Method and system for operating a wireless access point for providing access to a network

摘要

A method is described for operating a single network adapter for use on two different sub-networks of the same type, and a corresponding apparatus. The method comprises setting up a first network address and routing table in the network adapter for use in the first sub-network; setting up a second network address and routing table in the network adapter for use in the second sub-network; receiving data for one of the first and second sub networks, and re-transmitting the data to the other of the first and second sub-network, using the network addresses and routing tables.

主权项

1. A method of operating a single network adapter, comprising a single network interface card or module, to communicate wirelessly with a first sub-network and a second sub-network, the method comprising:
setting up a first network address and routing table in the network interface card or module for use in the first sub-network; setting up a second network address and routing table in the network interface card or module for use in the second sub-network; using said single network interface card or module to receive data for one of the first and second sub-networks, and to re-transmit the data to the other of the first and second sub-network, using the network addresses and routing tables, wherein the first sub-network includes a network gateway and the network adapter is configured to control access from the second sub-network to the network gateway, and wherein the step of receiving data comprises receiving a request from a user via the second sub-network to access the gateway on the first sub-network, verifying the user's access rights, and allowing the user to access the gateway if and only if the user is entitled to access the gateway.