Distributed coordination of duplicate address detection

A method for detecting that a proposed address is a duplicate address, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a first access point that is part of a WiFi network, a request from a first electronic device, the request comprising the proposed address;
• comparing, by the first access point, the proposed address to addresses of second electronic devices that are associated with the first access point;
• transmitting, by the first access point, a second request addressed to a network device, the second request including the proposed address;
• and then
• receiving, by the first access point, one or more responses, the one or more responses indicating whether or not the proposed address is in use by any of a plurality of third electronic devices, where each of the plurality of third electronic devices is associated with a respective one of a plurality of additional points that are part of the WiFI network.