Abstract: A simple and low cost architecture for a distribution network is provided for coupling wireless local area network (“wireless LAN”) signals between geographically distributed access points and centrally located internetworking devices. The distribution network eliminates complexities involved with the deployment of such systems in the past, which have typically required the computer network-compatible wiring to be extended to each access point directly from an internetworking device such as a repeater, bridge, router, or gateway. The distribution network makes it economically efficient to deploy wireless local area networking equipment in locations where wired network infrastructure is not readily available.

Abstract: A simple and low cost architecture for coupling wireless local area network signals between geographically distributed access points and centrally located internetworking devices. A cable access point (CAP) is associated with each respective microcell. Each CAP includes a remote bridge to convert such signals to a convenient transport format depending upon the available cabling. For example, if the available cabling is a cable television (CATV) plant, the transport signals are first converted to a T1 format and up-converted to a carrier frequency suitable for the CATV plant. Alternatively, the transport signals may be converted to IEEE 802.3 cable modem signals. If the available cabling is twisted pair telephone type wiring, the remote bridge converts the transport signals to a suitable Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) format. The transport signals are collected at a central distribution or head end access point (HAP).