IEEE 802.

11 WLANs (WiFi)
Part II/III System Overview and MAC Layer
Design goals for wireless LANs (WLANs)
Global, seamless operation Global, seamless operation
Low power for battery use Low power for battery use
No special permissions or licenses needed to use the spectrum fo No special permissions or licenses needed to use the spectrum for r
building WLAN (vs. Billions of dollars spent for 3G networks building WLAN (vs. Billions of dollars spent for 3G networks
spectrum worldwide) spectrum worldwide)
Robust transmission technology Robust transmission technology
Easy to use for everyone, simple management Easy to use for everyone, simple management
e.g. Simplified spontaneous cooperation at meetings e.g. Simplified spontaneous cooperation at meetings
Protection of investment in wired networks, e.g. compatible with Protection of investment in wired networks, e.g. compatible with
Ethernet Ethernet
Security Security
no one should be able to read my data, no one should be able to read my data,
no one should be able to collect user profiles no one should be able to collect user profiles
Safety (low radiation) Safety (low radiation)
Transparency concerning applications and higher layer protocols Transparency concerning applications and higher layer protocols
Part II WiFi System Overview
Comparison: Infrastructure vs. Ad-hoc
networks
infrastructure
network
ad-hoc network
AP
AP
AP
wired network
AP: Access Point
802.11 - Architecture of an Infrastructure
network and terminology
Station (STA) Station (STA)
terminal with access mechanisms terminal with access mechanisms
to the wireless medium and radio to the wireless medium and radio
contact to the access point contact to the access point
Access Point (or Base Station) Access Point (or Base Station)
station integrated into the wireless station integrated into the wireless
LAN and the distribution system LAN and the distribution system
Basic Service Set (BSS) Basic Service Set (BSS)
group of stations using the same group of stations using the same
radio frequency (channel) radio frequency (channel)
Distribution System Distribution System
interconnection network for interconnection network for
multiple multiple BSSes BSSes to form one to form one
logical network, the so logical network, the so- -called called
Extended Service Set (ESS) Extended Service Set (ESS)
Portal Portal
Bridge/Gateway to other (wired) Bridge/Gateway to other (wired)
networks networks
Distribution System
Portal
802.x LAN
Access
Point
802.11 LAN
BSS
2
802.11 LAN
BSS
1
Access
Point
STA
1
STA
2 STA
3
ESS
802.11 - Architecture of an ad-hoc
(infrastructureless) network

Station (STA):
Station (STA):
terminal with access
terminal with access
mechanisms to the
mechanisms to the
wireless medium
wireless medium

Independent
Independent
Basic
Basic
Service Set (
Service Set (
IBSS
IBSS
):
):
group of stations using
group of stations using
the same radio frequency
the same radio frequency

No Access Points, every
No Access Points, every
STA is equal
STA is equal

Direct (single
Direct (single
-
-
hop)
hop)
communication within a
communication within a
limited range ; i.e. no
limited range ; i.e. no
multi
multi
-
-
hop routing
hop routing
802.11 LAN
IBSS
2
802.11 LAN
IBSS
1
STA
1
STA
4
STA
5
STA
2
STA
3
WLAN: IEEE 802.11b
Data rate Data rate
1, 2, 5.5, 11 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbit/s Mbit/s, depending on , depending on
SNR SNR
User data rate max. approx. 6 User data rate max. approx. 6 Mbit/s Mbit/s
direct sequence spread spectrum direct sequence spread spectrum
(DSSS) in physical layer (DSSS) in physical layer
Transmission range Transmission range
300m outdoor, 30m indoor 300m outdoor, 30m indoor
Max. data rate ~10m indoor Max. data rate ~10m indoor
Frequency Frequency
Free 2.4 GHz ISM ( Free 2.4 GHz ISM (Unlicensed Unlicensed) )- -
frequency band frequency band
Security standards Security standards
WEP insecure, WPA, WPA2, WEP insecure, WPA, WPA2,
802.11i, SSID 802.11i, SSID
Cost Cost
Adapter/ Access Point price keep Adapter/ Access Point price keep
dropping dropping
Availability Availability
Many products, many vendors Many products, many vendors
Quality of Service Quality of Service
Best effort, no guarantees Best effort, no guarantees
(unless polling is used, limited (unless polling is used, limited
support in real products) support in real products)
Manageability Manageability
Limited (no automated key Limited (no automated key
distribution, sym. Encryption) distribution, sym. Encryption)
Special Advantages/Disadvantages Special Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantage: many installed Advantage: many installed
systems, lot of experience, systems, lot of experience,
available worldwide, free ISM available worldwide, free ISM- -
band, many vendors, integrated band, many vendors, integrated
in laptops, simple system in laptops, simple system
Disadvantage: heavy Disadvantage: heavy
interference on ISM interference on ISM- -band, no band, no
service guarantees, slow relative service guarantees, slow relative
speed only speed only
802.11: Channels, association
802.11b: 2.4GHz 802.11b: 2.4GHz- -2.485GHz spectrum divided into 11 channels at 2.485GHz spectrum divided into 11 channels at
different frequencies ; different frequencies ;
Actually quite few of the 11 channels are totally non Actually quite few of the 11 channels are totally non- -overlapped overlapped
Network administrator chooses frequency for each AP Network administrator chooses frequency for each AP
Interference possible: channel can be same as that chosen by Interference possible: channel can be same as that chosen by
neighboring AP! neighboring AP!
Better to have frequency assignment planning Better to have frequency assignment planning
Station STA (or host): must first Station STA (or host): must first authenticate authenticate and then and then associate associate with with
an AP before it can start transmitting data an AP before it can start transmitting data
How a STA get started ? How a STA get started ?
The STA scans channels, listening for The STA scans channels, listening for beacon frames beacon frames containing containing
the the ESS ESS s s name (SSID) and the MAC address of the AP (BSSID) name (SSID) and the MAC address of the AP (BSSID)
selects AP to associate with selects AP to associate with
may perform authentication before association may perform authentication before association
After association is done, STA will typically run DHCP to get IP After association is done, STA will typically run DHCP to get IP
address in AP address in AP s IP subnet (if STA does not have an IP s IP subnet (if STA does not have an IP addr addr
already, or if it has moved to a new IP subnet) already, or if it has moved to a new IP subnet)
Channel selection for 802.11b (non-overlapping)
Europe (ETSI)
channel 1 channel 7 channel 13
2400 2412 2442 2472 2483.5
[MHz]
22 MHz
US (FCC)/Canada (IC)
channel 1 channel 6 channel 11
2400 2412 2437 2462 2483.5
[MHz]
22 MHz
Other IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Standards
802.11a 802.11a
5 5- -6 GHz range 6 GHz range
up to 54 Mbps up to 54 Mbps
Disadvantages: Disadvantages:
stronger shading due to higher frequency stronger shading due to higher frequency
Using different frequency ranges than 802.11b => extra hardware Using different frequency ranges than 802.11b => extra hardware
to support dual mode of 802.11a or 802.11b to support dual mode of 802.11a or 802.11b
=> Bad for backward => Bad for backward compatiblility compatiblility
802.11g 802.11g
2.4 2.4- -5 GHz range 5 GHz range
Backward compatible with 802.11b Backward compatible with 802.11b
up to 54 Mbps up to 54 Mbps
802.11a and 802.11g use OFDM in physical layer 802.11a and 802.11g use OFDM in physical layer
All use CSMA/CA for multiple access All use CSMA/CA for multiple access
All support AP (base All support AP (base- -station), (infrastructure) and ad station), (infrastructure) and ad- -hoc network modes hoc network modes
Operating channels for 802.11a / US
5150
channel
40 48 52 56 60 64 36 44
5180 5200 5220 5240 5260 5280 5300 5320
5350
[MHz]
16.6 MHz
center frequency =
5000 + 5*channel number [MHz]
149 153 157 161
5725
channel
5745 5765 5785 5805
5825
[MHz]
16.6 MHz
IEEE standard 802.11
fixed
terminal
Router
mobile terminal
Application
TCP
802.11 PHY
802.11 MAC
IP
802.3 MAC
802.3 PHY
802.11 MAC
802.11 PHY
LLC
LLC
802.3 PHY
802.3 MAC
LLC
Application
TCP
802.3 PHY
802.3 MAC
IP
LLC
802.3 PHY
802.3 MAC
IP
LLC
L2 forwarding
(akabridging)
L3 forwarding
(akarouting)
Access Point
Most consumer-focused home wireless routers
merge the functions of the AP and Router
IEEE 802.11 Operations
Question 1) In the protocol stack of the Question 1) In the protocol stack of the Wi Wi- -Fi Fi client, there are two layers client, there are two layers
whi which ch has packet retransmission function (MAC layer and TCP layer). has packet retransmission function (MAC layer and TCP layer).
Why we need two layers at the Why we need two layers at the Wi Wi- -Fi Fi client doing the same re client doing the same re- -
transmission function? transmission function?
Question 2) What should be the source address of the Ethernet p Question 2) What should be the source address of the Ethernet packet acket
from AP to router? from AP to router?
Internet
router
AP
H1
R1
AP MAC addr H1 MAC addr R1 MAC addr
address 1 address 2 address 3
802.11 frame
R1 MAC addr AP MAC addr
dest. address source address
802.3 frame
Part III MAC Layer Overview
IEEE 802.11 Multiple Access Control (MAC)
Avoid collisions: 2 Avoid collisions: 2
+ +
nodes nodes transmitting at same time transmitting at same time
802.11: CSMA 802.11: CSMA - - sense before transmitting sense before transmitting
don don t collide with ongoing transmission by other node t collide with ongoing transmission by other node
802.11: 802.11: no no collision detection! collision detection!
difficult to receive (sense collisions) and transmitting at the difficult to receive (sense collisions) and transmitting at the same time same time
because (TDD operation) because (TDD operation)
transmission and reception are at the same frequency transmission and reception are at the same frequency
=> the station => the station s receiver s receiver s will be overwhelming by it s will be overwhelming by it s own transmitting s own transmitting
signals and thus can signals and thus can t hear the relatively t hear the relatively weak weak signals sent by the signals sent by the
others others
In general can In general can t sense all collisions anyway, e.g. t sense all collisions anyway, e.g. The Hidden terminal The Hidden terminal
problem problem
=> Design Goal: => Design Goal: avoid collisions: avoid collisions: CSMA/ CSMA/C(ollision)A(voidance C(ollision)A(voidance) )
A
B
C
A B
C
As signal
strength
space
Cs signal
strength
802.11 MAC CSMA/CA access method
medium busy
DIFS DIFS
next frame
contention window
(randomized back-off
mechanism)
t
direct access if
medium is free DIFS
slot time
station ready to send starts sensing the medium (Carrier station ready to send starts sensing the medium (Carrier
Sense based on CCA, Clear Channel Assessment) Sense based on CCA, Clear Channel Assessment)
if the medium is free for the duration of an Inter if the medium is free for the duration of an Inter- -Frame Frame
Space (IFS), the station can start sending (IFS depends on Space (IFS), the station can start sending (IFS depends on
service type) service type)
if the medium is busy, the station has to wait for a free IFS, if the medium is busy, the station has to wait for a free IFS,
then the station must additionally wait a random back then the station must additionally wait a random back- -off off
time (collision avoidance, multiple of slot time (collision avoidance, multiple of slot- -time) time)
if another station occupies the medium during the back if another station occupies the medium during the back- -off off
time of the station, the back time of the station, the back- -off timer stops off timer stops (fairness) (fairness)
802.11 MAC CSMA/CA access method
(contd)
Sending Sending unicast unicast packets packets
station has to wait for DIFS before sending data station has to wait for DIFS before sending data
receivers acknowledge at once (after waiting for SIFS) if the pa receivers acknowledge at once (after waiting for SIFS) if the packet cket
was received correctly (CRC) was received correctly (CRC)
automatic retransmission of data packets in case of transmission automatic retransmission of data packets in case of transmission
errors errors
t
SIFS
DIFS
data
ACK
data
DIFS
sender
receiver
other
stations
waiting time
contention
802.11 - competing stations - simple version
busy
DIFS
bo
e
bo
e
bo
e
busy
bo
r
bo
r
DIFS
bo
e
bo
e
bo
e
bo
r
DIFS
busy
busy
DIFS
bo
e
busy
bo
e
bo
e
bo
r
bo
r
station
1
station
2
station
3
station
4
station
5
t
busy bo
e
medium not idle (frame, ack etc.)
elapsed backoff time
bo
r
packet arrival at MAC residual backoff time
802.11 - MAC layer (contd)
Priorities Priorities
defined through different inter frame spaces (IFS) defined through different inter frame spaces (IFS)
no guaranteed, hard priorities no guaranteed, hard priorities
SIFS (Short Inter Frame Spacing) SIFS (Short Inter Frame Spacing)
highest priority, for ACK, CTS, polling response highest priority, for ACK, CTS, polling response
PIFS (PCF IFS) PIFS (PCF IFS)
medium priority, for time medium priority, for time- -bounded service using PCF bounded service using PCF
DIFS (DCF, Distributed Coordination Function IFS) DIFS (DCF, Distributed Coordination Function IFS)
lowest priority, for asynchronous data service lowest priority, for asynchronous data service
medium busy
SIFS
PIFS
DIFS DIFS
next frame contention
t
direct access if
medium is free DIFS
To Further Avoiding collisions
Idea:
Idea: allow sender to allow sender to reserve reserve channel rather than random access of channel rather than random access of
data frames: avoid collisions of data frames: avoid collisions of long long data frames data frames
sender first transmits sender first transmits small small request request- -to to- -send (RTS) packets to BS send (RTS) packets to BS
using CSMA using CSMA
RTSs RTSs may still collide with each other (but they may still collide with each other (but they re short) re short)
BS broadcasts clear BS broadcasts clear- -to to- -send CTS in response to RTS send CTS in response to RTS
RTS heard by all nodes RTS heard by all nodes
sender transmits data frame sender transmits data frame
other stations defer transmissions other stations defer transmissions
Avoid data frame collisions completely
using small reservation packets!
Collision Avoidance: RTS-CTS exchange
AP
A B
time
R
T
S
(A
)
R
T
S
(B
)
R
T
S
(A
)
C
T
S
(A
)
C
T
S
(A
)
DATA (A)
A
C
K
(A
)
A
CK
(A
)
reservation collision
defer
More Details on 802.11 MAC, aka
DFWMAC (Distributed Foundation Wireless MAC)
Traffic services Traffic services
Asynchronous Data Service Asynchronous Data Service (mandatory) (mandatory)
exchange of data packets based on exchange of data packets based on best best- -effort effort
support of broadcast and multicast support of broadcast and multicast
Time Time- -Bounded Service ( Bounded Service (optional, seldom implemented by real products) optional, seldom implemented by real products)
implemented using PCF (Point Coordination Function) implemented using PCF (Point Coordination Function)
Access methods Access methods
DFWMAC DFWMAC- -DCF CSMA/CA ( DCF CSMA/CA (mandatory mandatory) )
Basic collision avoidance via randomized Basic collision avoidance via randomized back back- -off off mechanism mechanism
minimum distance between consecutive packets minimum distance between consecutive packets
ACK packet for acknowledgements ( ACK packet for acknowledgements (NO ACK for broad/multicasts NO ACK for broad/multicasts) )
DFWMAC DFWMAC- -DCF with RTS/CTS ( DCF with RTS/CTS (optional optional) )
Distributed Foundation Wireless MAC Distributed Foundation Wireless MAC
avoids hidden terminal problem avoids hidden terminal problem
DFWMAC DFWMAC- - PCF ( PCF (optional, seldom implemented by products optional, seldom implemented by products) )
access point polls terminals according to a list access point polls terminals according to a list
802.11 DFWMAC RTS/CTS
Sending Sending unicast unicast packets packets
station can send RTS with reservation parameter after waiting fo station can send RTS with reservation parameter after waiting for DIFS r DIFS
(reservation determines amount of time the data packet needs the (reservation determines amount of time the data packet needs the
medium) medium)
acknowledgement via CTS after SIFS by receiver (if ready to rece acknowledgement via CTS after SIFS by receiver (if ready to receive) ive)
sender can now send data after SIFS, acknowledgement via ACK sender can now send data after SIFS, acknowledgement via ACK
other stations store medium reservations distributed via RTS and other stations store medium reservations distributed via RTS and CTS CTS
t
SIFS
DIFS
data
ACK
data
DIFS
RTS
CTS
SIFS
NAV (RTS)
NAV (CTS)
sender
SIFS
receiver
other
stations
defer access
contention
NAV = Network Allocation Vector ; to enable Virtual Carrier Sensing
Virtual Carrier Sensing: the sender tells others how long it will be using the channel
by setting the value of NAV => others dont need to keep on sensing till then
SIFS
DIFS
data
ACK
1
other
stations
receiver
frag
1
DIFS
contention
RTS
CTS
SIFS
SIFS
NAV (RTS)
NAV (CTS)
NAV (frag
1
)
NAV (ACK
1
)
SIFS
ACK
2
frag
2
SIFS
Fragmentation: to send a Big data frame in
multiple pieces
sender
t
Why Fragmentation ?
May due to L2 limit on maximum frame-size of data sent each time ;
The bigger a frame, the more vulnerable it is in getting a bit transmission
error ; A single error-bit can ruin the whole frame and require re-transmission
of the whole frame => better off to send/retransmit small fragments instead
SIFS
DIFS
data
ACK
1
Other 802.11b
stations
802.11g receiver
802.11 b/g AP
Burst 1
DIFS
CTS
SIFS
NAV (CTS)
NAV (burst 1)
NAV (ACK
1
)
SIFS
ACK
2
Burst 2
SIFS
Burst Mode for mixing .11g/.11g clients
For backward compatibility, the 802.11g packets have a mode that For backward compatibility, the 802.11g packets have a mode that support support
802.11b preamble. This is needed to allow other 802.11b clients 802.11b preamble. This is needed to allow other 802.11b clients to carrier sense to carrier sense
channel busy while 802.11g clients are transmitting. channel busy while 802.11g clients are transmitting.
However, this makes the actual throughput of 802.11g clients pre However, this makes the actual throughput of 802.11g clients pretty low (despite tty low (despite
54Mbps physical transmission rate for payload) bec 54Mbps physical transmission rate for payload) becau ause of huge overhead se of huge overhead
involved in the 802.11b preamble (56us / 128us). involved in the 802.11b preamble (56us / 128us).
To allow more efficient mixing of 802.11b/g clients, a To allow more efficient mixing of 802.11b/g clients, a b/g b/g compatible AP can use compatible AP can use
the RTS/CTS for bursting traffic to g clients. the RTS/CTS for bursting traffic to g clients.
b/g b/g AP sends CTS with NAV AP sends CTS with NAV trying to reserve the media for a specified trying to reserve the media for a specified
period of time. period of time. > all devices ( > all devices (b/g b/g) observe the NAV and remains silence. ) observe the NAV and remains silence.
b/g b/g AP then sends the 11g packets (with g AP then sends the 11g packets (with g- -preamble) to the intended g preamble) to the intended g
clients one by one. clients one by one. the g the g- -packet transmission has less overhead due to packet transmission has less overhead due to
much shorter preamble. much shorter preamble.
t
DFWMAC-Point Coordination Function
(PCF)
PIFS
stations
NAV
wireless
stations
Point
Coordinator
D
1
U
1
SIFS
NAV
SIFS
D
2
U
2
SIFS
SIFS
SuperFrame
t
0
medium busy
t
1
DFWMAC-PCF (contd)
t
stations
NAV
wireless
stations
point
coordinator
D
3
NAV
PIFS
D
4
U
4
SIFS
SIFS
CF
end
contention
period
contention free period
t
2
t
3
t
4
Note:
Since SIFS < PIFS, if User 3 has something to send, it would
have done so before the Point coordinators waiting period of
PIFS is over ; not hearing from user 3 by then means the Point
coordinator can safely proceed to User 4
Synchronization using a Beacon
(infrastructure)
beacon interval
busy
B
busy busy busy
B B B
Access
Point
medium
t
B
beacon frame value of the timestamp
The AP broadcasts a Beaconmessage periodically which contains the
reference time-stamp value ;
Each station adjusts/tunes its local clock using the value of the time-stamp
in the Beacon as the reference.
Synchronization using a Beacon in an
Ad-hoc Network (i.e. No AP)
beacon interval
t
medium
busy
B
1
busy busy busy
B
1
value of the timestamp
B
beacon frame
B
2
B
2
random delay
For each station:
(1) Set a random delay timer ;
(2) If a Beacon from another station is received before timer expires
Adjust local clock using time-stamp in the received Beacon as
reference
else (i.e. no Beacon from others heard before timer expires)
Upon timer expires, broadcast a Beacon using local clock to
generate the time-stamp ; (to be used by all other stations as time reference)
station
1
station
2
Power management
Idea: switch the transceiver off if not needed Idea: switch the transceiver off if not needed
States of a station: sleep and awake States of a station: sleep and awake
Timing Synchronization Function (TSF) (see previous 2 pages) Timing Synchronization Function (TSF) (see previous 2 pages)
stations wake up at the same time stations wake up at the same time
Infrastructure Infrastructure
Traffic Indication Map Traffic Indication Map (TIM) (TIM)
list of list of unicast unicast receivers transmitted by AP receivers transmitted by AP
When When unicast unicast receiver wakes up and hear it has incoming frames receiver wakes up and hear it has incoming frames
buffered by the AP, it sends PS buffered by the AP, it sends PS- -poll to AP to ask for delivery poll to AP to ask for delivery
Delivery Traffic Indication Map Delivery Traffic Indication Map (DTIM) (DTIM)
list of broadcast/multicast receivers transmitted by AP list of broadcast/multicast receivers transmitted by AP
Unicast Unicast Polling mechanism does not work for Multicast/Broadcast Polling mechanism does not work for Multicast/Broadcast
from AP ; instead, it from AP ; instead, it s each s each STA STA s s responsibility to wait up every responsibility to wait up every
DTIM DTIM- -interval interval to check for Multicast/Broadcast from AP to check for Multicast/Broadcast from AP
Ad Ad- -hoc hoc
Ad Ad- -hoc Traffic Indication Map (ATIM) hoc Traffic Indication Map (ATIM)
announcement of receivers by stations buffering frames announcement of receivers by stations buffering frames
more complicated more complicated - - no central AP no central AP
collision of collision of ATIMs ATIMs possible (scalability?) possible (scalability?)
Power saving with wake-up patterns
(infrastructure)
TIM interval
t
busy
D
busy busy busy
T T D B B
p
d
d
DTIM interval
access
point
medium
station
T
TIM
D
DTIM awake
d
data transmission
to/from the station
B
broadcast/multicast
p
Power Saving (PS) poll
Power saving with wake-up patterns (ad-
hoc)
B
1
ATIM
window
awake
A
transmit ATIM
D
transmit data
t
B
1
B
2
B
2
A
a
D
d
beacon interval
station
1
station
2
B
beacon frame random delay
a d
acknowledge ATIM acknowledge data
802.11 - Frame format
Types Types
control frames (e.g. RTS, CTS, ACK, PS control frames (e.g. RTS, CTS, ACK, PS- -poll), management poll), management
frames (ATIM, association, authentication, etc), data frames frames (ATIM, association, authentication, etc), data frames
Sequence numbers Sequence numbers
important against duplicated frames due to lost important against duplicated frames due to lost ACKs ACKs
Addresses Addresses
receiver, transmitter (physical), BSS identifier, sender receiver, transmitter (physical), BSS identifier, sender
(logical) (logical)
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous
sending time, checksum, frame control, data sending time, checksum, frame control, data
Frame
Control
Duration
Address
1
Address
2
Address
3
Sequence
Control
Address
4
Data CRC
2
2 6 6 6 6 2 4 0-2312
bytes
Protocol
version
Type Subtype
To
DS
More
Frag
Retry
Power
Mgmt
More
Data
WEP
2 2 4 1
From
DS
1
Order
bits 1 1 1 1 1 1
Acknowledgement Acknowledgement
Request To Send Request To Send
Clear To Send Clear To Send
Frame
Control
Duration
Receiver
Address
Transmitter
Address
CRC
2
2 6 6 4
bytes
Frame
Control
Duration
Receiver
Address
CRC
2
2 6 4
bytes
Frame
Control
Duration
(for
setting
NAV)
Receiver
Address
CRC
2
2 6 4
bytes
ACK
RTS
CTS
Special Frames: ACK, RTS, CTS
Internet
router
AP
H1
R1
AP MAC addr H1 MAC addr R1 MAC addr
address 1 address 2
address 3
802.11 frame
R1 MAC addr AP MAC addr
dest. address source address
802.3 frame
802.11 frame: addressing
Why cant 802.11 WLAN just use 2 addresses per frame like wired Ethernet ?
MAC address format
scenario to DS from
DS
address 1 address 2 address 3 address 4
ad-hoc network 0 0 DA SA BSSID -
infrastructure
network, from AP
0 1 DA BSSID SA -
infrastructure
network, to AP
1 0 BSSID SA DA -
infrastructure
network, within DS
1 1 RA TA DA SA
DS: Distribution System
AP: Access Point
DA: Destination Address
SA: Source Address
BSSID: Basic Service Set Identifier (= MAC address of the AP)
RA: Receiver Address
TA: Transmitter Address
Digression to IP addressing
and L3 vs L2 forwarding
Review on Naming and Addressing and
Translation Mechanisms
Given the Given the Domain Domain- -name name of the destination host, of the destination host, e.g. e.g. www.ee.ust.hk www.ee.ust.hk, ,
the end the end- -host ask an Domain Name System (DNS) server to translate it host ask an Domain Name System (DNS) server to translate it
to to an IP address, e.g. 128.83.50.156 an IP address, e.g. 128.83.50.156
This This IP address IP address is put into the destination IP address field of the is put into the destination IP address field of the
packets sent to the destination host packets sent to the destination host ; this destination IP address is used ; this destination IP address is used
for routing table lookup along the path for routing table lookup along the path
When the packet arrives at the When the packet arrives at the destination network destination network (the destination IP (the destination IP
subnet), e.g. the LAN segment connected to the destination host, subnet), e.g. the LAN segment connected to the destination host, the the
last last- -hop router use the hop router use the Address Request Protocol (ARP) to translate Address Request Protocol (ARP) to translate
the the destination IP address destination IP address to the to the MAC address MAC address of the of the ethernet ethernet network network
interface card (NIC) on the destination host interface card (NIC) on the destination host
This MAC address is used as the destination address to deliver t This MAC address is used as the destination address to deliver the he
Ethernet frame to the destination host Ethernet frame to the destination host via L2 forwarding via L2 forwarding
IEEE standard 802.11
fixed
terminal
Router
mobile terminal
Application
TCP
802.11 PHY
802.11 MAC
IP
802.3 MAC
802.3 PHY
802.11 MAC
802.11 PHY
LLC
LLC
802.3 PHY
802.3 MAC
LLC
Application
TCP
802.3 PHY
802.3 MAC
IP
LLC
802.3 PHY
802.3 MAC
IP
LLC
L2 forwarding
(akabridging)
L3 forwarding
(akarouting)
Access Point
Most consumer-focused home wireless routers
merge the functions of the AP and Router
802.11 frame: addressing
Internet
router
AP
H1
R1
AP MAC addr H1 MAC addr R1 MAC addr
address 1 address 2
address 3
802.11 frame
R1 MAC addr AP MAC addr
dest. address source address
802.3 frame
Should be H1s
MAC addr.
Why cant 802.11 WLAN just use 2 addresses per frame like wired Ethernet ?
802.11: mobility within same subnet
L2 forwarder
(bridge), e.g. an
Ethernet Switch
AP 2
AP 1
H1
BBS 2
BBS 1
router
Same IP
subnet

H1 remains in same IP
H1 remains in same IP
subnet: IP address can
subnet: IP address can
remain same
remain same

Switch: which AP is
Switch: which AP is
associated with H1?
associated with H1?

self
self
-
-
learning: switch will
learning: switch will
see frame from H1 and
see frame from H1 and

remember
remember

which
which
switch port can be used
switch port can be used
to reach H1
to reach H1

But what if there are
But what if there are
more than one switch
more than one switch
in the IP subnet ?
in the IP subnet ?
802.11 - Roaming
When STA experienced No or bad connection (e.g. poor SNR) perfo When STA experienced No or bad connection (e.g. poor SNR) perform: rm:
Scanning Scanning
scan the environment, scan the environment,
Either passively listen into the medium for beacon signals or Either passively listen into the medium for beacon signals or
Actively send probes into the medium and wait for an AP to Actively send probes into the medium and wait for an AP to
answer answer
Reassociation Reassociation Request Request
station sends a request to one or several AP(s) station sends a request to one or several AP(s)
Reassociation Reassociation Response Response
success: AP has answered, station can now participate success: AP has answered, station can now participate
failure: continue scanning failure: continue scanning
AP accepts AP accepts Reassociation Reassociation Request Request
signal the new station to the distribution system signal the new station to the distribution system
the distribution system updates its data base (i.e., location the distribution system updates its data base (i.e., location
information) information)
typically, the distribution system now informs the old AP so it typically, the distribution system now informs the old AP so it can can
release resources using yet release resources using yet- -to to- -be standardized Inter Access Point be standardized Inter Access Point
Protocol (IAPP) Protocol (IAPP)
802.11 - MAC management Task
Summary
Synchronization Synchronization
try to find a LAN, try to stay within a LAN try to find a LAN, try to stay within a LAN
timer etc. timer etc.
Power management Power management
sleep sleep- -mode without missing a message mode without missing a message
periodic sleep, frame buffering, traffic measurements periodic sleep, frame buffering, traffic measurements
Association/ Association/Reassociation Reassociation
STA becomes a member of a WLAN/LAN STA becomes a member of a WLAN/LAN
Roaming, i.e. change networks by changing access points Roaming, i.e. change networks by changing access points
Scanning, i.e. active search for a network Scanning, i.e. active search for a network
Maintenance operations for AP, e.g. Maintenance operations for AP, e.g.
System parameters, e.g. Channel #, configuration ; System parameters, e.g. Channel #, configuration ;
Accounting Accounting
Activity logging Activity logging
Some current IEEE 802.11
Standardization activities
802.11e: MAC Enhancements 802.11e: MAC Enhancements QoS QoS almost done almost done
Enhance the current 802.11 MAC to expand support for application Enhance the current 802.11 MAC to expand support for applications with s with
Quality of Service requirements, and in the capabilities and eff Quality of Service requirements, and in the capabilities and efficiency of iciency of
the protocol. the protocol.
802.11f: Inter 802.11f: Inter- -Access Point Protocol (IAPP) Access Point Protocol (IAPP) experimental best current experimental best current
practice (not a binding standard) is available practice (not a binding standard) is available
Establish an Inter Establish an Inter- -Access Point Protocol for data exchange via the Access Point Protocol for data exchange via the
distribution system. distribution system.
802.11i: Enhanced Security Mechanisms 802.11i: Enhanced Security Mechanisms completed recently completed recently
Enhance the current 802.11 MAC to provide improvements in securi Enhance the current 802.11 MAC to provide improvements in security. ty.
802.11n: High Throughput (100Mbps+) 802.11n: High Throughput (100Mbps+) ongoing ongoing
802.11r: Fast (Seamless) Handover support 802.11r: Fast (Seamless) Handover support - - ongoing ongoing
802.11u: 802.11u: Interworking Interworking between 802.11 and non between 802.11 and non- -802.11 Wireless networks 802.11 Wireless networks
802.11s: Mesh Networking 802.11s: Mesh Networking ongoing ongoing
Using a self Using a self- -configurable wireless infrastructure within an ESS configurable wireless infrastructure within an ESS
IEEE 802.11s Mesh Network of APs
Distribution System Distribution System
(DS) (DS)
802.11 ESS Mesh 802.11 ESS Mesh
Mesh AP Links Mesh AP Links
802.11 MAC/PHY 802.11 MAC/PHY
(4 (4- -addr data frames) addr data frames)
Client Client - -to to- -AP Links AP Links
802.11 MAC/PHY 802.11 MAC/PHY
(3 (3- -addr data frames) addr data frames)
802.11 BSS 802.11 BSS
802.11 ESS 802.11 ESS