Industrial wireless network infrastructure supporting multiple subnets

A method comprising:

• communicating with one or more groups of wireless devices using one or more wireless radios of an access point;
• enforcing quality of service (QoS) based on multiple applications associated with the one or more groups of wireless devices using one or more processors of the access point;
• allocating the QoS to each subnetwork identifier of multiple subnetwork identifiers based on the multiple applications;
• and
• using, by the access point, the multiple subnetwork identifiers to communicate with at least one group of the one or more groups of wireless devices.

A method comprising:

• commissioning a wireless network including an access point associated with an industrial process control and automation system;
• and
• assigning multiple subnetwork identifiers to the wireless network associated with one or more groups of wireless devices during the commissioning,
• wherein the multiple subnetwork identifiers are selected based on at least one of:
• application needs within the industrial process control and automation system;
• types of devices used in the industrial process control and automation system;
• areas or zones associated with the industrial process control and automation system;
• roles or privileges for users associated with the industrial process control and automation system;
• and
• wireless communication protocols used in the wireless network.