802.11
Last updated
Last updated
Standard: Focus on link and physical layers of the network stack.
Leverage IETF protocols for upper layers.
Local Wireless Network (WLAN).
Includes Medium Access Control (MAC).
Includes(d) five physical layers (PHY).
Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
Infrared
11 Mbps - 2.4 GHz
54 Mbps - 5 GHz
Early efforts divided in three standards:
802.11
802.11a
802.11b
802.11az – 2nd generation positioning features
802.11bb – Light Communications
802.11bc – Enhanced Broadcast Service
802.11bd – Enhancements for Next Generation V2X
802.11be – Extremely High Throughput 802.11bf – WLAN Sensing
802.11bi – Randomized MAC Addresses
802.11bh – Enhanced Data Privacy
Ultra High Reliability Study Group
AI/ML Topic Interest Group
Ambient Power for IOT Topic Interest Group
Market demands and new technology push for new 802.11 standards.
Demand for throughput:
Continuing exponential demand for throughput (802.11ax and 802.11ay, 802.11be).
Most (50-80%, depending on the country) of the world’s mobile data is carried on 802.11 (Wi-Fi) devices.
New usage models / features:
Dense deployments (802.11ax), Indoor Location (802.11az).
Automotive (IEEE Std 802.11p, Next Gen V2X), Internet of Things (802.11ah).
Low Power applications (802.11ba).
WLAN Sensing (802.11bf – pending approval).
Technical capabilities:
MIMO (IEEE Std 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ay) and OFDMA (802.11ax).
60 GHz radios (802.11ay).
Changes to regulation:
TV whitespaces (IEEE Std 802.11af), Radar detection (IEEE Std 802.11h), 6GHz (802.11ax, 802.11be).
Coexistence and radio performance rules (e.g., ETSI BRAN, ITU-R).
Station (STA) - Mobile Terminal.
Access Point (AP) - STA are connected to Access Points (infrastructured networks).
Basic Service Set (BSS) - STA and AP with same coverage and connectivity are create a BSS.
Extended Service Set (ESS) - Multiple BSSs connected via the APs create an ESS.
Distribution System (DS) - Contains the entity that interconnects APs.
The Distribution system interconnects multiple BSSs.
802.11 standard logically separates the wireless medium from the distribution system – it does not preclude, nor demand, that the multiple media be same or different.
An Access Point (AP) is a STA that provides access to the DS by providing DS services in addition to acting as a STA.
Data moves between BSS and the DS via an AP.
The DS and BSSs allow 802.11 to create a wireless network of arbitrary size and complexity called the Extended Service Set network (ESS).
