1. Extend Management Frame Subtype
January 2005
doc.: IEEE /1624r0
January 2005
Extend Management Frame Subtype
Date:
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Haixiang He, Nortel Networks
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks

2. January 2005
doc.: IEEE /1624r0
January 2005
Abstract
This presentation discusses an issue of the shortage of management subtypes. A straw-man solution is also proposed.
The goal of this presentation is to encourage the working group members to think about this issue and to solicit feedback on how to move forward with this work.
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks

3. Shortage of Management Subtypes
January 2005
Shortage of Management Subtypes
The Subtype field is 4 bits long. (according to 2003 edition)
It means that only 16 subtypes are allowed.
11 of 16 Management subtypes have been used.
Only 5 subtypes are reserved for future usage.
New management frames are being proposed
For example, in 11k (RRM) and 11r (Fast BSS Transition).
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks

4. January 2005
Possible Mitigation
Piggyback new management frames into existing management subtypes.
This is possible, but less than optimal.
First, it does not make semantic sense to reuse existing management subtypes such as Authentication, Association.
Second, the existing management frames are inflexible for extension. Many existing and/or required payloads are not needed for the new management frames.
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks

5. Straw-man Proposal Allocate subtype “1111” as an extended subtype.
January 2005
Straw-man Proposal
Allocate subtype “1111” as an extended subtype.
No change to existing management frames.
The first 2 bytes of the Frame Body of type “1111” is the Extended Management Subtype field.
2 bytes are used for identifying future management frames.
Extended MF subtypes will be assigned by the following the existing allocation process (i.e. new entries are marked as TBD until the draft is finalized).
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks

6. January 2005
Open Issue
How to allocate the space? Should we also suggest/recommend/dictate a method of assigning new MF type codes?
Thought One: reserve "1xxxx" for vendor specific MF subtypes.
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks

7. Feedback This issue affects the whole 802.11 WG.
January 2005
Feedback
This issue affects the whole WG.
Where is the appropriate place to discuss this issue? WG, WNG, TGma ?
Suggestions for moving forward strategy.
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks

8. January 2005
References
Haixiang He, Nortel Networks