1. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 1 Retiring the DS – a proposal Notice: This document has been prepared to assist IEEE 802.11. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein. Release: The contributor grants a free, irrevocable license to the IEEE to incorporate material contained in this contribution, and any modifications thereof, in the creation of an IEEE Standards publication; to copyright in the IEEE’s name any IEEE Standards publication even though it may include portions of this contribution; and at the IEEE’s sole discretion to permit others to reproduce in whole or in part the resulting IEEE Standards publication. The contributor also acknowledges and accepts that this contribution may be made public by IEEE 802.11. Patent Policy and Procedures: The contributor is familiar with the IEEE 802 Patent Policy and Procedures, including the statement "IEEE standards may include the known use of patent(s), including patent applications, provided the IEEE receives assurance from the patent holder or applicant with respect to patents essential for compliance with both mandatory and optional portions of the standard." Early disclosure to the Working Group of patent information that might be relevant to the standard is essential to reduce the possibility for delays in the development process and increase the likelihood that the draft publication will be approved for publication. Please notify the Chair as early as possible, in written or electronic form, if patented technology (or technology under patent application) might be incorporated into a draft standard being developed within the IEEE 802.11 Working Group. If you have questions, contact the IEEE Patent Committee Administrator at.http:// ieee802.org/guides/bylaws/sb-bylaws.pdfstuart.kerry@philips.compatcom@ieee.org Date: 2005-01-18 Authors:

2. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 2 Abstract This presentation considers how to reposition the DS in a way consistent with the existing standard but not in conflict with a new definition of inter-access point connectivity based on 802.1

3. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 3 STA Basic unit of WLAN

4. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 4 STA Space/time wormhole How to extend range

5. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 5 STA How to talk to Other LAN Portal Space/time wormhole

6. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 6 How to define a group of communicating stations STA Portal Space/time wormhole Register

7. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 7 Distribution System STA Other LAN Associated with the Distribution System Portal* STA How the concept is defined in the standard *and integration function

8. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 8 The problems in practice Space time wormholes don’t exist –we use a LAN instead. No point in having a standalone portal unit –DS is implemented as LAN anyway so why have portal? Result: –DS not really used to connect APs in real implementations –In effect each access point has a “built in” portal at the point is connects to the LAN –People incorrectly refer to the wiring inter-connecting APs as “The DS” but in reality there is a separate DS in every AP

9. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 9 Use of the DS in practice STA DS Portal STA DS Portal STA DS Portal Bridge

10. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 10 Scope of the standard STA DS Portal STA DS Portal STA DS Portal Bridge This is the limit of the existing standard “Access Point”

11. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 11 We we actually want STA DS Portal STA DS Portal STA DS Portal Bridge IEEE802.11 IEEE802.1

12. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 12 One solution – eliminate the DS Bridge IEEE802.1 “Access Point” STA Portal2 STA Portal2 STA Portal2 New “Portal” includes 802.1X controlled port – and there is only ONE

13. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 13 Problem with deleting the DS Massive text changes to standard because functions such as “association” are defined to be part of the DS NOT the access point Many well known acronyms refer to DS (e.g. toDS, fromDS bits) There is actually a function for the DS in connecting local STAs

14. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 14 Proposal 1: Make new definition of AP to include the DS Define each Access Point to contain one instance of a DS with a single (optional) portal The DS in the AP serves to connect local associated STAs using a local mechanism (e.g. memory) Optional portal is the only path for connection of STAs to external network. Connection to other access points is NOT via DS – it is via 802.1 bridge functions STA DS Portal

15. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 15 Proposal 2: Add standards text to integrate 802.11 model to 802.1 Given new definition of access point with single portal provide a functional model of the AP in terms of 802.1 model Add informative text to explain how to use APs to form a connected group via 802.1 bridge Redefine ESS in terms of both SSID and 802.1D connectivity. ESS CANNOT exist outside 802.1 architecture

16. doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/0035r0 Submission Jan 2005 Jon Edney InTalk2kSlide 16 Summary In practice DS is not used to link BSSs in the way envisaged by the 1999 standard Practical APs contain implicit portal to external LAN. Interconnecting LAN is then incorrectly referred to as “the DS” DS serves a practical purpose inside the AP but not between APs Proposal: –define each AP to have encapsulated DS –Define interconnectivity between APs in terms of 802.1 (not DS) Re-define ESS as group of APs within 802.1 architecture