Techniques are disclosed for implementing am Intelligent Distributed Relay (IDR). The IDR may advantageously use the best qualities of both amplify-and-forward and decode-and-forward solutions. The advantageously leverages the use of a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry, which may decode the data and control information. The control information may be used to control IDR behavior (e.g., in the uplink and/or downlink directions) and to enhance its characteristics.