Patent ID: 7359392

Claim:
A distribution network for coupling wireless metropolitan area network signals between an internetworking device and a plurality of remotely located access points, to provide wireless metropolitan area network service within a geographic coverage area composed of microcells, the distribution network making use of available transport cabling, comprising: (a) a plurality of cable access points, each deployed within a respective one of the microcells, the cable access points each further comprising: i) a wireless metropolitan area network access point, for receiving wireless metropolitan area network signals from computing equipment located within the respective microcell, and converting such signals to local area network compatible signals; ii) an access point remote converter, for receiving the local area network compatible signals from the wireless metropolitan area network access point and converting such signals to transport modulated format signals suitable for transmission over the available transport cabling; and (b) a head end access point, comprising: i) a head end remote bridge, connected to receive the transport modulated format signals from the transport cabling, and to convert such signals to local area network compatible signals.