Cellular extension of wireless local area networks

Network apparatus comprising:

• a cellular system for wirelessly exchanging data with mobile transceivers;
• and
• a core data network having a plurality of data interfaces for exchanging data packets with said cellular system, wherein said core data network includes a bridge controller for establishing routes for data packets corresponding to respective bridge identifiers when requested by at least one of said mobile transceivers;
• wherein said cellular system is configured to receive a call from a plurality of cellular-enabled LAN devices to associate with a respective one of said bridge identifiers, and wherein said core data network is configured to echo data packets received from one of the cellular-enabled LAN devices to other cellular-enabled LAN devices associated with said respective bridge identifier.

An integrated cellular phone and wireless local area network (WLAN) portable device for interconnecting with a remote LAN via a cellular network, wherein said cellular network includes a core data network, comprising:

• a WLAN node for exchanging local data packets within a wireless LAN;
• voice apparatus for separately conducting a voice call within said cellular network;
• a cellular modem for exchanging remote data packets with said cellular network;
• a user interface including a predetermined key for initiating a bridge request;
• a processor coupled to said WLAN node and said cellular modem for requesting a bridge within said core data network to a remote LAN by transmitting a bridge identifier to said cellular network in response to activation of said predetermined key and for causing at least a portion of said local data packets to be forwarded to said bridge via said cellular modem;
• and
• a LAN bridge indicator for generating a visual display when said bridge is active.