Access point supporting direct and indirect downstream delivery based on communication characteristics

摘要

An end-point device comprises multiple communication transceivers via which the end-point device associates with multiple access points. The multiple access points may belong to packet switched data networks that are communicatively incompatible. Each of the associated access points contributes a separate pathway for flow of data packets between the end-point device and a backbone network that communicatively connects all associated access points. Each of the associated access points receives and stores unique network addresses assigned to the end-point device by the associated access points and information corresponding to the associated pathways in respective memories. Each of the associated access points delivers data packets directly to the end-point device and/or indirectly via the backbone network and one of the remaining associated access points. An access point selects an indirect path via the backbone network for delivering the data packets based on the information received from the end-point device and/or a variety of communication characteristics. The access point uses a unique network address assigned by another access point to the end-point device when it routes the data packets via the another access point.