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.