802.

11 Wireless LANs (Wi Fi)

This Lecture covers.

Overview of 802.11 Wireless LANs 802.11 Physical Layer Technologies Mobility QoS for 802.11 Wireless LANs802.11e

What is WLAN
WLAN (Wireless LAN or also called Wi-Fi) is a wireless version of the Ethernet Suitable for indoor/local wireless coverage
Typical range under 40 meters Range highly dependent on the space layout

Optimized for packet based communication, e.g., Internet Protocol (IP) Transmission speed
Upto 11 Mbps for 802.11b Upto 54 Mbps for 802.11a or 802.11g

WLAN is Open Technology

Anyone can build and sell WLAN equipment as long as
Power radiation regulations are obeyed

Interoperability standards are mature and openly available (IEEE 802.11 and WiFi Alliance) No need for spectrum license to operate WLAN
WLAN operates in 2.4 GHz (b, g) or 5 GHz (a) unlicensed bands

WLAN is Open Technology contd

License Free Industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band

Typical WLAN Applications

Wireless Office
Wireless Internet connectivity, VoIP

Wireless Home
Laptops, entertainment systems, appliances

Public hot-spots
Wireless Internet connectivity in malls, coffee shops, libraries, airports

The IEEE 802 family

Other WLAN standards

IEEE 802.11i
Encryption techniques WPA, AES Authentication techniques 802.1x QoS over wireless link Seamless handoffs between access points E.g. WiFi Certified logo

IEEE 802.11e IEEE 802.11f WiFi Alliance drives interoperability of equipment based on IEEE 802.11 standards

Components of 802.11 LANs

Stations
battery-operated laptop or handheld computers

Access points
perform the wireless-to-wired bridging function

Wireless medium Distribution system

The distribution system is the logical component of 802.11 used to forward frames to their destination

Network Architecture 1/2

1. BSS: a set of stations which communicate with one another Infrastructure Stations communicate with AP AP provides connection to wired network (e.g. Ethernet) Stations not allowed to communicate directly

Ad hoc Only direct communication possible No relay function

Network Architecture 2/2

2. ESS: a set of BSSs interconnected by a distribution system (DS)

MAC Layer

MAC Layer Contd

Manages access of multiple wireless stations to shared wireless medium
CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance)

Assists in security over the wireless link

Encrypt all wireless communication Authenticate clients before granting access

Assists in association management

Binding client identity of access point Portability, mobility

CSMA/CA flowchart

CSMA/CA and NAV

NAV: Network Allocation Vector

repetition interval

Hidden station problem

Use of handshaking to prevent hidden station problem

Physical layers

What is an OFDM
Data is transmitted in parallel on multiple carriers that overlap in frequency

Frame format

Subfields in FC field

Control frames

Values of subfields in control frames

Addresses

Addressing mechanisms

Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15 WPAN

Bluetooth piconet architecture.

Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15 WPAN

Bluetooth scatternet architecture.