Vision For IEEE 802.11 Wireless Network Management Submission doc: IEEE 802.11-04/1059r1 September 2004 Vision For IEEE 802.11 Wireless Network Management Joe Kwak, InterDigital Victoria Poncini, Microsoft Jesse Walker, Intel Paul Gray, AirWave Submission Kwak and others Kwak et al

Submission Background 802.11k (Radio Resource Measurements) provides a spring board for the introduction of radio resource control functionality Rapid growth in demand for ubiquitous wireless services in enterprise, hotspot & home deployments increase the need for: Self-configuration and self-monitoring and self-healing Support of large user population/traffic High spectrum efficiency Contiguous coverage Seamless roaming Support of differentiated and guaranteed QOS Advanced Radio Resources Management strategies are key to support these requirements The speaker could point out that not all the items in the list relate to all three deployments. For example, support of large user population/traffic might be more related to hotspots and entreprise-like deployments. Submission Kwak and others Kwak et al

WNM Vision (1/2) Self configuring and self-monitoring through Submission WNM Vision (1/2) Self configuring and self-monitoring through Self-discovery of 802.11 nodes within/outside ESS Environment-aware & context-aware (deploym., interf., load, location, etc.) Dynamically adapts to external interf. (e.g. microwave, bluetooth, etc.) Quick reaction times to changes in radio network environment 802.11k measurements + new measurement reporting / signaling Recognition/classification of interference sources (microwave, radars, etc) Increased capacity and Higher spectrum efficiency through Ability to dynamically manage L1-L2 parameters of STA & AP Automatic (Initial and Dynamic) frequency selection Signaling/reporting to support smart antennas (STA and AP) Enhanced rate adaptation Normative spectrum etiquette for coexistance (cordless phones, bluetooth, etc) Ability to manage virtual APs, their Beacons and Probe Responses. Submission Kwak and others Kwak et al

WNM Vision (2/2) Contiguous coverage and seamless roaming through Frequency relocation without disassociation (when AP switches channels) Seamless and fast roaming/handover between BSSs (e.g. support VOIP) Support of Quality and Grade of Service (QoS & GoS) Network-centric admission control & congestion control Link monitoring/control by AP beyond association/disassociation Network-centric (rather than STA-driven) load balancing strategies Network-centric (rather than STA-driven) rate control strategies Also closely tied: Enhanced O&M Interfaces, architecture, observability, configurability, etc. Should be independent of network architecture E.g. Fat/Thin AP, mesh, hybrid Coexists / Backwards compatible with pre-WNM AP/STAs Submission Kwak and others

WNM key requirements 802.11k provided enhanced observability through radio resource measurements. The need for robust, high performance and self-configured WLAN Radio Networks commands advanced radio resources management strategies. These are only possible if WNM provides the means by which APs can have more control over the behavior of stations. Ability for network management to adapt from distributed (STA based) schemes for SOHO to centralized schemes for large campuses and global operators. Submission Kwak and others

IEEE 802.11 standards projects Submission IEEE 802.11 standards projects Network Architecture 802.11s ESS Mesh QoS and RRM 802.11 AP Functional Description 802.11 WNM Radio Resource Management 802.11k Radio Resource Measurements 802.21 Media-Independent Handover 802.11 802.11a/b/g/h/e/i 802.11r Fast BSS Transition Legend: Released standards 802.11 WIEN Interworking with External Networks Standards in progress Recently started Being defined Mobility and Inter-working Submission Kwak and others Kwak et al

Interactions with other 802.11 Groups Handover/Roaming Support in WNM for Infrastructure-based Handover Functions (e.g. load-balancing), complementary to 802.11r/.21/WIEN (e.g. mobility) Network Architecture/Topology 802.11s ESS Mesh imposes a new topology to be taken into account by WNM AP Functional Description SG and TG items: Central/Distributed AP (e.g. CAPWAP-like) type of topologies/architectures should also be considered when defining WNM functionalities Hybrid networks will exist and therefore a combination of the previously mentioned topologies could be foreseen WNM Functions located in a specific layer (i.e. L2/L2.5) or some split approach? Will AP Functional Description define a placeholder for WNM functions? Submission Kwak and others