Wireless Computer Networks
Evaluation Method
30 % Assignments + Projects.
70% Final Exams
References
INTRODUCTION
TO WIRELESS NETWORKS
Wireless Comes of Age
Guglielmo Marconi invented the wireless telegraph in
1896
• Communication by encoding alphanumeric characters in
analog signal
• Sent telegraphic signals across the Atlantic Ocean
Communications satellites launched in 1960s
Advances in wireless technology
• Radio, television, mobile telephone, communication
satellites
More recently
• Broadband wireless networking, cellular technology
Broadband Wireless Technology
Higher data rates obtainable with broadband wireless
technology
• Graphics, video, audio
Shares same advantages of all wireless services:
convenience and reduced cost
• Service can be deployed faster than fixed service
• No cost of cable plant
• Service is mobile, deployed almost anywhere
Limitations and Difficulties of Wireless
Technologies
Wireless is convenient and less expensive
Limitations and political and technical difficulties
inhibit wireless technologies
Lack of an industry-wide standard
Device limitations
• E.g., small LCD on a mobile telephone can only
displaying a few lines of text
• E.g., browsers of most mobile wireless devices use
wireless markup language (WML) instead of HTML
A Wireless Network
Definition:
A Group of interconnected nodes that exchange
information and share resources through a
wireless transmission medium
TYPES OF WIRELESS NETWORKS
Wireless PAN
Wireless LAN
Wireless Broadband
Wireless WAN (satellite , Microwave ,..etc)
Cellular Networks
Characteristics of Wireless WANs
Covers large geographical areas
Circuits provided by a common carrier
Consists of interconnected switching nodes
Traditional WANs provide modest capacity
• 64000 bps common
• Business subscribers using T-1 service – 1.544 Mbps
common
Higher-speed Wireless WANs use satellite , and
10s of Mbps common
Characteristics of Wireless LANs
Like WAN, Wireless LAN interconnects a variety of
devices and provides a means for information
exchange among them
Traditional Wireless LANs
• Provide data rates of 1 to 20 Mbps
High-speed Wireless LANS
• Provide data rates of 100 Mbps
Standards for Wireless LANS is WI-FI
Characteristics of Wireless LANs
Used to be a network with high prices, low data
rates, occupational safety concerns, and
licensing requirements
Problems have been addressed and popularity of
wireless LANs has grown rapidly
Differences between Wireless LANs and
WANs
Scope of a LAN is smaller
• LAN interconnects devices within a single building or
cluster of buildings
LAN usually owned by organization that owns the
attached devices
• For WANs, most of network assets are not owned by same
organization
Internal data rate of LAN is much greater
The Need for Wireless MANs
Traditional point-to-point and switched network
techniques used in WANs are inadequate for growing
needs of organizations
Need for high capacity and low costs over large area
MAN provides:
• Service to customers in metropolitan areas
• Required capacity
• Lower cost and greater efficiency than equivalent service
from telephone company
Standards for Wireless MANS is WI-MAX
Wireless Standards
PAN , LAN and MAN standards were defined by
IEEE and Industrial forums
A LAN standard define media, coding scheme,
frame form at , MAC protocol and other data link
layer protocols :
Examples of standards :
• Wireless PAN: Bluetooth , IEEE 802.15
• Wireless LAN : IEEE 802.11 (a ,b , g )
• Broadband Wireless Networks : IEEE 803.16
Wireless LAN Configurations
A wireless LAN uses wireless transmission
medium in a local Area in :
• Single Cell Configuration - Multi-cell Configuration
• Infrastructure Wireless LAN
• - Add Hoc LAN
Single Cell Wireless LAN
Configuration
Multi-Cell Wireless LAN
Configuration
Infrastructure Wireless LAN
Add Hoc LAN
Factors To Consider:
For Wireless LAN
Same as any LAN
• High capacity, short distances, full connectivity, broadcast capability
Throughput: efficient use wireless medium
Number of nodes:Hundreds of nodes across multiple cells
Connection to backbone LAN: Use control modules to connect
to both types of LANs
Service area: 100 to 300 m
Low power consumption:Need long battery life on mobile
stations
• Mustn't require nodes to monitor access points or frequent handshakes
Transmission robustness and security:Interference prone and
easily eavesdropped
Factors To Consider:
For Wireless LAN
Collocated network operation:Two or more
wireless LANs in same area
License-free operation
Handoff/roaming: Move from one cell to another
Dynamic configuration: Addition, deletion, and
relocation of end systems without disruption to
users
Wireless LAN Applications
LAN Extension
Cross-Building Interconnect
Nomadic Access
Ad Hoc Networking
Applications - LAN Extension
Saves installation of LAN cabling
Eases relocation and other modifications to network
structure
Wireless LAN to replace wired LANs has not
happened
In some environments, role for the wireless LAN
• Buildings with large open areas
• Manufacturing plants, stock exchange trading floors, warehouses
• Historical buildings
• Small offices where wired LANs not economical
May also have wired LAN
• Servers and stationary workstations
Applications –
Cross-Building Interconnect
Connect LANs in nearby buildings
Point-to-point wireless link
Connect bridges or routers
Not a LAN per se
• Usual to include this application under heading of
wireless LAN
Applications - Nomadic Access
Link between LAN hub and mobile data terminal
• Laptop or notepad computer
• Enable employee returning from trip to transfer data
from portable computer to server
Also useful in extended environment such as
campus or cluster of buildings
• Users move around with portable computers
• May wish access to servers on wired LAN
Applications –
Ad Hoc Networking
Peer-to-peer network
Set up temporarily to meet some immediate
need
E.g. group of employees, each with laptop or
palmtop, in business or classroom meeting
Network for duration of meeting
THANK YOU
