System and method for associating different types of nodes with access point nodes in a wireless network to route data in the wireless network

Abstract

A method and system for routing data in a wireless network () that enables all nodes () to find routes to each other even if the nodes () are non-meshed which are incapable of operating as a router to route packets received from other nodes (), and for associating and reassociating the non-meshed and meshed nodes with other meshed nodes (). The non-meshed nodes (STA-STA) request association with one of the meshed nodes (AP) which are capable of performing packet routing, to request that the meshed node (AP) with which the non-meshed node (STA) is associating operate as a proxy node to route packets between the associated non-meshed node (STA) and other meshed or non-meshed nodes (). Some of the meshed nodes () further operate as intelligent access points () to provide the non-meshed nodes (STA-STA) and other meshed nodes () with access to other networks, such as the Internet (), as well as to effect the association and reassociation of the non-meshed and meshed nodes ().