1. doc.: IEEE /xxxx
February 2004
September 2004
QoS Aspects of Fast Roaming Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics
16th September, 2004
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics
Fred Stivers, Texas Instruments

2. The Proposal Partial Proposal
September 2004
The Proposal
Partial Proposal
Currently partial but open to Mergers to complete
Offering solutions to QoS and Fast Roaming
Believe there’s enough 11i talent in the room who will solve the issues with security
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics

3. TSPECS and Fast Roaming
September 2004
TSPECS and Fast Roaming
What’s the problem ?
When a STA roams to a new AP the STA expects a certain degree of service i.e. VOIP
Setting up this service after the roam may take time and throughput is not guaranteed
What’s the Solution ?
During the roam have the STA set up the service (TSPECS) during the roam
When STA associates it’s immediately serviced with the required bandwidth
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics

4. Discovery & Selection Can the new AP service the TSPEC ?
September 2004
Discovery & Selection
Can the new AP service the TSPEC ?
11K have AP utilisation
Suggestion: 11K gives utilisation on all Access Categories
STA may do this analysis on a number of APs in sight
STA then selects AP and starts roaming transition
Above is out of scope just setting the scene for the roam
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics

5. Pre Authentication & Pre QoS
September 2004
Pre Authentication & Pre QoS
STA would Pre Authenticate as usual if needed
New state introduced called “Pre QoS”
STA requests TSPEC via the DS
TSPEC is encapsulated in a data frame, similar to Pre Authentication
Maximum 8 TSPEC requests
TSPECS aggregated in one TSPEC request
STA attaches a validity period to the TSPEC Request
Timestamp for how long the TSPEC will be held for
As pre authentication is done before QoS can the TSPEC be authenticated ?
So new AP recognises the TSPEC comes from known STA
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics

6. September 2004
TSPEC Processing
AP responds with the TSPEC response within the pre QoS period
The TSPEC Response
The AP can adjust the validity period depending on workload
Attached is a token for the TSPEC
To be used in the re association to start the AP servicing the TSPEC
Once the TSPEC has been accepted the AP shall not allocate this bandwidth to any other STA during the validity period
The only time the AP may delete the TSPEC is once the validity period expires
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics

7. September 2004
TSPEC Acceptance
During re association the STA attaches the TSPEC token to the re association request
This is used by the AP to identify the TSPECS it has held for that STA and to start servicing them
The AP then attaches the token to the re association response
If the token is valid then this is indicated in the returned token
If the token is no longer valid the AP indicates this and its then up to the STA on what to do next
If the token is invalid the AP can still accept the TSPEC if it has retained the TSPEC request and has the bandwidth the do so
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics

8. Summary The TSPEC is setup before the roam
September 2004
Summary
Discovery
& Selection
TSPEC
Processing
Pre Authentication
Pre QoS
Acceptance
The TSPEC is setup before the roam
Just the final token analysis is done during the roam
Does not effect the roam time
Most processing is done while the STA is still able to transmit to the old AP
Ensures STA has a adequate bandwidth straight after association
After the association response the TSPEC is active and will be serviced
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics

9. September 2004
Questions ?
Paul Newton, STMicroelectronics