WLAN (wireless local area network) relay device

1 . A relay device, comprising:

a controller configured to receive an original WLAN (wireless local area network) standards compliant message signal, that includes an embedded WLAN message, from a receiver;

wherein the controller is configured to command a transmitter to transmit a copy of the original WLAN message signal, if the original message signal or the embedded WLAN message has a set of predetermined attributes; and

wherein the controller is configured to command the transmitter without decoding select portions of the embedded WLAN message;

wherein the relay device is configured as a STR (simultaneous transmit and receive) device; and

wherein a first portion of the copy of the original WLAN message signal is sent to the transmitter before the receiver finishes receiving a last portion of the original message signal.

2 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the controller is configured to send the copy of the original WLAN message signal to the transmitter without decoding any portion of the embedded WLAN message.

3 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the controller is configured to send the copy of the original WLAN message signal to the transmitter without decoding a preamble portion of the embedded WLAN message.

4 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the controller is configured to send the copy of the original WLAN message signal to the transmitter without decoding a data payload portion of the embedded WLAN message.

5 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the embedded WLAN message is a PPDU (physical layer protocol data unit).

6 . The relay device of claim 5 :

wherein the controller is configured to send the copy of the original WLAN message signal to the transmitter without decoding a PHY preamble portion of the PPDU.

7 . The relay device of claim 5 :

wherein the controller is configured to send the copy of the original WLAN message signal to the transmitter without decoding a MAC header portion of the PPDU.

8 . The relay device of claim 5 :

wherein the controller is configured to send the copy of the original WLAN message signal to the transmitter without decoding a PSDU portion, a data payload portion, and a frames portion of the PPDU.

9 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the copy of the original WLAN message signal is sent to the transmitter within a TXOP time window of the original WLAN message signal.

10 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the controller is configured to stop sending the copy of the original WLAN message signal to the transmitter if the set of predetermined attributes are no longer met.

11 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the copy of the original WLAN message signal duplicates the original WLAN message signal.

12 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the relay device lacks WLAN (e.g. IEEE802.11) PHY and MAC protocol support.

13 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the relay detects an existence of, but not a content of, a WLAN message signal preamble to decide whether to amplify and forward the WLAN message signal.

14 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the controller includes a power-based message relay module configured to check of the original WLAN message signal meets a set of power-based attributes;

wherein the set of power-based attributes includes a received signal power range; and

wherein the power range is set based on an expected received signal power for a set of WLAN message signals within a basic service set (BSS).

15 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the controller includes a time-based message relay module configured to check of the original WLAN message signal meets a set of time-based attributes;

wherein the set of time-based attributes includes a received signal time range; and

wherein the relay device is configured to transmit the copy of the original WLAN message signal if the original WLAN message signal is within the time range.

16 . The relay device of claim 15 :

wherein the time range is a TXOP time window of the original WLAN message signal.

17 . The relay device of claim 1 :

wherein the relay device is at least one of a WLAN compliant access point (AP) and a WLAN compliant station (STA).

18 . A relay device, comprising:

a controller configured to receive an original WLAN (wireless local area network) standards compliant message signal, that includes an embedded WLAN message, from a receiver;

wherein the controller is configured to command a transmitter to transmit a copy of the original WLAN message signal, if the original message signal or the embedded WLAN message has a set of predetermined attributes;

wherein the controller is configured to command the transmitter without decoding select portions of the embedded WLAN message;

wherein the set of predetermined attributes include a set of content-based attributes; and

wherein the controller includes a content-based message relay module configured to check if either the WLAN message signal or the embedded WLAN message includes the set of content-based attributes.

19 . The relay device of claim 18 :

wherein the set of content-based attributes includes a signal feature of the original WLAN message signal; and

wherein the controller is configured not to decode the embedded WLAN message.

20 . The relay device of claim 18 :

wherein the set of content-based attributes includes an attribute within a PHY preamble of the embedded WLAN message; and

wherein the controller is configured to decode just the PHY preamble.

21 . The relay device of claim 18 :

wherein the set of content-based attributes includes a MAC header of the embedded WLAN message; and

wherein the controller is configured to decode just the MAC header.

22 . The relay device of claim 18 :

wherein the set of content-based attributes includes a frame of the embedded WLAN message; and

wherein the controller is configured to decode just the frame.

23 . A relay device, comprising:

a controller configured to receive an original WLAN (wireless local area network) standards compliant message signal, that includes an embedded WLAN message, from a receiver;

wherein the controller is configured to command a transmitter to transmit a copy of the original WLAN message signal, if the original message signal or the embedded WLAN message has a set of predetermined attributes;

wherein the controller is configured to command the transmitter without decoding select portions of the embedded WLAN message;

wherein the controller includes a time-based message relay module configured to check of the original WLAN message signal meets a set of time-based attributes;

wherein the set of time-based attributes includes a received signal time range; and

wherein the relay device is configured to transmit the copy of the original WLAN message signal if the original WLAN message signal is within the time range.

24 . A relay device, comprising:

a controller configured to receive an original WLAN (wireless local area network) standards compliant message signal, that includes an embedded WLAN message, from a receiver;

wherein the controller is configured to command a transmitter to transmit a copy of the original WLAN message signal, if the original message signal or the embedded WLAN message has a set of predetermined attributes;

wherein the controller is configured to command the transmitter without decoding select portions of the embedded WLAN message;

wherein the controller includes a power-based message relay module configured to check of the original WLAN message signal meets a set of power-based attributes;

wherein the set of power-based attributes includes a received signal power range; and

wherein the power range is set based on an expected received signal power for a set of WLAN message signals within a basic service set (BSS).