Firmware Notification Month Year doc.: IEEE 802.11-yy/xxxxr0 February 2010 Firmware Notification Date: 2010-02-12 Authors: S. Hodroj (T-Mobile USA) John Doe, Some Company

Month Year doc.: IEEE 802.11-yy/xxxxr0 February 2010 Abstract Recommendation for using a new frames exchange, WNM-Management Notification Request and Response frames to announce and acknowledge the availability of new access point firmware. S. Hodroj (T-Mobile USA) John Doe, Some Company

Month Year doc.: IEEE 802.11-yy/xxxxr0 February 2010 Problem Statement AP firmware upgrade notification doesn’t exist today for end users in home environments Currently most home users manage AP FW upgrade through AP web GUI or by calling vendor/ operator customer care for help Many APs don’t have an LCD screen like other consumer devices to get firmware updates notifications Service providers usually notify the end users using SMS, E-mail, or the service monthly statement when a new FW is available for download Interoperability (between AP & STA) challenges & dependency occurs when using higher layer protocol for notification (Ex: UPnP is not supported on all types of STAs) S. Hodroj (T-Mobile USA) John Doe, Some Company

Recommendation Firmware Check (Out of scope) Firmware Announcement Month Year doc.: IEEE 802.11-yy/xxxxr0 February 2010 Recommendation Firmware Check (Out of scope) AP Device checks for new FW periodically through a backend management server AP Device determines that a new FW image needs to be installed Firmware Announcement AP notifies an associated STA that “a new AP FW is available” through the WNM-Management Notification Request frame A new management notification request frame type is defined (New FW available) to announce this notification The new management notification request frame type includes three sub elements (AP Descriptor, existing FW version, New FW version) S. Hodroj (T-Mobile USA) John Doe, Some Company

Firmware update notification Month Year doc.: IEEE 802.11-yy/xxxxr0 February 2010 Firmware update notification STAs with 802.11v AP with 802.11v New FW available Management Notification frame 1 Device checks for new FW Image STAs associates with the AP 3 New FW available 4a WNM-Management Notification Request frame Internet 4b WNM-Management Notification Response frame 2 Device determines a new FW image is available FW server New FW available In scope Out of scope Implications: User doesn’t have to login to the AP device web GUI / check for new FW. User is notified through the STA device whenever a new FW is available STA notify the end user through a pop-up message 5 S. Hodroj (T-Mobile USA) John Doe, Some Company