Low cost mesh network capability

A computing device, comprising:

• a memory and a processor that respectively store and execute instructions, including instructions organized into components, the components including:
• a first interface component that provides a network interface for a first network;
• a second interface component that provides a network interface for a second network;
• a first media access control (MAC) component that controls a radio in accordance with a first protocol, receives messages from the radio, and provides messages received by the first MAC component with a first type of tag, wherein the first type of tag indicates reception of the associated message via the first network;
• a second MAC component that controls the radio in accordance with a second protocol, receives messages from the radio, and provides messages received by the second MAC component with a second type of tag, wherein the second type of tag indicates reception of the associated message via the second network;
• and
• a multiplexing component that selectively routes messages from the first MAC component and messages from the second MAC component to either the first interface component or the second interface component based on the tags provided by the first MAC component and/or the tags provided by the second MAC component, wherein the components are operable to:
• originate a first message to be sent through an access point for the first network via at least one bridging device of the second network;
• bridge a second message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the second message over the second network and retransmitting the second message to the access point via the at least one bridging device;
• and
• bridge a third message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the third message over the second network and retransmitting the third message to the access point.

A method of enabling communications between a computing device and at least two networks, the method comprising:

• interfacing the computing device to a first network via a first network interface component;
• interfacing the computing device to a second network via a second network interface component;
• with a first media access control (MAC) component:
• controlling a radio in accordance with a first protocol;
• receiving messages from the first network from the radio;
• and
• associating the messages from the first network with a first type of tag indicative of reception of those messages from the first network;
• with a second media access control (MAC) component:
• controlling the radio in accordance with a second protocol;
• receiving messages from the second network from the radio;
• and
• associating the messages from the second network with a second type of tag indicative of reception of those messages from the second network;
• selectively routing messages from the first MAC component and messages from the second MAC component to either the first network interface component or the second network interface component based on the tags associated with those messages by the first MAC component or by the second MAC component;
• originating a first message to be sent through an access point for the first network via at least one bridging device on the second network;
• bridging a second message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the second message from the second network and retransmitting the second message to the access point via the at least one bridging device;
• and
• bridging a third message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the third message from the second network and retransmitting the third message to the access point.

A method of enabling communications between a computing device and at least two networks, the method comprising:

• originating a first message to be sent through an access point for a first network via at least one bridging device on the second network, including:
• receiving the first message at a second media access control (MAC) module from an application on the computing device via a second interface module;
• transmitting the first message from the second MAC module to the at least one bridging device via a radio;
• bridging a second message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the second message over the second network and retransmitting the second message to the access point via the at least one bridging device, including:
• receiving the second message by the second MAC module from the radio;
• retransmitting the second message from the second MAC module to the at least one bridging device via the radio;
• and
• bridging a third message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the third message over the second network and retransmitting the third message to the access point, including:
• receiving the third message by the second MAC module from the radio;
• routing the third message from the second MAC module to the first MAC module;
• and
• transmitting the third message from the first MAC module to the access point via the radio.