Abstract: A wireless network device may receive a broadcasted hello message. The wireless network device may determine, based on the broadcasted hello message, interfaces to communicate with neighbor devices. The wireless network device may determine costs for links of the interfaces. A highest cost link of the interfaces may be blocked and a lowest cost link of the interfaces may be unblocked. The wireless network device may transmit, in the network, an announce message that indicates the highest cost link as blocked and the lowest cost link as unblocked.

Abstract: A wireless network device may receive a broadcasted hello message. The wireless network device may determine, based on the broadcasted hello message, interfaces to communicate with neighbor devices. The wireless network device may determine costs for links of the interfaces. A highest cost link of the interfaces may be blocked and a lowest cost link of the interfaces may be unblocked. The wireless network device may transmit, in the network, an announce message that indicates the highest cost link as blocked and the lowest cost link as unblocked.

Abstract: A method for use in a IEEE 802.11 device, comprising: wirelessly connecting, by the device, to a gateway that is part of a wireless local area network (WLAN), the gateway configured to operate as an access point (AP) for the WLAN and bridge the WLAN to the Internet; receiving, by the device from the gateway, an announcement message including a network identifier (NI) of a subnetwork of the WLAN, the subnetwork including the gateway and a first node that is also configured to operate as an AP for the WLAN; transmitting, by the device to the gateway, a request message to join the subnetwork; receiving, by the device from the gateway, a response message including a confidential credential for connecting to the subnetwork; establishing a first connection to the first node based on the confidential credential and the NI and beginning to operate as an AP for the WLAN.

Abstract: A method for use in a IEEE 802.11 device, comprising: wirelessly connecting, by the device, to a gateway that is part of a wireless local area network (WLAN), the gateway configured to operate as an access point (AP) for the WLAN and bridge the WLAN to the Internet; receiving, by the device from the gateway, an announcement message including a network identifier (NI) of a subnetwork of the WLAN, the subnetwork including the gateway and a first node that is also configured to operate as an AP for the WLAN; transmitting, by the device to the gateway, a request message to join the subnetwork; receiving, by the device from the gateway, a response message including a confidential credential for connecting to the subnetwork; establishing a first connection to the first node based on the confidential credential and the NI and beginning to operate as an AP for the WLAN.

Abstract: A wireless network device may receive a broadcasted hello message. The wireless network device may determine, based on the broadcasted hello message, interfaces to communicate with neighbor devices. The wireless network device may determine costs for links of the interfaces. A highest cost link of the interfaces may be blocked and a lowest cost link of the interfaces may be unblocked. The wireless network device may transmit, in the network, an announce message that indicates the highest cost link as blocked and the lowest cost link as unblocked.

Abstract: A wireless network device may receive, over an interface, a broadcasted hello message that indicates network topology and interface information of neighbor nodes in a network. The wireless network device may transmit an announce message to unblocked hello peers of the wireless network device. The wireless network device may receive, on a wired interface from another node, a hello message. The wireless network device and the another node may each be identified as island heads based on the received hello message. The wired interface may be utilized for connecting the island heads.

Abstract: A method for use in a IEEE 802.11 device, comprising: wirelessly connecting, by the device, to a gateway that is part of a wireless local area network (WLAN), the gateway configured to operate as an access point (AP) for the WLAN and bridge the WLAN to the Internet; receiving, by the device from the gateway, an announcement message including a network identifier (NI) of a subnetwork of the WLAN, the subnetwork including the gateway and a first node that is also configured to operate as an AP for the WLAN; transmitting, by the device to the gateway, a request message to join the subnetwork; receiving, by the device from the gateway, a response message including a confidential credential for connecting to the subnetwork; establishing a first connection to the first node based on the confidential credential and the NI and beginning to operate as an AP for the WLAN.

Abstract: A wireless network device may receive, over an interface, a broadcasted hello message that indicates network topology and interface information of neighbor nodes in a network. The wireless network device may transmit an announce message to unblocked hello peers of the wireless network device. The wireless network device may receive, on a wired interface from another node, a hello message. The wireless network device and the another node may each be identified as island heads based on the received hello message. The wired interface may be utilized for connecting the island heads.