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In a wireless communication system, a base unit transmits outgoing TDM signals within a base transmission coverage area at a first frequency. Repeaters in the base coverage area receive the outgoing signal and retransmit it within respective repeater coverage areas at respective frequencies, maintai

In a wireless communication system, a base unit transmits outgoing TDM signals within a base transmission coverage area at a first frequency. Repeaters in the base coverage area receive the outgoing signal and retransmit it within respective repeater coverage areas at respective frequencies, maintaining the same time slot orientation in TDM format. Several levels of repeaters form a hierarchy covering an expanded range. Remote subscriber units located in a coverage area receive the strongest outgoing frequency signal from a repeater/base unit in a time slot assigned to that unit for a particular call, which time slot is maintained for that call through successive levels of repeaters. Incoming TDMA signals from remote units use the same time slots used in received outgoing signals. The base unit transmits outgoing signals and receives incoming signals at the same frequency, but at different times. Each repeater receives outgoing signals from a lower level repeater (or from the base unit) at the transmission frequency of that lower level repeater, and immediately retransmits the signal in its own coverage at a different frequency. Incoming signals transmitted to any particular repeater from a remote unit in its coverage area, or from a higher level repeater, are at the outgoing transmission frequency for that repeater. Repeaters and remote units can switch between repeaters to communicate with the base unit depending upon received signal strength, thereby providing minimal interruption during communication.

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[ What is claimed is:] [22.] A wireless communication system configured in hierarchical levels of repeaters for interfacing a switching network to transfer information comprising:a base station for interfacing said switching network to relay inbound and outbound communications; anda plurality of rep

[ What is claimed is:] [22.] A wireless communication system configured in hierarchical levels of repeaters for interfacing a switching network to transfer information comprising:a base station for interfacing said switching network to relay inbound and outbound communications; anda plurality of repeaters arranged in hierarchical levels wherein said base station transmits said outbound communications from said switching network in the form of outbound signals to said hierarchical levels of repeaters successively and said hierarchical levels of repeaters transmit said inbound communications in the form of inbound signals successively to said base station to relay said inbound communications to said switching network, wherein said inbound signals include multiple sequential inbound time slots containing incoming information from a final destination and said outbound signals include multiple sequential outbound time slots containing outgoing information from said switching network;whereineach repeater within a hierarchical level includes: means for receiving said outbound signals at a first frequency of a particular band and retransmitting said outbound signals at a different frequency of said particular band; and means for receiving said inbound signals at said second frequency and retransmitting said inbound signals at said first frequency;wherein said outbound communications traverse each hierarchical level of repeaters and said base station until reaching said final destination, and said inbound communications originate at said final destination and traverse said hierarchical levels of repeaters in reverse order and said base station until reaching said switching network.