Event-based multichannel direct link

In an 802.11x wireless network comprising an access point operably connected to at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device, a method of establishing a direct point-to-point connection between the two wireless devices comprising:

• providing information between the access point and at least one of the first and second wireless devices via a first channel for at least a portion of a first period;
• providing a channel change request from the first wireless device to the second wireless device on the first channel;
• providing an affirmative response to the channel change request from the second wireless device to the first wireless device on the first channel;
• switching the second wireless device to a second channel subsequent to the receipt of the acknowledgement to the provision of the affirmative response to the channel change request;
• switching the first wireless device to the second channel subsequent to the transmission of the acknowledgement to the receipt of the affirmative response to the channel change request;
• and
• communicating information directly between the first and second wireless devices via the second channel for at least a portion of a second period,
• wherein the 802.11x wireless network is configured to facilitate communications in an 802.11x protocol, and
• wherein the first channel is different than the second channel.

In a wireless network having an access point, at least one wireless device comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a direct link module operably connected to the transceiver and configured to:
• facilitate an establishment of a wireless direct link between the wireless device and another wireless device on the network via a second frequency channel;
• communicate information with the other wireless device via the wireless direct link on the second frequency channel for at least a portion of a first period;
• switch the transceiver from the second frequency channel to a base channel in anticipation of a predetermined event;
• and
• communicate information with the access point via the base channel for at least a portion of a second period,
• wherein the second frequency channel is different than the base channel.

A wireless system comprising:

• an access point;
• and
• at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device;
• wherein the first wireless device and the second wireless device are configured to:
• communicate information via a wireless direct link on a first channel during at least a portion of a first period;
• switch to a second channel in anticipation of a predetermined event;
• and
• communicate information with the access point on the second channel during at least a portion of a second period,
• wherein the first channel is different than the second channel.