Abstract: A method of enabling extended range communication between a first low power digital radio device and a second low power digital radio device via an intermediate access point; which intermediate access point has a low power digital radio interface and an other communications interface and forms part of a communication network; wherein the intermediate access point is adapted to perform a proxy function for the second low power digital radio device, thereby to enable the first low power digital radio device to send and receive data to the second low power digital radio device via the intermediate access point.

Abstract: An access point including a memory; at least one network interface configured to interface over a network with one or more of a other access point and a user equipment (UE); and a processor configured to, establish, via the at least one interface, a virtual link with the UE based on the respective one of the at least one virtual address, and transfer the virtual link to the other access by transmitting a command to the other AP to set, after a time period, at least one network interface associated therewith to be addressable via the respective one of the at least one virtual address, and disassociating the at least one network interface and the respective one of at least one virtual address after the time period.