WLAN Mesh Networks Daniela Maniezzo NRL Network

WLAN Mesh Networks Daniela Maniezzo NRL – Network Research Lab UCLA

WLAN Mesh definitions • An WLAN Mesh uses 802. 11 links to interconnect a set of two or more Mesh Points (MPs) including zero or more Portals. • A WLAN Mesh supports automatic topology learning and dynamic path selection (including across multiple hops). • A WLAN Mesh can be a component of an Extended Service Set (ESS).

802. 11 s Terminology Diagram Portal L 3 Router L 2 Switch Mesh Portal WLAN Mesh Links 802. 11 MAC/PHY Distribution System (DS) 802. 11 ESS STA Mesh AP 802. 11 BSS Mesh AP

Applications • Personal Phone Everywhere An extension of the cell phone into the office building. This includes cordless phone over Vo. IP. • Multiplayer Internet gaming anywhere within the home / Internet Café / cars. • Music and Video real time on multiple receivers throughout the home from a remotely located AV -server/AP/set top box receiver. • Watch a clear replay of an event from your seat in a sporting arena.

Applications (cont’d) • Remotely located security cameras transmitting video signal to a monitoring location. • Net meeting in a conference/class room to share someone’s display. • Download video, music and other data files to a device in a car in the home garage or driveway. • Hospital applications (Update/view medical records from patient rooms). • Public City Mesh Network for urban annotation and data-centric applications. • Etc.

IEEE 802. 11 s: Usage Models • To support the definition of 802. 11 ESS Mesh WLAN standard within the IEEE, the Task Group “s” defined usage models based on various marked-based use-case. • The usage models are intend to support the definition of simulations that will allow the evaluation of the proposals.

Usage Models: Residential • The purposes for the mesh network are to create low-cost, easily deployable, high performance wireless coverage throughout the home. • The mesh network should help to eliminate RF dead-spots and should be self-configuring. • Indor network. • High-bandwidth applications such as video distribution are likely to be used within a home network the most demanding usage of bandwidth in the mesh network is expected to come from device-todevice communication within the home.

Usage Models: Office • The primary purposes for the mesh network are to create low-cost, easily deployable networks with reliable coverage throughout an office building. • Mesh Points will mostly be dedicated infrastructure devices, but some PCs may also participate as Mesh Points in the network. • STAs may be a combination of PCs, laptops, PDAs, printers, telephones etc. • Indoor Network • Mesh Network are particularly useful in areas where Ethernet cabling does not exist or is cost prohibitive to install.

Usage Models: Campus/Community/Public Access Net • This usage model differs from the other categories in that the number of Mesh APs that are required to deploy services is very high. • Outdoor network. • Rapidly provide connectivity to locations where wired infrastructure is not available or is cost prohibitive. • Provide a lower cost / higher bandwidth alternative to traditional internet access methods. • Enable higher reliability internet access service by providing fault tolerant infrastructure, and redundant (to traditional wired access methods) access links. • Enable location based services to be deployed in an 802. 11 s network.

Usage Models: Public Safety • Public safety mesh networks provide wireless network access to emergency and municipal safety personnel such as fire, police, and emergency workers. • The network may be used for video surveillance, tracking workers, voice and data communication, uploading images, downloading information, etc. • It may be deployed over a wide range of scales. • Mostly outdoor network. • Node mobility, dynamic variations in radio propagation, equipment/power failures, etc. make network self-configuration and self-management essential in these scenarios.

Usage Models: Military • This usage model is distinguished by node mobility, a heavy reliability on fully automated network management and, for disadvantaged nodes, e. g. , dismounted troops, sensitivity to energy conservation. • Combat operations may occur both indoors and outdoors. • Situational awareness and voice communications are primary applications of interest to the military.

Functional Requirements and Scope • Mesh Topology Discovery – Automatic topology learning, including the status and quality of mesh links • Mesh Routing Protocol – MAC address-based protocol and algorithm for dynamic auto-configuration of MAC-layer data delivery. Demand Multicast. Points over On paths between Mesh 802. 11 wireless links. Routing Protocolsupport unicast, (ODMRP) – Routing protocols should broadcast and multicast

Functional Requirements and Scope (cont’d) • Support for single and Multiple Radios (not precluding the use or a single transceiver). • Mesh Network Size: up to 32 Mesh Poins. • Mesh Security – Use an extension of 802. 11 i for the purpose of securing an ESS Mesh in which all the Mesh Points are controlled by a single administrative entity for security. • Amendment to MAC with no PHY changes required

Functional Requirements and Scope (cont’d) • Radio Aware Routing Metrics – They Multi-Rate all aspects of MAC/PHY may include ETX / Ca. Probe statistics. • Backwards Compatibility – No modifications to the STA’s relationship with the BSS and ESS. • Compatibility with higher layer protocols – An IEEE 802. 11 ESS Mesh Net shall appear to higher layers as a IEEE 802 LAN segment.

Related Topics • Distributed Hash Tables for smart ARP in Mesh Network • An extension of IEEE 802. 11 e Qo. S for MESH Networks • Car. Torrent • Vertical Handoff

Call for Proposals: Schedule • Notice of intent to submit proposal (Mandatory) – By email to the TGs chair by noon Eastern USA time the Friday of the March 2005 Interim meeting, currently scheduled for 18 March 2005. • Opportunities for preliminary presentation of proposal (Optional) – At the March and May 2005 802. 11 meetings, currently scheduled for and Beijing, China. • Deadline for submission of documents (Mandatory) – Document(s) to be uploaded to the 802 wirelessword server by noon Eastern USA time, 15 June 2005. • Presentation of proposal (Mandatory) – At the July 2005 IEEE 802 Plenary Meeting currently scheduled for 13 -18 July, San Francsico, California.