. The updated network addresses  511  comprise the first IP address, the second IP address and the third IP address, i.e., the fourth IP address is removed, the updated associated AP addresses  513  comprises all previous entries except address of fourth AP, the updated protocol parameters  515  comprise information corresponding to the first protocol, the second protocol and the third protocol. The updated current pathway performance parameters  517  comprise parameters associated with the first wired link, the second wired link and the first wireless link. The client device  500  sends the updated network addresses  511 , the updated protocol parameters  515  and the updated current pathway performance parameters to each of the first AP, the second AP and the third AP. The first AP, the second AP and the third AP are thus made aware of disassociation of the client device  500  from the fourth AP.  
      At a subsequent instant of time the client device  500  may move to a different location that is serviced by a fifth AP that belongs to WiMax network. The client device  500  receives a fifth IP address from the fifth AP and stores in the storage system  509 . The client device  500  collects and/or retrieves protocol parameters associated with the WiMax protocol and stores in the storage system  509 . In addition the client device  500  gathers current pathway performance parameter associated with a fifth wireless link between the client device  500  and the fifth AP. The network addresses  511  at the subsequent instant of time refer to the first IP address, the second IP address, the third IP address and the fifth IP address of the client device  500 . The associated AP addresses  513  at the subsequent instant of time refer addresses of the first AP, the second AP, the third AP and the fifth AP. The protocol parameters  515  at the subsequent instant of time refer to information related to the first protocol, the second protocol, the third protocol and the WiMax protocol. The current pathway performance parameters  517  at the subsequent instant of time refer to performance characteristics of the first wired link, the second wired link, the first wireless link and the third wireless link at the subsequent instant of time. The user preferences  519  remains same if the user does not make fresh entries via the user input interface  531  of the client device  500  at the subsequent instant of time.  
      The client device  500  sends the network addresses  511 , the protocol parameters  515 , the current pathway performance parameters  517  and the user preferences  519  to each of associated access points, i.e., the first AP, the second AP, the third AP and the fourth AP at the subsequent instant of time. Each of the first AP, the second AP, the third AP and the fifth AP are made aware of all other network associations of the client device  500  and parameters related to pathways between the client device  500  and the Internet backbone.  
      The processing circuitry  503  of the client device  500  may respond to a change in any of the network addresses  511 , the protocol parameters  515 , the current pathway performance parameters  517  and the user preferences  519  by updating the following parameters and sending updated parameters to currently associated access points. The processing circuitry  503  of the client device  500  may additionally update the network addresses  511 , the protocol parameters  515 , the current pathway performance parameters  517  and the user preferences  519  periodically and send updated parameters to currently associated access points.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of components of an access point  600  that supports downstream packet switched data communication to at least one client device and upstream packet switched data communication to a backbone network. An access point (AP) is typically a transceiver that carries packet data from an end-point device (EPD) such as a phone, a personal computer, a PDA, a laptop, a headset, a video game box etc. to the backbone network via a packet switched data network. The packet data may be an audio, a video, a picture, an email, a web page, a music video, a file stored in an Internet and/or Intranet server, a text message, a television program and any of a variety of multimedia information fragmented into packets. One or more of a communication application such as a Web browsing application, a music downloading application, a video gaming application, an Internet telephony application etc. are running on the EPD. The communication application/s running on the EPD calls for uploading or downloading of packet data from the backbone network. An EPD is communicatively connected to the backbone network via an AP. For example, a music downloading application running on an EPD calls for downloading of a music file from a server that is communicatively connected to the backbone network. The AP receives the music file from the backbone network (i.e., the server) and forwards the music file to the EPD. The EPD sends packet data, if any, destined for the backbone network and/or the server to the AP and the AP forwards the packet data to destination. The EPD is said to be associated with the AP. The EPD and the AP agree to use a pair of unique network addresses for sending and receiving data packets among each other. A set top box (STB) that is typically used with a television may support packet switched data transmission and reception and act as a transceiver, i.e., the STB may carry data packets from a television to a server or a network node that belongs to a television channel service provider and vice versa.  FIG. 6  illustrates the plurality of components that are common to the AP and the STB. The AP (or the STB)  600  comprises a processing circuitry  603 , a user input interface  631 , a plurality of wired interfaces  633  and a plurality of wireless interfaces  661 . The processing circuitry  603  comprises a storage system  607 . The user input interface  631  may be a plurality of buttons, a touch screen, a voice based interface, a mouse, a thumbwheel, a screen and a pen, a touchpad etc. The plurality of wired interfaces  633  comprise a first wired upstream interface  635 , a second wired upstream interface  639 , a first wired downstream interface  643  and a second wired downstream interface  647 . The plurality of wireless interfaces  661  comprise a first wireless upstream interface  663 , a second wireless upstream interface  667 , a first wireless downstream interface  671  and a second wireless downstream interface  675 .  
      The upstream interfaces (wired upstream and wireless upstream interfaces) of the AP (or the STB)  600  support packet data communication between the AP (or the STB)  600  and one or more immediate next upstream network node and the downstream interfaces (wired downstream and wireless downstream interfaces) support packet data communication between the AP (or the STB)  600  and one or more immediate next downstream end-point devices. A network node may be a router, a switch, a modem etc. that participates in packet data transport from an originating device to a destination device.  
      A typical EPD such as a laptop may be running a Web browsing application (i.e., the communication application) that calls for retrieval of a web page from a storage server. In the example the storage server is another EPD. The laptop and the storage server (i.e., the end-point devices) are communicatively connected to the Internet backbone via typically more than one access points. The access points to which the laptop and the storage server are communicatively connected may belong to same or a variety of industry standard or proprietary packet switched communicatively compatible and/or incompatible data networks such as fiber optic data network, cable data network, public switched telephone network, GSM network, CDMA network, EDGE network, UMTS network, IEEE 802.11 network, WiMax network, satellite data network etc.  
      The AP (or the STB)  600  communicates with a first node that belongs to a fiber optic data network using the first upstream wired interface  635 , with a second node that belongs to a cable data network using the second upstream wired interface  639 , with a third node that belongs to an EDGE network using the first upstream wireless interface  663  and with a fourth node that belongs to a WiMax network using the second upstream wireless interface  667 . The fiber optic data network, the cable data network, the EDGE network and the WiMax network use different protocols for packet data transmission and reception. Each of the wired and wireless upstream interfaces ( 635 ,  639 ,  643  and  647 ) interacts with at least a corresponding hardware device in the AP (or the STB)  600 , and the corresponding hardware device is uniquely identified by a medium access control (MAC) address. The corresponding hardware device typically comprises a transceiver. The AP (or the STB)  600  communicates with the first node, the second node, the third node and the fourth node using a first network address assigned by the fiber optic data network, a second network address assigned by the cable data network, a third network address assigned by the EDGE network and a fourth network address assigned by the WiMax network respectively. The first, the second, the third and the fourth network address i.e., network addresses  608  corresponding to upstream associations of the AP (or the STB)  600  are stored in the storage system  607  of the AP (or the STB)  600 . The AP (or the STB)  600  communicates with the first node that belongs to the fiber optic data network via the first upstream wired interface  635  using the first network address.  
      The AP (or the STB)  600  has four downstream communication interfaces. The AP (or the STB)  600  may connect to a maximum of four downstream client devices at an instant of time. As an example the AP (or the STB)  600  interacts with a PC (personal computer) using the first wired downstream interface  643  and with a TV (television) using the second wired downstream interface  647 . The AP (or the STB)  600  assigns a fifth network address to the PC and a sixth network address to the TV. In the example the AP (or the STB)  600  has only two downstream network associations. Each network association (upstream and downstream) between two devices is identified by a pair of unique network addresses, one for each of the two devices. Association of the AP (or the STB)  600  with the PC is identified by the fifth network address assigned to the PC and a first downstream network address  613  belonging to the AP (or the STB)  600 . Association of the AP (or the STB)  600  with the TV is identified by the sixth network address assigned to the TV and a second downstream network address  619  belonging to the AP (or the STB)  600 . The AP (or the STB)  600  communicates with the PC via the first wired downstream interface  643  and using the fifth network address and the first downstream network address  613 . The AP (or the STB)  600  communicates with the TV via the second wired downstream interface  647  and using the sixth network address and the second downstream network address  619 . The AP (or the STB)  600  stores the first downstream network address  613  and the second downstream network address  619  in the storage system  609 .  
      The PC to which the AP (or the STB)  600  is associated via the first wired downstream interface  643  has associations with one or more additional access points. The PC is assigned unique network addresses by each of the access points with which the PC is communicatively connected. The PC sends all the unique network addresses  609  assigned to it by each of its associated access points to the AP (or the STB)  600  and the AP (or the STB)  600  receives the network addresses  609  via the first wired downstream interface  643 . The AP (or the STB)  600  thus becomes aware of all network associations of the PC and corresponding network addresses  609  used by the PC. The TV to which the AP (or the STB)  600  is associated via the second wired downstream interface  647  has associations with one or more additional access points. The TV sends all unique network addresses  615  assigned to it by each of its associated access points to the AP (or the STB)  600  and the AP (or the STB)  600  receives the network addresses  615  via the second wired downstream interface  647 . The AP (or the STB)  600  comes to know about all network associations of the TV and corresponding network addresses  615  used by the TV. The AP (or the STB)  600  stores the network addresses  609  used by the PC and the network addresses  615  used by the TV in the storage system  607 .  
      The PC gathers protocol related parameters corresponding to all of its network associations, current performance parameters corresponding to all of its network associations and user-defined parameters and transmits all above mentioned parameters  611  to the AP (or the STB)  600  and the AP (or the STB)  600  stores PC parameters  611  received from the PC in the storage system  607 . The AP (or the STB)  600  in addition receives protocol related parameters, current performance parameters and user-defined parameters corresponding to all network associations of the TV from the TV and stores the received TV parameters  617  in the storage system  607 . The AP (or the STB)  600  may receive the PC parameters  611  and the TV parameters  617  periodically from the PC and the TV respectively. The AP (or the STB)  600  replaces stored values of the PC parameters  611  and the TV parameters  617  with currently received values.  
      The AP (or the STB)  600  collects protocol parameters corresponding to protocols that are used for packet data exchange between the AP (or the STB)  600  and associated upstream network nodes (i.e., the first node, the second node, the third node and the fourth node). The AP (or the STB)  600  stores the collected protocol parameters  621  in the storage system  607 . The protocol parameters  621  may comprise version number, bandwidth requirement, available data rate, transmit power requirement, supported quality of service, security information corresponding to protocols used in the fiber optic data network, in the cable data network, in the EDGE network and in the WiMax network. The AP (or the STB)  600  in addition collects current pathway performance parameters  623  corresponding to communication links between the AP (or the STB)  600  and the upstream associated network nodes (i.e., the first node, the second node, the third node and the fourth node) and stores the collected current pathway performance parameters  623  in the storage system  607 .  
      The AP (or the STB)  600  uses both a direct downstream path to an associated EPD and an indirect path via an upstream communication interface to the associated EPD for sending data packets to the associated EPD. As an example the AP (or the STB)  600  sends data packets destined for the PC directly to the PC (i.e., EPD) via the first wired downstream interface  643  be default. The AP (or the STB)  600  uses, for example, fiber optic data network for direct communication with the PC via the first wired downstream interface  643 . The PC is in addition communicatively coupled with a second AP that uses IEEE 802.11 standard for direct communication with the PC via one of its downstream interfaces. The AP (or the STB)  600  in addition may route the data packets destined for the PC via one of its upstream communication interfaces ( 635 ,  639 ,  663  and  667 ). The AP (or the STB)  600  may route the data packets via, for example, the first upstream wired interface  635  instead of sending the data packets to the PC via the first wired downstream interface  643 . The data packets sent out from the first upstream wired interface  635  reach the first node and from there reach the Internet backbone via the fiber optic data network. The second AP with which the PC is associated is also communicatively connected to the Internet backbone. The data packets ultimately reach the PC from the Internet backbone via the second AP. The AP (or the STB)  600  may perform the routing using the PC parameters  611 . The AP (or the STB)  600  may perform the routing when, for example, direct path between the first wired downstream interface  643  and the PC experiences a higher interference than indirect path via the Internet backbone and the second AP, delay along the direct path exceeds an allowable value, user sets a preference for a protocol that is used in the indirect path, data transfer rate along the indirect path is more than that along the direct path etc. The AP (or the STB)  600  may use the direct path and the indirect path simultaneously for delivery of packet data. The AP (or the STB)  600  may deliver a first potion of a stream of packet data via the direct path and may deliver remaining portion of the stream of packet data via the indirect path. The AP (or the STB)  600  may use the indirect path for delivery of a particular type of data and/or for particular purpose, for example, for delivering command data to the PC, for searching for the PC etc. The AP (or the STB)  600  may use the indirect path to deliver the AP &amp; the PC association related information to the PC when the direct path to the PC is not available.  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic that shows interaction of an access point  721  with a mobile client device  703  via other access points  711  and  731  even after the mobile client device  703  moves out of coverage area of the access point  721 . A first access point (AP)  711  covers a geographical area  715 . A second AP  721  covers a geographical area  725 . A third AP  731  covers a geographical area  735 . The mobile client device  703  is associated with the first AP  711  if the mobile client device  703  is located within the geographical area  715 . The mobile client device  703  may be a phone, a PDA, a laptop, a headset etc. At an instant of time “A”, the mobile client device  703  is located in a region that is common to the geographical area  715  and the geographical area  725 . The mobile client device  703  at the instant “A” is associated with the first AP  711  and the second AP  721 . The mobile client device  703  is assigned a first IP address and a second IP address respectively by the first AP  711  and the second AP  721 . The mobile client device  703  sends the first IP address and the second IP address to each of the first AP  711  and the second AP  721 . The first AP  711  is made aware of the second IP address that the second AP  721  uses to communicate directly with the mobile client device  703 . The second AP  721  is in addition made aware of the first IP address that the first AP  711  uses to communicate directly with the mobile client device  703 .  
      At an instant of time “B”, the mobile client device  703  is located in a region that is common to the geographical area  715  and the geographical area  735 . The mobile client device  703  at the instant “B” is associated with the first AP  711  and the third AP  731 . The third AP  731  assigns a third IP address to the mobile client device  703  and the third AP  731  uses the third IP address to communicate directly with the mobile client device  703 . The mobile client device  703  sends the third IP address to the first AP  711  and the first IP address to the third AP  731 . The first AP  711  is aware of the third IP address that the third AP  731  uses for direct communication with the mobile client device  703 .  
      The first AP  711 , the second AP  721  and the third AP  731  are communicatively connected to a backbone network. At the instant “B”, the second AP  721  desires to send a plurality of data packet to the mobile client device  703 . The second AP  721  determines that no direct communication path exists between the second AP  721  and the mobile client device  703  as the mobile client device  703  has moved out of coverage area of the second AP  721 . The second AP  721  is not able to communicate directly with the mobile client device  703  using the second IP address. The second AP  721  is aware of the first IP address that the first AP  711  uses to communicate directly with the mobile client device  703 . The second AP  721  at the instant “B” encapsulates the plurality of data packets with the first IP address and sends the encapsulated plurality of data packets to the backbone network. The backbone network broadcasts the encapsulated plurality of data packets to all network nodes including all access points. The encapsulated plurality of data packets reaches the first AP  711  and the third AP  731  from the backbone network. The first AP  711  is adapted to forward the encapsulated plurality of data packets to the mobile client device  703 . The third AP  731  discards the encapsulated plurality of data packets as the third AP  731  is not adapted to send data packets to the mobile client device  703  using the first IP address. The plurality of data packets reaches the mobile client device  703  from the second AP  721  via the backbone network and the first AP  711 . The second AP  721  uses an indirect route for sending the plurality of data packets to the mobile client device  703  due to unavailability of the direct communication path between the second AP  721  and the mobile client device  703  at the instant “B”. The indirect route from the second AP  721  to the mobile client device  703  comprises the backbone network and the first AP  711 .  
      The first AP  711  at the instant “B” may send a second plurality of data packets to the mobile client device  703  directly and/or may deliver the second plurality of data packets to the mobile client device  703  via the backbone network and the third AP  731 . The first AP  711 , depending on status of the mobile client device  703  and communication characteristics of all current pathways between the mobile client device  703  and the backbone network, may choose to deliver the second plurality of data packets to the mobile client device  703  via the third AP  731  instead of sending the second plurality of data packets directly. As an example, the mobile client device  703  might not have sent and received data packets from the first AP  711  for a long duration of time and as a result might have gone to “sleep mode” to save battery power of the mobile client device  703 . The mobile client device  703  at the second instant “B” does not respond to any data packet reaching mobile client device  703  with the first IP address as the mobile client device  703  is in the “sleep mode” relative to the first AP  711 . The first AP  711  at the instant “B” is thus unable to reach the mobile client device  703  via a direct path. The first AP  711  encapsulates the second plurality of data packets destined for the mobile client device  703  using the third IP address and routes the second plurality of data packets to the mobile client device  703  via the backbone network and the third AP  731 . Once the mobile client device  703  wakes up from the “sleep mode”, the mobile client device  703  and the first AP  711  may agree to use the first IP address for further direct communication between each other.  
      The first AP  711  may be adapted to switch between the direct path i.e., the first IP address and the indirect path i.e., the third IP address, for communication with the mobile client device  703  depending on the communication characteristics of all current pathways between the mobile client device  703  and the backbone network. The first AP  711  may be adapted to use the direct path when maximum delay tolerable by the packet data is below a preset value and to use the indirect path for all other situations. The first AP  711  may in addition be adapted to use high priority data packets simultaneously via the direct path and the indirect path to ensure that the high priority data packets reach the mobile client device  703  via any of available paths. The first AP  711  may use the indirect path to send association related signals to the mobile client device  703  prior to association and/or during initial association of the first AP  711  with the mobile client device  703 . The first AP  711  may choose to use the indirect path for delivering data packets to the mobile client device  703  in response to a request received from the mobile client device  703  via the indirect path.  
       8  is a flow chart illustrating a method of delivering data packet to a client terminal via direct path or indirect path by an access point. The method starts at block  803 . The access point (AP) awaits a data packet that is destined for the client terminal in a next block  805 . The AP is communicatively connected to the downstream client terminal and in addition is communicatively coupled to a backbone network that is typically an Internet backbone via an upstream network node. The upstream network node may be a router, a switch, a modem, a server, a service provider equipment etc. The AP is adapted to exchange data packets with the downstream client terminal in addition to exchanging data packets with the upstream network node. The downstream client terminal is typically a laptop, PC, phone, video game box, television, PDA etc. that is adapted to handle any of a variety of live and/or archived multimedia information fragmented into packets. The AP may receive the data packet from the upstream network node and/or may generate the data packet. For example, a Web browsing application may be running on the client terminal. The Web browsing application calls for downloading of a web page from a Web server that is communicatively connected to the backbone network. The AP receives a plurality of data packets that contain the requested web page (i.e., the multimedia information) from the Web server via the upstream network node. The plurality of data packets containing the requested web page are destined for the client terminal. The AP is adapted to deliver the plurality of data packets to the client terminal. As another example, the AP may desire to send signaling information, control information, AP information, and a request etc. to the client terminal. The AP is adapted to fragment the information intended for the client terminal into packets and deliver the packets to the client terminal.  
      The AP decides in a next block  809  whether the AP will deliver the data packet destined for the downstream client terminal via a direct path. The direct path refers to a path between the AP and the client terminal. The AP uses a unique network address that is typically an IP address, to send data packets to the client terminal via the direct path. The direct path may be a wireless or a wired physical link and the direct path does not comprise any network node. If the AP decides to use the direct path for delivery of the data packet to the client terminal then the AP encapsulates the data packet with the unique network address and transmits the encapsulated data packet as shown in a block  811 . If the AP decides to use an indirect path for delivery of the data packet to the client terminal then the method flow goes to a block  813 .  
      The AP may decide to use the indirect path when the direct path is not available and/or the direct path is down. Alternately the AP may decide to use the indirect path even when the direct path is available depending on current performance of the direct path and the indirect path, status of the client terminal, type of the data packet, user preferences, advantages and limitations of protocols that are used along the direct path and the indirect path etc. As an example, the AP may use the indirect path to send a participation request to the client terminal that is hitherto not associated with the AP. The AP and the client terminal may exchange information pertaining to registration of the client terminal with the AP via the indirect path. Once the client terminal is registered with the AP, the AP may use the direct path for subsequent communication with the client terminal. The AP may decide to use the direct path for sending packet data containing multimedia information to the client terminal while may use the indirect path for delivering packet data containing control, command and signaling information to the client terminal.  
      The client terminal may typically be associated with one or more access points in addition to the AP. Association of the client terminal with an access point comprises the access point assigning a unique network address to the client terminal and the access point and the client terminal agreeing to use the unique network address for exchanging data packets between them. Subsequently the associated access point appends the unique network address to all data packets intended for the client terminal prior to transmitting them. The client device recognizes the all data packets appended with the unique network address to be arriving from the associated access point and hence receives them. Communication of the associated access point with the client terminal using the agreed upon unique network address is referred to as direct communication between the associated access point and the client terminal.  
      In the block  813 , the AP is expected to route the data packet that it received and/or generated in the block  805  to the client terminal via an indirect path. The AP has other network addresses of the client terminal corresponding to its other associations stored in a memory of the AP. The AP retrieves the other network addresses from the memory in the block  813 . The AP selects one address from the other network addresses. The selected address may be an address that has been assigned by a second AP to the client terminal. In a next step  815  the AP appends the data packet with the selected network address and transmits the data packet to the upstream network node. The AP, the upstream network node and all other nodes in the backbone network are not aware of address or location of the second AP. The AP may request broadcasting of the data packet appended with the selected network address. The data packet appended with the selected network address goes to the backbone network and from the backbone network ultimately reaches the second AP. The second AP is adapted to send data packets to the client terminal appended with the selected network address because the selected network address corresponds to association of the client terminal with the second AP. The second AP subsequently sends the data packet appended with the selected network address to the client terminal. The data packet destined for the client terminal reaches the client terminal from the AP via the indirect path that comprises the upstream network node, the backbone network and the second AP.  
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating the method of delivering the data packet to the client terminal of  FIG. 8  by the access point wherein the access point attempts to deliver the data packet via all available paths to the client terminal. The method starts at block  903 . An AP is communicatively connected to an upstream network node via an upstream communication interface where the upstream network node is communicatively connected to a backbone network. The backbone network is typically an Internet backbone. The AP is in addition communicatively connected to the client terminal via a downstream communication interface where the client terminal is typically a PC, a laptop, a video game box, a headset, a television, a phone etc. A communication application, such as Internet telephony, video gaming, music downloading, Web browsing etc. running on the client terminal calls for exchange of data packets with, for example, another client terminal, a server, and/or service provider equipment that is communicatively connected to the Internet backbone. The client terminal i.e., the data packets generated by the communication application running on the client terminal reaches another client terminal, the server and/or the service provider equipment, collectively called a destination device, via the AP. The client terminal sends the data packets destined for the destination device to the AP. The AP sends the data packets destined for the destination device to the Internet backbone using the upstream communication interface. The Internet backbone then sends the data packets to the destination device. The data packets are appended with the a destination address and each network node along route of travel of the data packets from the client terminal to the destination device reads the destination address appended to the data packets and routes the data packets to appropriate next network node. A second plurality of data packets reaches the client terminal from the destination device via the Internet backbone and the AP. The AP receives the second plurality of data packets from the Internet backbone via the upstream communication interface. The AP appends the second plurality of data packets with a first IP address before transmitting the second plurality of data packets via the downstream network interface. The client terminal upon receiving the second plurality of data packets reads the first IP address and recognizes the second plurality of data packets to be arriving from the AP.  
      The client terminal is typically communicatively connected to other access points in addition to being communicatively connected to the AP. Each of the other access points uses different IP address for sending data packets to the client terminal. An association of the client terminal with each of the other access points is identified by corresponding IP address. In The exemplary case, association of the client terminal with the AP is identified by the first IP address. Associations of the client terminal with the other access points are identified by a plurality of IP addresses. The AP has a direct path to the client terminal via the downstream communication interface of the AP and has a plurality of indirect paths to the client terminal where each of the plurality of indirect paths comprise the upstream communication interface, the Internet backbone and one of the other access points.  
      The AP receives and/or generates a packet data destined for the client terminal in a block  907 . If the AP decides to send the packet data directly to the client terminal, then the AP encapsulates the packet data with the first IP address and transmits the encapsulated data packet via the downstream communication interface in block  911 . If the AP decides to send the packet data indirectly to the client terminal then the AP retrieves the plurality of IP addresses that correspond to associations of the client terminal with the other access points in a step  913 . The AP has the plurality of IP addresses stored in a memory of the AP. The AP creates multiple copies of the packet data where each copy of the packet data is encapsulated with one of the plurality of IP addresses. The AP sends the encapsulated packet data via the upstream communication interface to the upstream network node, one at a time as shown in the next block  915 . Each of the encapsulated packet data reaches the client terminal via one of the other access points. The AP by routing the packet data via each of the indirect paths ensures that the client terminal receives the packet data. If the client terminal does not respond to none of the copies of the packet data, which may happen when the client terminal is in “sleep mode” relative to all of the other access points then the AP notifies a transmission failure as shown in step  919  and awaits a next packet data.  
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating the method of delivering the data packet to the client terminal of  FIG. 8  by the access point via an indirect pathway wherein the indirect pathway is selected from all available indirect pathways to the client terminal based on a communication characteristic. The method starts in block  1003 . The access point (AP) receives and/or generates data packet intended for the client terminal in a block  1005 . The client terminal with which the AP is associated, is associated with a plurality of access points additionally. Each of the plurality of access points assigns a unique IP address to the client terminal at the beginning of association and sends data packets to the client terminal using the unique IP address. A first AP from the plurality of access points sends data packets to the client terminal using a first IP address. A second AP from the plurality of access points sends data packets to the client terminal using a second IP address. There is a plurality of IP addresses corresponding to associations of the client terminal with the plurality of access points.  
      The AP has a direct downstream path to the client terminal via a downstream communication interface of the AP. The AP has a plurality of upstream indirect pathways to the client terminal where each of the indirect pathways comprises upstream communication interface of the AP, an Internet backbone and one of the plurality of access points. As an example, a first indirect upstream pathway from the AP to the client terminal comprises the upstream communication interface of the AP, the Internet backbone and first AP from the plurality of access points. Similarly a second indirect upstream pathway from the AP to the client terminal comprises the upstream communication interface of the AP, the Internet backbone and second AP from the plurality of access points. The plurality of upstream indirect pathways are so called because the data packets delivered via the pathways originate or terminate in the upstream communication interface of the AP.  
      In a step  1007 , the AP retrieves the plurality of IP addresses from storage of the AP. The AP receives the plurality of IP addresses from the client terminal when the AP associates itself with the client terminal. The AP in addition receives pathway characteristics corresponding to all routes of the client terminal to the Internet backbone, user preferences, and protocol parameters corresponding to all protocols used in the all routes. The AP in a next step  1009  selects an indirect upstream pathway from the plurality of upstream indirect pathways. The AP performs the selection in the step  1009  based on the pathway characteristics, the user preferences and the protocol parameters. As an example the AP may be adapted to select an indirect pathway that offers least interference among the plurality of indirect upstream pathways. The AP may alternately be adapted to select an indirect pathway that offers highest download data rate among the plurality of indirect upstream pathways. The selected indirect pathway is best among the plurality of indirect upstream pathways at the instant of selection. The AP in a next step  1011  routes the data packet via the selected indirect pathway. For example, if the AP selects the first indirect pathway from the plurality of indirect upstream pathways then the AP encapsulates the data packet with the first IP address and delivers the encapsulated data packet to the Internet backbone via the upstream communication interface of the AP. The encapsulated data packet ultimately reaches the client terminal via the first AP.  
      If the AP determines that the data packet has not been delivered to the client terminal via the selected indirect pathway in a step  1013 , then the AP selects another indirect pathway from remaining of the plurality of indirect upstream pathways. The another indirect pathway corresponds is best among the remaining of the plurality of indirect upstream pathways at the instant of second selection. In a block  1019  the AP attempts to deliver the data packet to the client terminal via the other indirect pathway. The AP tries out all of the plurality of indirect upstream pathways, one at a time, and declares a transmission failure if attempt to deliver the data packet to the client terminal via the all of the plurality of indirect upstream pathways fails as shown in a block  1017 .  
      The present invention has also been described above with the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.  
      The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the performance of certain significant functions. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.  
      One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.  
      Moreover, although described in detail for purposes of clarity and understanding by way of the aforementioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It will be obvious to one of average skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.