METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING REPEATER MANAGEMENT, MEDIA ACCESS CONTROL, AND BRIDGING FUNCTIONS

摘要

A system consisting of a repeater management function (108) and media access control (112) into a single device. The repeater management functions and the media access control may also be combined with bridging support functions (110). The repeater management function uses a repeater management interface (114) to control information transferred to an access port (102) and to control repeater functions under direction of access port and monitor repeater function and provide status via access port and to control the bridge support function. The bridge function controls information transferred through a bridge port (104). The MAC function transfers information between the repeater data port (116) and the MAC port (106) (transmit/receive). The integration of the media access controller and repeater management into a single device is independent of the implementation of any of the ports.