Wireless LANs
Wireless Ethernet (802.11)
Presented by
V.Thiruppathy Kesavan,
Lect/CSE
AKCE.
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 1
Wireless Ethernet (802.11)
Operates on physical and data link layers
Basic service set (BSS) – stationary or mobile wireless
stations and a central base station known as an access
point (AP)
Without an AP is an ad hoc architecture
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 2
802.11 Architecture (cont)
Extended service set
(ESS) – two or more
BSSs with APs connected
through a distribution
system (wired LAN) in an
infrastructure network
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 3
Station Types
No-transition mobility – either stationary or moving only
inside a BSS
BSS-transition mobility – can move from one BSS to
another, but confined inside one ESS
ESS-transition mobility – can move from one ESS to
another
Physical Layer
Five specifications
802.11 FHSS
802.11 DSSS
802.11a OFDM
802.11b HR-DSSS
802.11g OFDM
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 4
802.11 FHSS
Frequency-hopping spread spectrum in a 2.4
GHz band
Carrier sends on one frequency for short duration
then hops to another frequency for same
duration, hops again to another for same amount
of time and so on
Spreading adds security since only sender and
receiver agree on sequence of allocated bands
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 5
802.11 FHSS (cont)
Contention is handled by MAC sublayer since all stations
use the same subbands
Pseudorandom number generator selects the hopping
sequence
Data rate is of 1 or 2 Mbps
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 6
802.11 DSSS
Direct sequence spread spectrum in a 2.4 GHz band
Each bit is replaced by a sequence of bits called a chip
code, implemented at the physical layer
Sender splits each byte of data into several parts and
sends them concurrently on different frequencies
Data rate is 1 or 2 Mbps
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 7
802.11a OFDM
Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing using
a 5-GHz band
Same as FDM except all subbands are used by
only one source at a given time
Security increased by assigning subbands
randomly
Data rates of 18 Mbps and 54 Mbps
Often used in power-line networking
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 8
802.11b HR DSSS
High-rate DSSS using a 2.4 GHz band
Similar to DSSS except for encoding method
Uses complementary code keying (CCK),
encoding 4 or 8 bits to one CCK symbol
Defines four data rates: 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 9
802.11g OFDM
Uses OFDM with same 2.4 GHz band
Achieves a 54-Mbps data rate
Works with same 802.11b equipment
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 10
802.11 CSMA/CA
Wait a DIFS time to
avoid collision
Send RTS and
wait for CTS reply to
obtain the use of the
Medium (air)
Use of SIFS time
for control information
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 11
CSMA/CA
Necessary since wireless LANs cannot
implement CSMA/CD
Collision detection requires increased bandwidth
requirements
Collisions might not be detected due to obstacles
Distance between stations may prevent collisions
from being heard
Collision avoidance is accomplished through
network allocation vector (NAV)
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 12
Network Allocation Vector
Timer which shows how much time must pass before a
station is allowed to check the channel
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 13
Fragmentation
Wireless environment is very noisy
Corrupt frames must be retransmitted
Large frames must be divided into smaller ones to
increase efficiency
Frame Types
Management frames – used for initial communication
between stations and access points
Control frames – used for accessing the channel and
acknowledging frames
Data frames – used for carrying data and control information
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 14
IEEE 802.11 Frame Structure
Four Addresses
To, or from Power
Data, control the Intercell Management
or management network
Payload is WEP encrypted
RTS, CTS, Retransmission (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
ACK etc. More Fragments
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 15
Addressing
Complicated addressing scheme since there may be
intermediate stations (APs), identified by flags
To From Address Address Address Address
DS DS 1 2 3 4
Destination Source
0 0 BSS ID N/A
station station
Destination Sending Source
0 1 N/A
station AP station
Receiving Source Destination
1 0 N/A
AP station station
Receiving Sending Destination Source
1 1
AP AP station station
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 16
Wireless LAN Use Case 1
Communications within a Basic Service Set
BSS # 1
BSS # 9
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 17
Wireless LAN Use Cases 2 and 3
Communications within a Basic Service Set to or from
the wireline backbone network
Wireline Backbone Network
Distribution
system
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 18
Case 2: From Distribution System to BSS
We need to identify the frame is from outside the BSS
• B will receive the frame and sends an ACK to the AP (an 802.11 requirement)
• The originator address is placed in field 3, which is used by B in replies
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 19
Case 3: To Distribution System from BSS
We need to identify the AP as the first hop to the destination (B)
• A will receive an ACK from the AP – indicates frame successfully on its way
• The ultimate destination is placed in address field 3, which is used by the AP
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 20
The Extended Service Set ESS
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 21
Case 4: Intra BSS through Wireless ESS
Used between Access Points. All four address fields are used.
See IEEE 802.11f standard if you want the details.
FDP on Computer Networks Department of CSE/AKCE 22
