Patent ID: 8458448

Claim:
A method of installing a wireless communications network by configuring a client device to connect wirelessly to an access point arranged to provide a wireless communications network, the method comprising: running an installation program on the client device for configuring the client device to attach to the wireless communications network; automatically providing the installation program with wireless network configuration information comprising at least a wireless network identifier which identifies traffic using the wireless communications network; wherein the automatic provision of the wireless network configuration information comprising said wireless network identifier is implemented by connecting an installation device comprising non-volatile memory which stores said information, and configuring said installation program to utilise the information stored on said installation device, wherein the wireless network configuration information stored on said installation device corresponds to the wireless network configuration of said access point, and wherein both the installation device and the access point are configured with said wireless network configuration information prior to said installation device being connected to any client device arranged to connect to said access point, wherein, when the installation device is connected to the client device, the method further comprises: detecting if a wireless network is available which meets one or more predetermined network characteristics and which does not have a wireless network identifier; and, sending over said wireless network to said access point, the wireless network identifier stored on said installation device, whereby when said access point receives said wireless network identifier it is arranged to automatically configure itself to utilise said wireless network identifier to identify the wireless network that it provides.