When it is advantageous to do so, a wireless LAN station sends data
packets to a destination station via an intermediate station, instead of
to the destination station directly. That is, the intermediate station,
which serves as a helper to the source, forwards packets received from
the source station to the intended destination station. This cooperative
data transmission approach can result in system performance improvement,
as long as the total time consumed by two-hop transmission (i.e.,
transmission via the helper station) is less than direct transmission.
Such a determination may be made using rate information stored at each
station. Specifically, using the rate information, signaling needed to
set up a transmission, the amount of data to be transmitted, etc.,
transmitting the data directly and via a help station may be compared.