Patent ID: 8111674

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a controller with logic operable to control the operation of a plurality of access points communicating with a plurality of mobile wireless clients in a network; wherein the controller is configured to identify mobile wireless clients belonging to the plurality of mobile wireless clients that are mission critical wireless clients and voice clients; wherein the controller is configured to determine a set of mobile wireless clients selected from the plurality of wireless clients for maintaining network availability, the set of mobile wireless clients selected from one of a group consisting of mission critical wireless clients and voice clients; wherein the controller is configured to determine a location of the set of wireless clients for maintaining network availability; wherein the controller is configured to select a selected access point, in accordance with a proximity of the selected access point to the location of the set of wireless clients, to operate in a standalone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a first signal to the selected access point directing the selected access point to operate in the standalone mode; wherein the selected access point is responsive to the first signal to operate in the standalone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a second signal to an unselected access point of the plurality of access points to direct the unselected access point to communicate a message to the set of wireless clients for maintaining network availability, the message comprising data directing the set of wireless clients to associate with the selected access point operating in the standalone mode; wherein the controller is configured to send a third signal to the unselected access point to switch the unselected access point to a non-operational mode; wherein the unselected access point is configured to verify the set of wireless clients for maintaining network availability has associated with the selected access point operating in the standalone mode prior to switching to the non-operational mode.