1. What is 802.11u? Date: 2006-01-06 Authors: January 2006 January 2006
doc.: IEEE /0013r0
January 2006
What is u?
Date:
Authors:
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Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics

2. January 2006
doc.: IEEE /0013r0
January 2006
Abstract
This document gives a brief personal overview of the aims of u.
As we’re still at the call for proposals stage, at this point we can’t be explicit about how these aims will be achieved.
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics

3. January 2006
doc.: IEEE /0013r0
January 2006
802.11u in a Nutshell
IEEE currently assumes that you are pre-authorised to use the IEEE network
When you come to connect, you already have all the security credentials you need (if any)
IEEE u considers the case when you don’t
You could enrol with the network (e.g. Wi-Fi’s UAM)
You could use the network to get access to one that you do have credentials for
Hot spot roaming
Enterprise Virtual Networks
You could find a network that is advertising it will give you the service you need without credentials
“Free” services
Emergency call (E911) support
Local information services that don’t provide general Internet access
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics

4. January 2006
doc.: IEEE /0013r0
January 2006
A User Perspective
You turn on your laptop in your hotel room, and it detects 15 different SSIDs that you’ve never heard of:
tsunami, Loadsadrone, linksys, OhNo, CoffeeToGo, SouthernKnocker, Uneec, Eighty4Tea, HighRateHotels , AlmostGroped, AlmostGroped2, RealAlmostGroped, GenuineAlmostGropedDontTrustTheOthersBecauseTheyreHackers
What do you do?
With u you’ll know
which networks provide free service,
which networks you can use based on your home subscriptions
which networks you could enrol with
which networks don’t provide any public service (so you can’t use them)
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics

5. January 2006
doc.: IEEE /0013r0
January 2006
IEEE u – Why Bother?
Question: Hotspots exist, roaming agreements exist, so why do we need TGu?
Some existing solutions assume no MAC layer changes
But can be klunky, inefficient and unscalable as a result
Some existing solutions assume proprietary MAC extensions
E.g. multiple SSIDs in a Beacon or Probe Response
But these are non-standard, and hence risky and often will not scale to larger networks.
Some existing solutions use layer 3 and above (i.e. IP family) techniques to overcome problems
Assume trusted relationship between AP and network
Problems with scalability and inefficiency
No layer 2 fast roaming (TGr)
TGu exists to “do it right”
Stop hacking, and fix the problems properly
Do the bits that have to be done at L2, and leave the rest to others
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics
Mike Moreton, STMicroelectronics