AN ACCESS POINT, A SERVER AND A SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF VIRTUAL IEEE 802.11 WIRELESS NETWORKS THROUGH A HETEROGENEOUS INFRASTRUCTURE

摘要

There is provided methods, devices and computer program products for distributing a plurality of virtual IEEE 802.11 wireless networks through a heterogeneous infrastructure. A terminal sends a service provider request to an access point. The service provider request is forwarded to a master server which searches for available service providers. Acknowledgement information relating to available service providers capable of operatively connecting the terminal to the data communications network via the access point is sent by the master server to the access point. The access point forwards this information to the terminal. The access point may thus distribute a plurality of virtual IEEE 802.11 wireless networks, their number only constrained by the number of distinct identifiable service providers and the memory of the master server. A data connection may be established in the absence of a direct service agreement between the service provider of the terminal and the operator of the access point.