Evolution of WLAN Systems

Kourosh Parsa Senior Wireless Systems Engineer Ortronics/Legrand 7 June 2006

Copyright 2006 Ortronics/Legrand, All rights reserved Ortronics/Legrand 125 Eugene O'Neill Drive New London, CT 06320 (860) 445-3800 www.ortronics.com

Evolution of WLAN Systems

Introduction
We are experiencing a global wireless gold rush. Introduction of third-generation wireless technologies as well as the proliferation of 802.11-base WLAN systems represents two major global trends in this gold rush. One of the major elements of the next generation wireless (next generation wireless refers to various technologies for 3G, WiFi, WiMax, etc) systems capabilities is global seamless service. Cognitive Radios, Software Defined Radios, and multi-mode devices play a significant role in the future of wireless systems. Dense deployment with a centralized architecture and thin access points is an example of agile infrastructure in the WLAN domain seamless global service provision concept. Connectivity to IP networks, wire line-wireless integration, seamless service provision and high traffic density (Mbps/er lang/square feet) are a few major components of such an evolution. While 802.11e enables the introduction of real time services into WLAN systems and the future 802.11n introduces speeds higher than 100 Mbps, the combination of a centralized architecture and dense deployment pushes the limit to a point where the user experiences a QoS (Quality of Service) similar to that of a wired connection.

WLAN Evolution
As the world rapidly adopts 802.11 a/b/g, standards organizations are moving towards more advanced versions for the wireless LAN application. The evolution of the Wireless LAN as an integral part of the future global seamless wireless service is not limited to the air interface. The evolution spans the architecture and seamless integration of wire line and wireless services; particularly with the introduction of real-times services such as Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) and Video over WLAN and the seamless integration of wire line and wireless services.

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Evolution of WLAN Systems

Centralized Architecture and IP Connectivity
Dense deployment in the enterprise environment has necessitated the introduction of thin Access Points controlled by a central wireless controller which acts as the gateway to the WAN as well as the wired LAN (Figures 1-3). This architecture is called a centralized architecture. Installations where the number of Access Points exceeds 2 or 3 (Figure 1), the centralized approach is far more cost effective when compared to a similar dense deployment. The Wireless Controller functions as a gateway to the LAN.

Centralized versus de-centralized approaches in dense WLAN deployments

ACCESS
EMPLOYEE

DISTRIBUTION CORE

DATA CENTER

OPS CENTER
NMS

GUEST

IOS

IOS
ACS

VOICE

Web Mgmt

Install Wi-Jack APs

Install / configure Controller(s)

Figure 1: Centralized Versus Decentralized Architecture

Seamless Wireless Wire Line Integration

Another component of WLAN evolution is the seamless integration of the WLAN system with the existing Structured Cabling System (SCS) which enables seamless wireless wire line service provision. This contributes to the concept of seamless service provision in the enterprise domain. The user experiences the same level of QoS as it moves from the wired to the wireless network and vice versa. A central enabling component for a seamless service provision is the ability to provide wire-line like data rates in the wireless domain. This is accomplished by dense deployment where the Mbps/user/square foot approaches the fixed wire networks capability (Figure 2).

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Evolution of WLAN Systems

Thin AP: compatible to existing infrastructure seamless wired/wireless integration

No change to the existing wired infrastructure

Figure 2: Seamless Wireless and Wire Line Integration

Higher Speeds and Throughput

First generation WLAN systems operated at 2 Mbps. 802.11b introduced a five-fold increase in the maximum transmission speed featuring 11 Mbps. 802.11 a/g extended this further to 54 Mbps. Innovations such as MIMO and beam forming in the air interface pave the way for speeds higher than 100 Mbps and more reliable wireless links. The 802.11n standard is targeted for ratification in late 2006 or early 2007. In all of these cases, the actual throughput seen by a single user is less than 54 Mbps. Factors such as channel utilization, traffic intensity, number of users in the system, as well as the signaling/coding overhead contribute to a lower throughput than the maximum transmission speed.

Dense Deployment
The dense deployment strategy enabled by centralized architecture and thin access points yields high wireless reliability and the highest traffic density per user per square feet at low cost (Figure 3). The thin access points could serve extremely small areas when configured at the lowest transmission power. As such, the throughput offered to a single user could reach the maximum possible throughput per Access Point.

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Evolution of WLAN Systems

Thin APs and centralized architecture enable dense deployment: Approaching wire line QoS

Highest Mbps/ Erlang/ user/ square feet

Lobby Conference Rooms Cafeteria

Offices/Cubicles

Figure 3: Example of Dense Deployment Planning

Support for Real Time Services

Another element in the evolution of WLAN systems is the ability to provide Voice over WLAN as well as other real time services over a truly packet switched air interface. The finalization of 802.11e in recent months is another significant step in that direction. 802.11 systems had been originally designed to support non-real time traffic with no guarantee on the Quality of Service. 802.11e is standardization of methods to support real time traffic over the 802.11 systems.

Competition
EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) promise high data rate speeds of close to 500 Kbps- 1 Mbps per user in the downlink direction. The speed and throughput uplink direction will be limited in both technologies due to inherent limitations. The above speeds are quite useful in the mobile environment; however, they fall short of user expectations in the enterprise environment since the users expect speeds similar to the wire line. WiMAX is another potential contender for the indoor environment. However, this technology has been designed and optimized for the outdoor environment and long ranges. WiMAX could turn into a disruptive technology for the 3G and 3.5G market, but it is not comparable to Wi2.5 Support for real time services.

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Evolution of WLAN Systems

Another element in the evolution of WLAN systems is the ability to provide Voice over WLAN as well as other real time services over a truly packet switched air interface. The finalization of 802.11e in recent months is another significant step in that direction.

Conclusion
Price is a key driver in technology choice. As the world pushes towards third generation mobile systems and WLAN systems proliferate rapidly, we see the elements of the next generation wireless systems emerging in small scales. A good example of such is a centralized architecture based dense deployment where the wireless users experience approaches that of the wire line user. The future is about scrambling to introduce global seamless service. The push towards higher speeds, innovative technologies such as MIMO, beam forming, SDR, Cognitive Radios, and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation) is all about provision of more spectrum efficient and therefore more economical systems. In the unlicensed domain, spectrum is not costly and as such the overall cost of WLAN deployment is not high. Furthermore, the future is here in this domain; the users are already experiencing the wire line QoS through their wireless system and connectivity with dense deployment.

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