Patent ID: 7680086

Claim:
A network with wireless access capability comprising: a plurality of wireless access points with a first communications protocol; at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, ones of said plurality of access points being connected to each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, each said Ethernet aggregation switch being virtual LAN (VLAN) aware and matching client traffic from connected said access points with access VLANs; a free-form virtual network switch with a plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports, each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch connected to one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports, client traffic passing between said access VLANs at each said connected Ethernet aggregation switch and appropriate core VLANs; and at least one tunnel endpoint connecting to an access VLAN at one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports and bridging an other wireless network through a tunnel to said free-form virtual network switch, said other wireless network having a second communications protocol different than said first communications protocol, wherein client wireless devices having contact with said other wireless network selectively connect to said free-form virtual network switch through said tunnel endpoint wherever said plurality of wireless access points are unavailable.