Patent ID: 8472359

Claim:
A computer-implemented method in an access point of a wireless network having a plurality of access points in communication with a system coordinator, the method comprising: connecting with the wireless network which includes a set of communication links between the plurality of access points and the system coordinator; connecting with wireless devices desiring contact with the wireless network, wherein the plurality of access points on the wireless network appear to be substantially identical to the wireless devices and wherein a communication protocol used for wireless network communications provides for the wireless devices to select which of available access points are desired for connecting to the wireless network; responsive to a soft handoff conducted by the system coordinator, maintaining an identifier for a particular wireless device, the identifier being previously maintained at a second access point of the plurality of access points that disassociates with the particular wireless device responsive to the soft handoff, wherein the soft handoff is substantially transparent to the particular wireless device; and associating with the particular wireless device by responding to a messages that sent by the particular wireless device without any type of configuration by the particular wireless device with the effect that wireless devices direct their communications to particular access points chosen by the system coordinator.