Module 2-
Basics of Wireless Networks
Dept of ISE,DSCE
Learning objectives
To understand wireless networks
To know the access technologies
To study problems such as interference, multi-path
propagation, path loss, battery life, etc.
To illustrate issues like channel allocation, routing,
mobility, security, power management,
etc.
Wireless networks
Wired network
Wire as communication medium
High data rate
No mobility
Wireless network
Radio waves and air as a medium
Less data rate
Highly portable
Mobility
Wireless networks (Contd..)
Provide inexpensive and rapid connection setup with
Internet
Restricted by distance
radio cells to provide connectivity
Overlapping
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Dept of ISE,DSCE
Wireless network architecture
It consists of mobile hosts, fixed hosts, access stations (BS),
core network to support mobility and switching.
Wireless network architecture (Contd..)
Mobile host
Laptop, mobile phone, PDA, notebook, etc. can
move from one place to another place while
maintaining connection with wireless network.
Fixed wireless host
Cannot move but the medium is radio waves.
Example: wireless web servers, printers, etc.
Access Network
Consists of access stations (BS) which provide
services to hosts reachable from it.
Wireless network architecture (Contd..)
Core Network
Consists of active components that perform
data switching between access stations (BS),
and provide location and mobility services.
Facilitates communication from mobile host to
mobile host, mobile host to wired node, fixed
host to wired node, fixed host to mobile host,
etc.
Classification of wireless networks
Wireless body area networks(WBAN)
Wireless personal area networks(WPAN)
Wireless local area networks(WLAN)
Wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN)
•Wireless wide Area Network (WWAN ) such
as GSM or CDMA cellular networks, satellite
networks
•Broadband Access networks
Classification of wireless networks
(Contd..)
Classification of wireless networks
(Contd..)
Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN)
Max. signal range of 2 meters
Interconnecting respective devices within the surface of the body
•WBAN Consists of set of mobile and compact intercommunicating
sensors.
•Some technology requirements are
•Use of broadband signaling scheme.
•Frequency range below 6 GHZ
•Support of heterogeneous multihop links to cope with high
path loss through the human body.
Classification of wireless networks
(Contd..)
Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN)
Classification of wireless networks
(Contd..)
Wireless Personal Area (WPAN
Network )
Max. signal range of 10 meters
•WPAN is a computer network used for communication among
personal devices themselves
•Used for communication among personal devices themselves or
connecting to higher level network and the internet.
•WPAN is made possible with network technologies such as IrDA,
bluetooth, UWB and zigbee.
WPAN Application Scenario
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Classification of wireless networks
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
• Signal range is ≈30 meters indoors an100-200m outdoors
• Also called the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11)
•WLAN is a wireless local area network which links two or
more computers within a building or small campus.
•WLAN uses spread spectrum or OFDM modulation
technology.
•Wi-Fi is the most common used technology for WLANs.
WLAN Scenario
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Classification of wireless networks
Wireless Metropolitan Area Network
(WMAN)
• This is the fourth group of wireless network and
have signal range of ≈ 5-20 km.
• Used to connect user to Internet.
• It is good alternative fixed line networks and simple
to build and is relatively inexpensive.
• Often called as worldwide interoperability for
microwave access(WiMAX or IEEE 802.16)
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WMAN Scenario
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Classification of wireless networks
Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
• This is the fifth group of wireless network.
• GSM and CDMA based network
• Used to cover an area much wider than the groups
mentioned before.
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WWAN Scenario
Dept of ISE,DSCE
Recall: an example of wired LAN
Laptop Laptop Laptop
Server Printer
Work Work Work
Station Station Station
A user is connected if An example of wireless LAN Each cell operates at a
he/she is in the coverage different frequency
area of a cell
Work
Laptop Station Laptop Laptop Laptop
Laptop
Access Access Access
Point Point Point
Server Printer
Access Access Access
Point Point Point
Work Work Work Work Work
Station Station Station Station Station
Wireless switching technology
Packet switching is the basic type of wireless switching
technology
Uses short bursts of information, uses channels only
for short periods of time.
.
• Wireless devices are ON with specific addresses assigned
to them.
• Data are sent to and from the address and routed using
standardized protocols
Recall: Packet switching
From W. Stallings, Wireless Communications and Networks, 2nd Edition
Recall: Packet switching (Contd..)
From W. Stallings, Wireless Communications and Networks, 2 nd Edition
Wireless switching technology
(Contd..)
• Packets are routed and pipelined using multiplexing
- Bandwidth is used only when data is transmitted
These slides are based on the slides formatted by Dr Sunilkumar S. manvi and Dr Mahabaleshwar S. Kakkasageri,
the authors of the textbook: Wireless and Mobile Networks, concepts and protocols. See slide number one.
Wireless switching technology (Contd..)
Virtual circuit
Switched virtual circuits (SVCs)
Established dynamically on demand
3 phases – circuit establishment, data transfer, circuit
termination
Permanent virtual (PVCs)
circuits
Only one mode i.e., data transfer
These slides are based on the slides formatted by Dr Sunilkumar S. manvi and Dr Mahabaleshwar S. Kakkasageri,
the authors of the textbook: Wireless and Mobile Networks, concepts and protocols. See slide number one.
Wireless communication
problems
Increased bit error rate
Lower transmission power
Scattering
Reflection
Diffraction
Multipath propagation
Path loss
Wireless communication problems
1. Increased bit error rate
Wireless network media is more prone to errors due to
obstacles between Tx and Rx
Interference from neighbour nodes
One can observe
Frequent disconnections causing to data loss
Annoying to voice and video clients
Wireless communication problems (Contd..)
2. Lower transmission power
Mobile units powered by battery have scarce energy resources
Limited transmission power to avoid interference
Attenuation
Capture power at the receiver side is Pr = Pt / (4 πd /λ )2
Where Pt is the transmitter power, d the distance between the transmitter
and the receiver, and λ is the wavelength of the signal.
Lp = (4 πd / λ)2 is the path loss.
3. Scattering
Occurs when signal pass through the object whose dimension is
smaller than the wavelength.
Scattered waves are produced by rough surfaces, small objects,
irregularities in the channel. Need proper deployment strategies to
reduce it.
Wireless communication problems
(Contd..)
4. Reflection
Occurs when electromagnetic wave strikes an object which has
very large dimension compared to the wave length. Ex: walls,
furniture, buildings, etc.
5. Diffraction
Occurs when radio path between Tx and Rx is obstructed by surfaces
that have sharp irregularities (edges) causing secondary waves, which
will be present in space and behind the obstacle.
Wireless communication problems
(Contd..)
7.Multipath Propagation
Caused by reflection and scattering
Radio waves arrive at the Rx from different directions with varying
delays
Final signal is the summation of all signals
Antenna diversity are used to overcome this problem
methods
Wireless communication problems
(Contd..)
8. Fading
• Affects the performance of wireless communication system.
• Degrade the BER performance of communication system, thereby
causing data loss.
9. Path Loss
Path loss is key consideration when designing wireless network.
SNR=Pr/Pn
Lp=(4πd/λ)2
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Problems
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Cntd..,
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Wireless network reference model
The TCP/IP architecture is functionally equivalent to the
OSI reference model.
Recall: TCP/IP Concepts
From W. Stallings, Wireless Communications and Networks, 2nd Edition
Protocol Data Units in the TCP/IP
Architecture
Examples:
TCP header includes destination port, sequence number, checksum
IP header includes destination host address (B in previous example)
Network header includes destination subnetwork address
Wireless network reference model
(Contd..)
Major similarities and differences between
TCP/IP and the OSI reference models are
Both models have an application, a
transport, and a network/Internet layer
The TCP/IP model does not have a
session layer
Lower layers connects the upper layers
to the actual physical network
Wireless network reference model
(Contd..)
Application layer functions
This is the layer where end user applications such as remote
login,
mail transfer, file transfer, network management, and web
browsers
run
Transport layer functions
Its job is to provide reliable communication from application to
application (end-to-end) regardless of the lower-layer protocols and
communication links
It encapsulates and deliver it to the network
application layer data layer
Illustration of the transport service
Wireless network reference model
(Contd..)
Data link layer functions
This includes the logical link control (LLC) sublayer and the
MAC (media access control) sublayer.
It does segmenting the bit stream into frames, error handling,
flow control, and access control.
MAC is responsible for accessing and sharing of the wireless
channel and reliable delivery by using acknowledgments.
Illustration of data link layer
Computer B
Computer A
P P
Bridge
LLC LLC P
LLC P P
802.3 LLC 802.3 LLC 8024 LLC P 802.4 LLC P
P P
802.3 LLC P 802.4 LLC
802.3 LLC P 802
802.4 LLC P P
802.3 LLC P 802
802.4 LLC P
Wireless network reference model
(Contd..)
Physical layer functions
This layer transports encapsulated data from the data link layer and
transmits it wirelessly to the distant network.
The wireless features and functionality (modulation type, data rate,
and so on) take place at this layer.
Wireless Networking Issues
• Traffic and Resource Allocation
• Flow Control
• Error Control
• Security and Privacy
• Mobility
• Routing
– Reachability
– Path Minimization
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Wireless Networking Issues cntd..
• QoS Management
• Radio Access
• Channel Allocation Scheme
– Fixed Channel Allocation Scheme
– Dynamic channel Allocation Scheme
– Random Allocation Scheme
• Power Management
• Pricing
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