Distributed MAC architecture for a wireless repeater
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- running a first instance of a first repeater Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer within a first repeater configured to process network packets from a mobile station, wherein the first instance of the repeater MAC sublayer is associated with a corresponding first instance of a switch MAC sublayer within a switch such that the first instance of the repeater MAC sublayer and the corresponding first instance of the switch MAC sublayer functionally cooperate to execute a MAC layer in a distributed fashion, the switch being configured to manage a plurality of instances of the switch MAC sublayer, each of the plurality of instances of the switch MAC sublayer corresponding to a plurality of instances of the repeater MAC sublayer.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for communicating between devices is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises running two or more instances of a switch MAC sublayer on a switch and managing the two or more instances of the switch MAC sublayer as multiple logical access points inside the switch.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
running a first instance of a first repeater Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer within a first repeater configured to process network packets from a mobile station, wherein the first instance of the repeater MAC sublayer is associated with a corresponding first instance of a switch MAC sublayer within a switch such that the first instance of the repeater MAC sublayer and the corresponding first instance of the switch MAC sublayer functionally cooperate to execute a MAC layer in a distributed fashion, the switch being configured to manage a plurality of instances of the switch MAC sublayer, each of the plurality of instances of the switch MAC sublayer corresponding to a plurality of instances of the repeater MAC sublayer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An architecture, comprising:
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a first repeater having a first instance of a repeater Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer that corresponds to a first instance of a switch MAC sublayer, wherein the first instance of the repeater MAC sublayer and the corresponding first instance of the switch MAC sublayer functionally cooperate to execute a MAC sublayer in a distributed fashion; and a switch, coupled to the first repeater, configured to manage a plurality of instances of the switch MAC sublayer, each of the plurality of instances of the switch MAC sublayer corresponding to a plurality of instances of the repeater MAC sublayer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification