802.11

The IEEE 802.11 Working Group

Standard: Focus on link and physical layers of the network stack.

Leverage IETF protocols for upper layers.

Historic IEEE 802.11 standard

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

802.11 Family

Evolution

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

Innovation

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).

Architecture

Components

• 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.

Distribution System (DS)

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).