EXTENDING RANGE OF WIRELESS LOCAL NETWORKS

A wireless device provided according to an aspect of the present disclosure extends the range of a wireless local network. In an embodiment, the wireless device receives a scan request from a new node to join the wireless local network, while the wireless device is operating as an end device of the wireless local network according to a network protocol. The wireless device communicates with the new node to join the new node to the wireless local network. The wireless device thereafter starts operating as a switch of the wireless local network according to the network protocol. The wireless device may further broadcast packets according to the network protocol to indicate availability of the switch to accept joining of additional end devices, after starting to operate as a switch.