Patent ID: 6928295

Claim:
In the operation of a point-to-point wireless network managed by a master device, a method for adding a new device to the point-to-point wireless network, the method comprising: establishing a second point-to-point wireless network that includes the master device and at least one other wireless device; placing the new device a proximate distance from the master device of the point-to-point wireless network, wherein the proximate distance between the master device and the new device is substantially less than the maximum operating range of the devices; sending a message from the new device to the master device, the message conveying a request from the new device to join the point-to-point wireless network; the master device and the new device communicating packet data with one another at reduced transmit power levels that are sufficient to maintain radio communications between the devices at the proximate distance to authenticate the new device and to admit the new device into the point-to-point wireless network; communicating, by the new device and the master device at normal transmit power levels after the new device has been added to the point-to-point wireless network; and during a period of time when the master device and the new device are communicating packet data with one another at the reduced transmit power levels, the master device communicating packet data with the at least one other wireless device of the additional point-to-point wireless network on an interspersed basis at normal transmit power levels.