Patent ID: 7689210

Claim:
A method for automatically establishing a wireless coverage cell using a repeater, comprising: detecting, at a switch, a notification signal from a previously undetected first repeater coupled to the switch at a location, the previously undetected first repeater having been coupled to the switch via an Ethernet connection; transmitting software from the switch to the previously undetected first repeater to configure the previously undetected first repeater to operate and communicate with the switch and one or more mobile stations; receiving at the switch a periodic communication signal from the previously undetected first repeater that establishes communication between the previously undetected first repeater and the switch; in response to the periodic communication signal, automatically configuring the previously undetected first repeater to enable the previously undetected first repeater to wirelessly communicate with a mobile station and the switch without using information resulting from a site survey of the location; and once the previously undetected first repeater has been configured, optionally associating the mobile station with the previously undetected first repeater without knowledge of a user of the mobile station, wherein a new wireless coverage cell is automatically established when the previously undetected first repeater is coupled to the switch.