Methods and apparatus for performing access and/or forwarding control in wireless networks such as wlans

A communications system, comprising:

• a first wireless access point including:
• a receiver configured to receive from a first wireless terminal a first message in encrypted form, said first message being directed to a second wireless terminal, the first message being secured using a first key;
• and
• a decrypter configured to decrypt at the first wireless access point the first message received in encrypted form to recover the first message;
• and
• an access control device used to control access to the first message based on said first key, said access control device including a determination component configure to determine if the first key used to secure the first message is associated with the second wireless terminal.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including machine executable instructions which, when executed by a processor of a wireless access point control the wireless access point to perform the steps of:

• receiving from a first wireless terminal a first message in encrypted form, said first message being directed to a second wireless terminal, the first message being secured using a first key;
• decrypting at the first wireless access point the first message received in encrypted form to recover the first message;
• and
• making an access control decision used to control access to the first message based on said first key, said step of making an access control decision including determining if the first key used to secure the first message is associated with the second wireless terminal.