A communication network having at least one access point supports wireless communication
among a plurality of wireless roaming devices via a first and a second wireless
channel. The access point comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first
and second transceivers operate on the first and second wireless channels, respectively.
Each of the plurality of wireless roaming devices are capable of communicating
on the first and second wireless channel. In one embodiment, the first wireless
channel is used to exchange data, while the second channel is used to manage such
exchanges as well as access to the first channel. In an alternate embodiment, both
channels are used to support communication flow, however the first channel supports
a protocol that is more deterministic than that of the second channel. Allocation
of ones of the plurality of wireless roaming devices from one channel to the next
may occur per direction from the access point. It may also result from decisions
made by each of the wireless roaming devices made independent of the access point.
For example, a decision may be made based on the data type being transferred or
based on the current channel load. Such factors may also be used by the access
point for allocation determinations. In addition, allocation may be based on the
type of roaming device involved, such as allocating peripherals to a slower channel.