Patent ID: 7200134

Claim:
A method for extending the range of a wireless local area network (WLAN), the WLAN including a base unit connected to a wide area network, the base unit communicating with at least one client unit using a protocol requiring the base unit and the at least one client unit to receive and transmit information on a same frequency chosen from at least two available frequencies, the base unit identifying which of the at least two available frequencies is chosen in a control parameter transmitted in a protocol message associated with the protocol, the method comprising: transmitting a modified control parameter so that the chosen one of the at least two available frequencies does not correspond to a channel upon which the base unit is operating, setting a receive channel associated with the client unit to match the chosen one of the at least two available frequencies in the control parameter transmitted by the base unit, and translating a first information signal transmitted from a first operating channel associated with the base unit and retransmitting the information signal on a second operating channel to the client unit, and translating a second information signal transmitted from the second operating channel associated with the client unit and retransmitting the second information signal on the first operating channel associated with the base unit.