1. TGad Architecture Discussion Topics
July 2009
doc.: IEEE /0840r0
TGad Architecture Discussion Topics
Date:
Authors:
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
David Bagby, Calypso Ventures, Inc.

2. Jan 2009
doc.: IEEE /1455r0
Abstract
This document contains topics for discussion concerning the architectural models introduced by the ad Amendment, Draft 5.0
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
David Bagby, Calypso Ventures, Inc.

3. Outline Multiple MAC (entities) sharing one PHY (sub-clause 4.9.3)
Month Year
doc.: IEEE yy/xxxxr0
Outline
Multiple MAC (entities) sharing one PHY (sub-clause 4.9.3)
Multi-band operation (sub-clause 4.9.4)
Transparent FST
Non-transparent FST
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
Osama Aboul-Magd (Samsung)

4. Multiple MAC (entities) sharing one PHY
Month Year
doc.: IEEE yy/xxxxr0
Multiple MAC (entities) sharing one PHY
Confirm the following advantages over completely separate STAs:
One Association exchange (but still individual security exchanges)
Power Save transitions (in/out) together, in one exchange
Single ADDTS exchange
Share beamforming
Single AID (and ATIM behavior)
Single MMAL Cluster setup and maintenance
Other (significant) advantages?
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
Osama Aboul-Magd (Samsung)

5. Multiple MAC (entities) sharing one PHY (cont)
Month Year
doc.: IEEE yy/xxxxr0
Multiple MAC (entities) sharing one PHY (cont)
Advantages over single STA (single MAC entity, and one PHY):
???
Any importance/impact on FST?
Is this needed?
Note that this concept has very few references in the Draft:
Figure 4-16a
last sentence of the first paragraph of 4.9.3, and the paragraph at lines in 4.9.3
Three other minor references
Can keep MM-SME and related coordination concepts for multiple STAs
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
Osama Aboul-Magd (Samsung)

6. Multi-band operation, transparent FST
Month Year
doc.: IEEE yy/xxxxr0
Multi-band operation, transparent FST
Confirm: Multiple MACs can use separate PHYs, and be coordinated by MM-SME, and participate in an MMAL Cluster, and do FST (right?)
Is there an architecture of a single MAC using multiple PHYs?
See (page 51 line 20), “A multi-band capable device _can_ also support multiple MAC addresses …” (emphasis added)
If the device does not use multiple MAC addresses, then this is meant to be multiple MAC entities which use the same MAC Address, right? (Not a single MAC entity with multiple PHYs?)
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
Osama Aboul-Magd (Samsung)

7. Multi-band operation, transparent FST (cont)
Month Year
doc.: IEEE yy/xxxxr0
Multi-band operation, transparent FST (cont)
Confirm: there are multiple MAC entities, but only one each of:
MAC Address
MAC_SAP
RSNA management
What is unique per MAC entity? Is that valuable, or more annoying than helpful (more state to move at FST, etc.)?
What is the advantage over a single MAC entity?
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
Osama Aboul-Magd (Samsung)

8. Multi-band operation, transparent FST (cont)
Month Year
doc.: IEEE yy/xxxxr0
Multi-band operation, transparent FST (cont)
How about a single MAC entity, with a single PHY, where the PHY can do multi-bands?
Similar to n’s PHY, which combined _and_ extended the 2.4GHz and 5GHz PHYs
Still need extensions to support dynamic mixing of successive frames (session operation in multiple bands and/or channels simultaneously), minor clarification that Association covers all PHYs at once, etc.
So, keep 11ad signaling to setup/manage the multi-band link (Multi-band element, On-channel tunneling, etc)
But, simplify the MAC architecture significantly
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
Osama Aboul-Magd (Samsung)

9. Multi-band operation, non-transparent FST
Month Year
doc.: IEEE yy/xxxxr0
Multi-band operation, non-transparent FST
What are the differences between this is other (existing) tunneling methods, , etc.?
If MAC Addresses change (at FST), upper layers need awareness of it, and methods to handle it. This is not a MAC function, but needs MAC facilities to support it (and optimize the speed of session transfers).
802.11ad supplies those facilities. Needs upper layer to complete the solution (right?)
Mark Hamilton, Polycom, Inc.
Osama Aboul-Magd (Samsung)