1. Directed Probe Request Clarification
November 2003
Directed Probe Request Clarification
Martin Lefkowitz,
Trapeze Networks
Martin Lefkowitz, Trapeze Networks

2. Current Specification
November 2003
Current Specification
Based on the 2003 specification it is unclear as to how directed probe requests are performed
Clause 7 makes no mention of directed/undirected in regards to Probe Requests
Clause 10 intends for directed Probe Requests
Clause 11 mentions only SSID, and active/passive scanning.
Martin Lefkowitz, Trapeze Networks

3. November 2003
Clause 7
Clause 7 makes no mention of either Broadcast or unicast in regards to probe request
Only related text
For address 3, in clause it states;
c) In Management frames of subtype Probe Request, the BSSID is either a specific BSSID, or the broadcast BSSID as defined in the procedures specified in
Martin Lefkowitz, Trapeze Networks

4. Clause 10 MLME.Scan in Clause 10 includes parameters;
Month 2000
doc.: IEEE /xxx
November 2003
Clause 10
MLME.Scan in Clause 10 includes parameters;
BSSType – Ad Hoc/Infra
BSSID – MAC Address of BSS to look for
Optionally Broadcast BSSID
SSID – Service Set ID to look for
Optionally “any” SSID
ScanType – Passive or active
ProbeDelay – Delay before sending probe
ChannelList – Channels to scan
MinChannelTime - time to wait on a quiescent channel
MaxChannelTime – Time to wait on a busy channel
Martin Lefkowitz, Trapeze Networks
John Doe, His Company

5. Clause 11 Text in Clause 11 is incomplete!
Month 2000
doc.: IEEE /xxx
November 2003
Clause 11
Text in Clause 11 is incomplete!
Only defines passive and active scanning for specific SSID or any SSID
The active scanning procedure that is always quoted was intended to illuminate max and min probe delay.
When to change channels, not what to scan for.
Document 834 contains normative text that clarifies the fact that you can scan for a specific BSSID.
Should not break current implementations.
Martin Lefkowitz, Trapeze Networks
John Doe, His Company