Systems and methods for integrating wireless local area networks on extended bridges

A method of providing wireless network access to a local area network (LAN), the method comprising:

• receiving a request to join the LAN from a station at an access point in the LAN;
• communicating the request from the access point to a first controlling bridge of an extended bridge through a first port extender, the first port extender comprising a first extended port, wherein the first extended port and the access point form a first logical port of the first controlling bridge;
• communicating the request from the first controlling bridge to an access controller;
• granting, by the access controller, the request from the station;
• and
• receiving frames from the station on the first logical port of the first controlling bridge;
• wherein the first controlling bridge, the first port extender, and the access point appear as an integrated extended service set (ESS).

A method of providing wireless network access to a local area network (LAN), the method comprising:

• receiving a frame at a first controlling bridge, the first controlling bridge being coupled to a first port extender by a bridge port, the first port extender providing a first extended port that functions as a logical port on the first controlling bridge;
• identifying, by the first controlling bridge, a tag in the frame that identifies the logical port on the first controlling bridge;
• transmitting, by the first controlling bridge, the frame to the logical port on the first controlling bridge;
• forwarding the frame to a first access point coupled to the first extended port, the first access point appearing to an access controller coupled to the first controlling bridge as a wireless port;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the frame from the first access point to a station;
• wherein the first controlling bridge, the first port extender, and the first access point appear as an integrated extended service set (ESS) to the station.