Low cost mesh network capability

A method of operating a wireless device to communicate selectively over a first network and a second network, the method comprising:

• A) configuring the wireless device, the configuring comprising:
• configuring a first control module to receive data from the first network;
• and
• configuring a second control module to receive data from the second network;
• B) receiving a first message, the receiving comprising:
• receiving the first message via the first network at the first control module or via the second network at the second control module;
• if the first message is received at the first control module, providing, by the first control module, the first message with a first type of tag that indicates that the first message was received via the first network;
• if the first message is received at the second control module, providing, by the second control module, the first message with a second type of tag that indicates that the first message was received via the second network;
• and
• providing the first message to either a first adapter or to a second adapter based on whether the first type of tag was provided to the first message by the first control module or the second type of tag was provided to the first message by the second control module;
• C) transmitting a second message, the transmitting comprising:
• receiving the second message through the first adapter or through the second adapter;
• providing a tag to the second message, wherein a type of the provided tag is selected based on whether the second message was received through the first adapter or through the second adapter;
• directing the second message to either the first control module or to the second control module based on the type of the tag provided to the second message;
• processing the second message with the control module to which the second message was directed;
• and
• transmitting the second message;
• D) originating a third message to be sent through an access point for the first network via at least one bridging device of the second network;
• E) bridging a fourth message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the fourth message over the second network and transmitting the fourth message to the at least one bridging device;
• and
• F) bridging a fifth message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the fifth message over the second network and transmitting the fifth message to the access point.

A computer-storage medium device having computer-executable instructions for controlling a wireless device to concurrently communicate over at least two networks, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, implementing components comprising:

• a first virtual interface adapted to interface with the first network and a second virtual interface adapted to interface with the second network;
• a first media access control (MAC) module adapted to control the radio in accordance with the first protocol, to receive messages from the radio, and to provide each message received by the first MAC module with a first type of tag, wherein the first type of tag indicates reception of the associated message via the first network;
• a second MAC module adapted to control the radio in accordance with the second protocol, to receive messages from the radio, and to provide each message received by the second MAC module with a second type of tag, wherein the second type of tag indicates reception of the associated message via the second network;
• and
• a multiplexing module adapted to selectively route messages from the first MAC module and the second MAC module to either the first virtual interface or the second virtual interface based on the tags provided to each message by the first MAC module or by the second MAC module, wherein the components are operable to:
• originate a first message to be sent through an access point for the first network via at least one bridging device of the second network;
• bridge a second message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the second message over the second network and retransmitting the second message to the access point via the at least one bridging device;
• and
• bridge a third message that is to be sent through the access point by receiving the third message over the second network and retransmitting the third message to the access point.