Distributed network communication system which selectively provides data to different network destinations

A network system, comprising:

• a network;
• a plurality of access points coupled to the network;
• wherein an access point of the plurality of access points comprises a processor a memory medium coupled to the memory processor;
• wherein the memory medium stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating at least one network destination of a plurality of possible network destinations, wherein at least a subset of the identification information entries each indicate one or more virtual local area networks (VLANs), the access point configured to provide access to the plurality of possible network destinations;
• wherein the memory medium comprises program instructions which are executable by the processor to:
• receive identification information from a portable computing device;
• determine a network destination from the plurality of possible network destinations based on the identification information;
• receive data communications from the portable computing device;
• and
• route the data communications from the portable computing device through the determined network destination.

A network system, comprising:

• a network, wherein the network is operable to use one or more virtual local area networks (VLANs);
• a plurality of access points coupled to the network, wherein each of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a portable computing device using wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11), wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to receive an IEEE 802.11 system identification from the portable computing device, wherein the IEEE 802.11 system identification indicates a network destination of a plurality of possible network destinations, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to provide access to the plurality of possible network destinations, wherein each of the plurality of access points includes a memory medium which stores a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises a list of IEEE 802.11 system identification information entries and corresponding network destinations, wherein each entry indicates a respective network destination of the plurality of possible network destinations, wherein at least a subset of the IEEE 802.11 system identification information entries each indicate one or more VLANs;
• wherein each of the plurality of access points is operable to determine the network destination indicated by the IEEE 802.11 system identification from the plurality of possible network destinations;
• wherein, in said determining the network destination, each of the plurality of access points is operable to access the memory medium and use the received IEEE 802.11 identification information to determine the network destination;
• wherein each of the plurality of access points is operable to route data communications from the portable computing device through the network destination indicated by the IEEE 802.11 system identification.

A network system, comprising:

• a network, wherein the network is operable to support one or more virtual local area network (VLAN) tags, wherein the network is further operable to provide data associated with a VLAN tag of the one or more VLAN tags to a network destination;
• a memory medium coupled to the network which stores a data structure comprising a list of wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11) system identification information entries and a corresponding list of VLAN tags, wherein each VLAN tag specifies a network destination;
• at least one access point coupled to the network, wherein the at least one access point is operable to communicate with a portable computing device using wireless Ethernet, wherein the at least one access point is further operable to receive IEEE 802.11 system identification information from the portable computing device;
• wherein the at least one access point is further operable to access the memory medium and determine a VLAN tag corresponding to the IEEE 802.11 system identification information received from the portable computing device;
• wherein the at least one access point is further operable to receive data communications from the portable computing device and provide the data communications to the network using the determined VLAN tag, wherein, in said providing the data communications to the network using the determined VLAN tag, comprises associating the data communications received from the portable computing device with the determined VLAN tag.

An access point, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory medium coupled to the processor;
• wherein the access point is operable to be coupled to a network;
• wherein the memory medium comprises a data structure comprising a list of IEEE 802.11 system identification information entries and a corresponding list of virtual local area network (VLAN) identifications;
• wherein the memory medium further comprises program instructions executable by the processor to:
• receive IEEE 802.11 system identification information and data communications from a portable computing device;
• determine a VLAN identification corresponding to the IEEE 802.11 system identification information received from the portable computing device;
• and
• provide the VLAN identification corresponding to the IEEE 802.11 system identification information received from the portable computing device and the data communications from the portable computing device to the network.