Patent ID: 7280520

Claim:
A method for operating multiple virtual wireless networks using a common distribution system comprising: providing portals from said distribution system to a plurality of local area network servers, each portal being associated with a tag for identifying messages for an associated local area network; providing at least one access point coupled to said distribution system, said access point including a memory; providing a wireless service set identification for each of said local area networks associated with said portals; providing mobile units having a service set identification associating said mobile units with one of said portals; providing data in said access point memory associating said service set identifications and tags associated with said portals; operating said mobile units to associate with at least one access point, said association including communicating a service set identification from said mobile unit to said access point; operating said mobile unit to communicate data to said associated access point, said communication including said service set identification of said mobile unit; and operating said access point to relay data messages from said associated mobile unit via said distribution system to said portal corresponding to the local area network associated with said service set identification, said relaying including verifying that said service set identification is associated with a local area message tag of said message in said access point memory.