Data network having a wireless local area network with a packet hopping wireless backbone

• US 6,925,069 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koos, Larry W., Koos, Jr., William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US10/126,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20030198208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 370310-3102, 370/315, 370/329, 370/334, 370/313, 370/339, 370351-356, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370465-466, 370/328, 370/338, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/334
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A wireless local area network (LAN) for data communications. The wireless LAN includes a packet hopping access terminal (PHAST) and a packet hopping gateway (PHG). The PHAST has a first transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a client device, and a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving data packets addressed to the client device and for wirelessly transmitting data packets received from the client device in accordance with a packet hopping protocol. The PHG has a transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets transmitted by the PHAST and for transmitting the data packets addressed to the client device in accordance with the packet hopping protocol, and a network interface for establishing communication with a server.

Claims

1. A wireless local area network (LAN) for data communications, comprising:

a first packet hopping access terminal, including;

a first transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a first client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the first client device; and

a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets received from the first client device in accordance with a packet hopping protocol, the packet hopping protocol including a data packet router/repeater function; and

a packet hopping gateway, including;

a third transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device in accordance with the packet hopping protocol;

a network interface for establishing communication with a server; and

a security function for dynamically configuring a virtual private network between a firewall and each of a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, the firewall disposed between the packet hopping gateway and the server.

2. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, further comprising a second packet hopping access terminal, the second packet hopping access terminal including a fourth transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device;

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device to the first packet hopping access terminal in accordance with the packet hopping protocol;

for wirelessly receiving the data packets from the first client device and transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal; and

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets from the first client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

3. The wireless LAN according to claim 2, wherein the second packet hopping access terminal further includes a fifth transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a second client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the second client device and wherein the fourth transceiver wirelessly receives the data packets addressed to the second client device and wirelessly transmits the data packets from the second client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

4. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the packet hopping gateway further includes a local transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to another client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the another client device.

5. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the packet hopping gateway carries out network management functions.

6. The wireless LAN according to claim 5, wherein the network management functions include dynamic assignment of addresses to a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAIN.

7. The wireless LAN according to claim 5, wherein the network management functions include maintenance of a database of wireless LAN devices by logical name.

8. The wireless LAN according to claim 5, wherein the network management functions include a directory service.

9. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the packet hopping gateway includes a security function for dynamically configuring a virtual private network between the packet hopping gateway and each of a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN.

10. The wireless LAN according to claim 9, wherein the network interface is coupled directly to a private LAN, the private LAN including the server.

11. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is coupled directly to a private LAN, the private LAN including the server.

12. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the network interface establishes communication with the server via a wide area network backbone.

13. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver operates using an 802.11b interface standard.

14. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver operates using an 802.11b interface standard and the second and third transceivers operate using an 802.11a interface standard.

15. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver operates using an 802.11g interface standard and the second and third transceivers operate using an 802.11a interface standard.

16. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the second and third transceivers operate using an 802.11a interface standard.

17. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third transceivers operate using a common protocol.

18. The wireless LAN according to claim 17, wherein the first transceiver operates using a first frequency channel and the second and third transceivers operate using a second frequency channel different than the first frequency channel.

19. The wireless LAN according to claim 17, wherein the first, second and third transceivers operate using a common frequency channel.

20. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third transceivers operate using a common frequency channel.

21. The wireless LAN according to claim 20, wherein the first transceiver operates using a first protocol and the second and third transceivers operate using a second protocol different than the first protocol.

22. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver operates using a first protocol and the second and third transceivers operate using a second protocol different than the first protocol.

23. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-discovery feature used to identify devices within the wireless LAN.

24. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-healing feature to reroute data packets throughout the wireless LAN based on network conditions.

25. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of packet hopping access terminals and wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-configuring feature used to establish data pathways among the plurality of packet hopping access terminals and the packet hopping gateway, the data pathways being dynamically updated based on network conditions.

26. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are implemented with common hardware.

27. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is implemented with a first interface assembly and the second transceiver is implemented with a second interface assembly.

28. A communications network;

comprising;

a wide area network backbone;

a first wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein the packet hopping gateway is coupled to the wide area network backbone via the network interface; and

the server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a firewall.

29. The communications network according to claim 28, further comprising an external network coupled to the wide area network backbone.

30. The communications network according to claim 28, further comprising a second wireless LAN, wherein a packet hopping gateway of the second wireless LAN is coupled to the wide area network backbone via a network interface of the packet hopping gateway of the second wireless LAN.

31. The communications network according to claim 30, wherein the server and the firewall comprise a first private LAN and the communications network further comprises a second private LAN having a second server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a second firewall.

32. The communications network according to claim 31, wherein the first wireless LAN and the first private LAN are configured to exchange data, the second wireless LAN and the second private LAN are configured to exchange data, the first wireless LAN is logically isolated from the second private LAN and the second wireless LAN is logically isolated from the first private LAN.

33. The communications network according to claim 30, wherein the packet hopping gateways of the first and the second wireless LANs are coupled to the wide area network backbone via a multiplexing device.

34. The communications network according to claim 28, further comprising a second packet hopping access terminal, the second packet hopping access terminal including a fourth transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device;

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device to the first packet hopping access terminal in accordance with the packet hopping protocol;

for wirelessly receiving the data packets from the first client device and transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal; and

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets from the first client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

35. The communications network according to claim 34, wherein the second packet hopping access terminal further includes a fifth transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a second client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the second client device and wherein the fourth transceiver wirelessly receives the data packets addressed to the second client device and wirelessly transmits the data packets from the second client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

36. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the packet hopping gateway further includes a local transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to another client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the another client device.

37. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the packet hopping gateway carries out network management functions, the network management functions comprised of one or more functions selected from dynamic assignment of addresses to a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, maintenance of a database of wireless LAN devices by logical name, a directory service, and combinations thereof.

38. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the packet hopping gateway includes a security function for dynamically configuring a virtual private network between a firewall and each of a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, the firewall disposed between the wide area network backbone and the server.

39. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes features comprised of one or more functions selected from a self-discovery feature used to identify devices within the wireless LAN, a self-healing feature to reroute data packets throughout the wireless LAN based on network conditions, a self-configuring feature used to establish data pathways among additional packet hopping access terminals and the packet hopping gateway where the data pathways being dynamically updated based on network conditions, and combinations thereof.

44. The wireless LAN according to claim 1, wherein plural packet hopping access terminals (PHASTs) and the packet hopping gateway (PHG) establish a backbone network infrastructure having data pathways among the second transceivers of the PHASTs and the PHG third transceiver to thereby define a wireless packet hopping LAN for the intermediate transmission of:

data packets sent by the client device and received by a first transceiver of one of the PHASTs for delivery to the server, and

data packets sent by the server for delivery to the client.

45. The wireless LAN according to claim 44, wherein the client device is excluded from the wireless packet hopping LAN established by the PHASTs and PHG.

46. The wireless LAN according to claim 44, wherein the client device communicates directly with the first transceiver of a PHAST disposed within a communications proximity of the client.

47. The wireless LAN according to claim 44, wherein the first transceiver of each PHAST establishes a localized wireless network with one or more client devices that are disposed within a communications proximity of the first transceiver of the PHAST.

48. The wireless LAN according to claim 47, wherein the localized wireless network operates with a protocol other than the packet hopping protocol.

40. A data communications network comprising:

a packet hopping gateway (PHG) including a network interface for establishing communication with a server via a wide area network backbone and a transceiver for wirelessly receiving data packets originating from a client device and addressed to the server and wirelessly transmitting data packets originating from the server and addressed to the client device in accordance with a packet hopping protocol, and the PHG operatively arranged to dynamically configure a virtual private network between a firewall and the client device as the client device initiates communication with the data communications network, the firewall disposed between the wide area network backbone and the server; and

at least one packet hopping access terminal (PHAST), the at least one PHAST including at least one transceiver operative arranged to act as an intermediate transmission node for the data packets sent from the client device to the server and the data packets sent from the server to the client device, and the at least one PHAST operatively arranged to route/repeat the data packets sent from the client device to the server and the data packets sent from the server to the client device in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

41. A wireless local area network (LAN) for data communications, comprising a plurality of packet hopping access terminals (PHASTs) and a packet hopping gateway (PHG), wherein:

each PHAST includes;

a local transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to an associated client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the associated client device; and

a first switchable LAN transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the associated client device and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets received from the associated client device to one of another PHAST and the PHG using a point-to-point protocol; and

the PHG includes;

a second switchable LAN transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets transmitted by any of the PHASTs and for wirelessly transmitting each data packet addressed to the associated client devices to a selected PHAST using a paint-to-point protocol; and

a network interface for establishing communication with a server.

42. The wireless LAN according to claim 41, wherein the point-to-point protocol is asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).

43. The wireless LAN according to claim 41, wherein source and destination addresses used by the first and second switchable LAN transceivers are selected so that the PHASTs and the PHG are operatively arranged as a wireless mesh backbone.

49. A wireless local area network (LAN) for a plurality of client devices, comprising:

a packet hopping gateway (PHG) having;

a LAN transceiver operating in accordance with a packet hopping protocol that includes a data packet router/repeater function, and

a network interface for establishing communication with a device external to the wireless LAN; and

a plurality of packet hopping access terminals (PHASTs) each having;

a local transceiver for establishing wireless communication with one or more of the client devices, and

a LAN transceiver operating in accordance with the packet hopping protocol that includes a data packet router/repeater function;

wherein;

the LAN transceiver of the PHG and the LAN transceiver of each PHAST establish an intermediate network infrastructure between the client devices and the external device, the network infrastructure including dynamically configurable and wireless data pathways for the delivery of;

data packets sent by a client device and received by the local transceiver of one of the PHASTs for delivery to the external device, and

data packets sent by the external device for delivery to the client via the PHG.

50. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the PHG further includes a local transceiver for establishing wireless communication with one or more of the client devices.

51. The wireless LAN according to claim 49 wherein the PHG carries out network management functions selected from dynamic assignment of addresses to the client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, maintenance of a database of wireless LAN devices by logical name, a directory service and combinations thereof.

52. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the PHG dynamically configures a virtual private network (VPN) between a firewall and each client device as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN.

53. The wireless LAN according to claim 52, wherein the firewall is logically disposed between the PHG and the external device.

54. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the network interface is coupled directly to a private LAN, the private LAN including the external device, the external device being a server.

55. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the network interface establishes communication with the external device via a wide area network backbone.

56. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-discovery feature used to identify devices within the intermediate network infrastructure.

57. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-healing feature to reroute data packets throughout the intermediate network infrastructure based on network conditions.

58. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the local and LAN transceivers of each PHAST are implemented with common hardware.

59. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein one or more of the client devices are excluded from the intermediate network infrastructure.

60. The wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the local transceiver of each PHAST establishes a localized wireless network with one or more client devices that are disposed within a communications proximity of the local transceiver of the PHAST.

61. The wireless LAN according to claim 60, wherein the localized wireless network operates with a protocol other than the packet hopping protocol.

62. A communications network;

comprising;

a wireless LAN according to claim 49, wherein the PHG is coupled to a wide area network backbone via the network interface; and

a server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a firewall.

63. The communications network according to claim 62, further comprising a second wireless LAN coupled to the wide area network backbone via a network interface of a PHG of the second wireless LAN.

64. The communications network according to claim 63, wherein the server and the firewall comprise a first private LAN and the communications network further comprises a second private LAN having a second server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a second firewall, wherein the server of the first private LAN is excluded from exchanging data packets with clients serviced by the second wireless LAN and the server of the second private LAN is excluded from exchanging data packets with clients serviced by the first wireless LAN.

65. A wireless local area network (LAN), comprising:

a wireless packet hopping sub-LAN including;

a packet hopping gateway (PHG) having a network interface to an external network and a LAN transceiver for wireless communications within the wireless packet hopping sub-LAN using a packet hopping protocol that includes a data packet router/repeater function; and

at least one packet hopping access terminal (PHAST) having a LAN transceiver for wireless communications within the wireless packet hopping sub-LAN using the packet hopping protocol; and

a localized wireless sub-network for each PHAST defined by a communications proximity of a local transceiver of the PHAST, the local transceiver for establishing communication with one or more client devices disposed within the communications proximity.

66. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the wireless packet hopping sub-LAN defines a backbone network infrastructure for the transmission of data packets between the localized wireless sub-networks and the external network.

67. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, further comprising a localized wireless sub-network defined by a communications proximity of a local transceiver of the PHG, the local transceiver of the PHG for establishing communication with one or more client devices disposed within the communications proximity of the local transceiver of the PHG.

68. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the PHG carries out network management functions selected from dynamic assignment of addresses to the client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, maintenance of a database of wireless LAN devices by logical name, a directory service and combinations thereof.

69. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the PHG dynamically configures a virtual private network (VPN) between a firewall of the external network and each client device as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN.

70. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the network interface is coupled directly to the external network, the external network being a private LAN having at least one server.

71. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the network interface establishes communication with the external network via a wide area network backbone.

72. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-discovery feature used to identify devices within the wireless packet hopping sub-LAN.

73. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-healing feature to reroute data packets throughout the wireless packet hopping sub-LAN based on network conditions.

74. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the local and LAN transceivers of each PHAST are implemented with common hardware.

75. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein one or more of the client devices are excluded from the wireless packet hopping sub-LAN.

76. The wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein each localized wireless sub-network operates with a protocol other than the packet hopping protocol.

77. A communications network;

comprising;

a wireless LAN according to claim 65, wherein the PHG is coupled to a wide area network backbone via the network interface; and

a server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a firewall.

78. The communications network according to claim 77, further comprising a second wireless LAN coupled to the wide area network backbone via a network interface of a PHG of the second wireless LAN.

79. The communications network according to claim 78, wherein the server and the firewall comprise a first private LAN and the communications network further comprises a second private LAN having a second server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a second firewall, wherein the server of the first private LAN is excluded from exchanging data packets with clients serviced by the second wireless LAN and the server of the second private LAN is excluded from exchanging data packets with clients serviced by the first wireless LAN.

80. A wireless local area network (LAN) for data communications, comprising:

a first packet hopping access terminal, including;

a first transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a first client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the first client device; and

a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets received from the first client device in accordance with a packet hopping protocol, the packet hopping protocol including a data packet router/repeater function; and

a packet hopping gateway, including;

a third transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device in accordance with the packet hopping protocol;

a network interface for establishing communication with a server; and

a security function for dynamically configuring a virtual private network between the packet hopping gateway and each of a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN.

81. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, further comprising a second packet hopping access terminal, the second packet hopping access terminal including a fourth transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device;

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device to the first packet hopping access terminal in accordance with the packet hopping protocol;

for wirelessly receiving the data packets from the first client device and transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal; and

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets from the first client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

82. The wireless LAN according to claim 81, wherein the second packet hopping access terminal further includes a fifth transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a second client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the second client device and wherein the fourth transceiver wirelessly receives the data packets addressed to the second client device and wirelessly transmits the data packets from the second client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

83. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the packet hopping gateway further includes a local transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to another client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the another client device.

84. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the packet hopping gateway carries out network management functions.

85. The wireless LAN according to claim 84, wherein the network management functions include dynamic assignment of addresses to a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN.

86. The wireless LAN according to claim 84, wherein the network management functions include maintenance of a database of wireless LAN devices by logical name.

87. The wireless LAN according to claim 84, wherein the network management functions include a directory service.

88. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the network interface is coupled directly to a private LAN, the private LAN including the server.

89. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the network interface is coupled directly to a private LAN, the private LAN including the server.

90. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the network interface establishes communication with the server via a wide area network backbone.

91. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first transceiver operates using an 802.11b interface standard.

92. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first transceiver operates using an 802.11b interface standard and the second and third transceivers operate using an 802.11a interface standard.

93. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first transceiver operates using an 802.11g interface standard and the second and third transceivers operate using an 802.11a interface standard.

94. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the second and third transceivers operate using an 802.11a interface standard.

95. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first, second and third transceivers operate using a common protocol.

96. The wireless LAN according to claim 95, wherein the first transceiver operates using a first frequency channel and the second and third transceivers operate using a second frequency channel different than the first frequency channel.

97. The wireless LAN according to claim 95, wherein the first, second and third transceivers operate using a common frequency channel.

98. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first, second and third transceivers operate using a common frequency channel.

99. The wireless LAN according to claim 98, wherein the first transceiver operates using a first protocol and the second and third transceivers operate using a second protocol different than the first protocol.

100. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first transceiver operates using a first protocol and the second and third transceivers operate using a second protocol different than the first protocol.

101. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-discovery feature used to identify devices within the wireless LAN.

102. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-healing feature to reroute data packets throughout the wireless LAN based on network conditions.

103. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, further comprising a plurality of packet hopping access terminals and wherein the packet hopping protocol includes a self-configuring feature used to establish data pathways among the plurality of packet hopping access terminals and the packet hopping gateway, the data pathways being dynamically updated based on network conditions.

104. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are implemented with common hardware.

105. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the first transceiver is implemented with a first interface assembly and the second transceiver is implemented with a second interface assembly.

106. A communications network;

comprising;

a wide area network backbone;

a first wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein the packet hopping gateway is coupled to the wide area network backbone via the network interface; and

the server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a firewall.

107. The communications network according to claim 106, further comprising an external network coupled to the wide area network backbone.

108. The communications network according to claim 106, further comprising a second wireless LAN, wherein a packet hopping gateway of the second wireless LAN is coupled to the wide area network backbone via a network interface of the packet hopping gateway of the second wireless LAN.

109. The communications network according to claim 108, wherein the server and the firewall comprise a first private LAN and the communications network further comprises a second private LAN having a second server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a second firewall.

110. The communications network according to claim 109, wherein the first wireless LAN and the first private LAN are configured to exchange data, the second wireless LAN and the second private LAN are configured to exchange data, the first wireless LAN is logically isolated from the second private LAN and the second wireless LAN is logically isolated from the first private LAN.

111. The communications network according to claim 108, wherein the packet hopping gateways of the first and the second wireless LANs are coupled to the wide area network backbone via a multiplexing device.

112. The communications network according to claim 106, further comprising a second packet hopping access terminal, the second packet hopping access terminal including a fourth transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device;

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device to the first packet hopping access terminal in accordance with the packet hopping protocol;

for wirelessly receiving the data packets from the first client device and transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal; and

for wirelessly transmitting the data packets from the first client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

113. The communications network according to claim 112, wherein the second packet hopping access terminal further includes a fifth transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a second client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the second client device and wherein the fourth transceiver wirelessly receives the data packets addressed to the second client device and wirelessly transmits the data packets from the second client device to the packet hopping gateway in accordance with the packet hopping protocol.

114. The communications network according to claim 106, wherein the packet hopping gateway further includes a local transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to another client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the another client device.

115. The communications network according to claim 106, wherein the packet hopping gateway carries out network management functions, the network management functions comprised of one or more functions selected from dynamic assignment of addresses to a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, maintenance of a database of wireless LAN devices by logical name, a directory service, and combinations thereof.

116. The communications network according to claim 106, wherein the packet hopping gateway includes a security function for dynamically configuring a virtual private network between a firewall and each of a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, the firewall disposed between the wide area network backbone and the server.

117. The communications network according to claim 106, wherein the packet hopping protocol includes features comprised of one or more functions selected from a self-discovery feature used to identify devices within the wireless LAN, a self-healing feature to reroute data packets throughout the wireless LAN based on network conditions, a self-configuring feature used to establish data pathways among additional packet hopping access terminals and the packet hopping gateway where the data pathways being dynamically updated based on network conditions, and combinations thereof.

118. The wireless LAN according to claim 80, wherein plural packet hopping access terminals (PHASTs) and the packet hopping gateway (PHG) establish a backbone network infrastructure having data pathways among the second transceivers of the PHASTs and the PHG third transceiver to thereby define a wireless packet hopping LAN for the intermediate transmission of:

data packets sent by the client device and received by a first transceiver of one of the PHASTs for delivery to the server, and

data packets sent by the server for delivery to the client.

119. The wireless LAN according to claim 118, wherein the client device is excluded from the wireless packet hopping LAN established by the PHASTs and PHG.

120. The wireless LAN according to claim 118, wherein the client device communicates directly with the first transceiver of a PHAST disposed within a communications proximity of the client.

121. The wireless LAN according to claim 118, wherein the first transceiver of each PHAST establishes a localized wireless network with one or more client devices that are disposed within a communications proximity of the first transceiver of the PHAST.

122. The wireless LAN according to claim 121, wherein the localized wireless network operates with a protocol other than the packet hopping protocol.

123. A communications network;

comprising;

a wide area network backbone;

a first wireless LAN comprising;

a first packet hopping access terminal, including;

a first transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a first client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the first client device; and

a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets received from the first client device in accordance with a packet hopping protocol, the packet hopping protocol including a data packet router/repeater function;

a packet hopping gateway, including;

a third transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device in accordance with the packet hopping protocol; and

a network interface for establishing communication with a server;

wherein the packet hopping gateway is coupled to the wide area network backbone via the network interface, the server is coupled to the wide area network backbone via a firewall;

a second wireless LAN, wherein a packet hopping gateway of the second wireless LAN is coupled to the wide area network backbone via a network interface of the packet hopping gateway of the second wireless LAN; and

wherein the server and the firewall comprise a first private LAN and the communications network further comprises a second private LAN having a second server coupled to the wide area network backbone via a second firewall.

124. The communications network according to claim 123, wherein the first wireless LAN and the first private LAN are configured to exchange data, the second wireless LAN and the second private LAN are configured to exchange data, the first wireless LAN is logically isolated from the second private LAN and the second wireless LAN is logically isolated from the first private LAN.

125. A communications network;

comprising;

a wide area network backbone;

a first wireless LAN comprising;

a first packet hopping access terminal, including;

a first transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a first client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the first client device; and

a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets received from the first client device in accordance with a packet hopping protocol, the packet hopping protocol including a data packet router/repeater function;

a packet hopping gateway, including;

a third transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device in accordance with the packet hopping protocol; and

a network interface for establishing communication with a server;

wherein the packet hopping gateway is coupled to the wide area network backbone via the network interface, the server is coupled to the wide area network backbone via a firewall, the packet hopping gateway includes a security function for dynamically configuring a virtual private network between a firewall and each of a plurality of client devices as each client device initiates communication with the wireless LAN, and the firewall is disposed between the wide area network backbone and the server.

126. A wireless local area network (LAN) for data communications, comprising:

a first packet hopping access terminal, including;

a first transceiver for wirelessly transmitting data packets addressed to a first client device and for wirelessly receiving data packets from the first client device; and

a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets addressed to the first client device and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets received from the first client device in accordance with a packet hopping protocol, the packet hopping protocol including a data packet router/repeater function; and

a packet hopping gateway, including;

a third transceiver for wirelessly receiving the data packets transmitted by the first packet hopping access terminal and for wirelessly transmitting the data packets addressed to the first client device in accordance with the packet hopping protocol; and

a network interface for establishing communication with a server; and

wherein plural packet hopping access terminals (PHASTs) and the packet hopping gateway (PHG) establish a backbone network infrastructure having data pathways among the second transceivers of the PHASTs and the PHG third transceiver to thereby define a wireless packet hopping LAIN for the intermediate transmission of;

data packets sent by the client device and received by a first transceiver of one of the PHASTs for delivery to the server, and

data packets sent by the server for delivery to the client; and

wherein the first transceiver of each PHAST establishes a localized wireless network with one or more client devices that are disposed within a communications proximity of the first transceiver of the PHAST, and the localized wireless network operates with a protocol other than the packet hopping protocol.