Importance

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Abstract

A method and system for using a single wireless network interface to selectively accept for further processing frames transmitted in a wireless data communications network. This allows a host system to emulate the operation of multiple, concurrently active stations in the wireless network. All wireless stations so emulated adhere to the requirements of applicable standard protocols; particularly, in the context of this innovation, with respect to contention for use of the communications medium and acceptance for further processing of frames transmitted on the medium to an emulated station from a communicating peer station. Each emulated station is assigned a unique address in accordance with the applicable standard protocol, which satisfies the characteristics of a programmable, masking address filter. The address filter allows the interface to accept frames addressed to a conforming emulated wireless station while ignoring other frames. This technique is useful in the creation of efficient systems which may thereby provide interface to the wireless medium concurrently on behalf of multiple emulated stations, giving the appearance from the network standpoint of multiple wireless stations which are all in fact operated within a single device.

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First Claim