Patent ID: 7173922

Claim:
A method for operating multiple overlapping wireless local area subnetworks, the method comprising: providing a common cell controller coupled to a plurality of RE ports, wherein the common cell controller in conjunction with each RF port provides wireless medium access to all of the wireless local area subnetworks for mobile units in a designated area associated with the RF port, wherein each RF port is configured to perform low level medium access control (MAC) functions and the cell controller is configured to perform high level MAC functions for the coupled plurality of RF ports; using the cell controller to provide multiple service set identifications through each RF port, wherein each service set identification is associated with a corresponding wireless subnetwork, wherein said RF ports are operated to perform low level MAC functions and to relay signals received from mobile units to said cell controller and to relay signals received from said cell controller to said mobile units, and wherein said cell controller is operated to control association of said mobile units with said RF port, including sending and receiving association signals between said RF port and said cell controller, said association of said mobile units utilizing at least two wireless local area subnetworks occupying common physical space.