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Design alternatives for wireless local area networks
Author(s) -
Nicopolitidis P.,
Papadimitriou G. I.,
Pomportsis A. S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of communication systems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.344
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1099-1131
pISSN - 1074-5351
DOI - 10.1002/dac.481
Subject(s) - hiperlan , computer network , computer science , wi fi , polling , wireless network , wireless wan , local area network , wi fi array , wireless , wireless distribution system , wireless lan controller , physical layer , fixed wireless , wireless ad hoc network , wireless lan , telecommunications
In this paper an overview of the wireless local area network (LAN) area is provided. The two types of wireless LAN topologies used today, infrastructure and ad hoc, are presented. The requirements that a wireless LAN is expected to meet are discussed. These requirements impact on the implementation of both the Physical and MAC layer of a wireless LAN. The unique characteristics of wireless physical layers are discussed and the five technology alternatives used today are presented. MAC layer issues are discussed and the two existing standards, IEEE 802.11 and HIPERLAN 1, are examined. Polling‐based MAC protocols (RAP, GRAP) are also reviewed. Finally, an introduction is made to wireless technologies that interact with WLANs, such as personal area networking (PAN) and wireless ATM and an overview of HIPERLAN 2, a WLAN using ATM technology, is provided. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.