Abstract: A communication architecture is described. In one embodiment, the architecture comprises a repeater having repeater MAC sublayer functionality and a switch coupled to the repeater and having switch MAC sublayer functionality. The repeater MAC sublayer functionality and the switch MAC sublayer functionality cooperate to perform the MAC functionality in a distributed fashion.

Abstract: A communication system is described. In one embodiment, the communication system comprises a mobile station having a transmitter to transmit packets wirelessly according to a protocol and multiple repeaters communicably coupled with the mobile station. Each of the plurality of repeaters receives one or more packets of the wirelessly transmitted packets from the mobile station. Each of the repeaters receives an indication of which of the wirelessly transmitted packets were received without errors by other repeaters and a received signal strength for those packets. The communication system also includes a switch coupled to the repeaters. Each of the repeaters forwards to the switch each packet of the wirelessly transmitted packets that each repeater had received without errors at a received signal strength higher than any other repeater.