Patent ID: 7929484

Claim:
A wireless communications network using a common wireless communications protocol including a media access layer having a media access control (MAC) frame structure comprising first and second MAC frame sections, the wireless communications network comprising: a plurality of communications cells configured to use the common wireless communications protocol and comprising at least first, second, and third communications cells; the first, second, and third communications cells comprising first, second, and third access points, respectively; the first access point being configured to communicate, using the common wireless communications protocol, on a first frequency, during the first MAC frame section, with a mobile device within a respective wireless communication coverage area of the first communications cell, the first access point also being configured to communicate, using the common wireless communications protocol, on the first frequency with the second access point; the third access point being configured to communicate, using the common wireless communications protocol, on a second frequency, during the second MAC frame section, with the first access point and a mobile device within a respective wireless communications coverage area of the third communications cell.