System and method for associating different types of nodes with access point nodes in a wireless network to route data in the wireless network

A method and system for routing data in a wireless network that enables all nodes to find routes to each other even if the nodes are non-meshed which are incapable of operating as a router to route packets received from other nodes, and for associating and reassociating the non-meshed and meshed nodes with other meshed nodes. The non-meshed nodes (STA -STA ) request association with one of the meshed nodes (AP) which are capable of performing packet routing, to request that the meshed node (AP) with which the non-meshed node (STA ) is associating operate as a proxy node to route packets between the associated non-meshed node (STA ) and other meshed or non-meshed nodes. Some of the meshed nodes further operate as intelligent access points to provide the non-meshed nodes (STA -STA ) and other meshed nodes with access to other networks, such as the Internet, as well as to effect the association and reassociation of the non-meshed and meshed nodes.