`
`Standardization Efforts for
`
`Wireless LANs
`
`
`
`
`
`Victor Hayes
`
`menflyflhewirelehsmmticafioumrketismmudonvficem
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nieafionsascaabeappreciatedbythe npidlyincreasingpopnlaflanofcarand
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`manila-phaulaa'maflahifimdmmm
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`apeechfllommsmissiounithabandwldthaahwumkhhaadhcseswmpfiu
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`elapse]bitumiMWMWu-fflrrmdifloaotthem’smmdthe
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`umfismmfleufllflshfim
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`require flawless
`Computer communications, however,
`
`
`
`
`
`transfer of millions ofbita in a few seconds. Radio Local Area
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Network (LAN) products that do not require a user license and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`operateatuptoZMbisarcavailablctoday andhavepmventhe
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`concept to be viable. Because a large instailetl base of wired
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`{mpper or fiber-optic cable) LANs operate at rates of IO M'hh.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`astandard effortforawireless LANhastobeaimedatthe
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`same speed. at least. to give a user equivalent performance.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Available Standards for
`
`
`Wireless LANs
`There is no fully approved standard for wireless LANs
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`available. The only draft standard close to the l Mbh data rate
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the Digital European Cordless Telecommunications
`is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(DEC?) drafi standarcL In June 1991, the Technical Commit-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tee for Radio Equipment and Systems of the European Telo
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communications Standards Institute [ETSD‘ approved the
`
`
`
`
`
`publication of a dam DECT standard for public comment.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Each DECT system (comparable to a Private Automatic
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Branch Exchange—~PABX] can carry IO frequency-division
`
`
`
`
`
`
`channels for [2 (voice) connections each. Each connection car-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`riestwo SZMdigital channdsfionnetnionscanbeeombined
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`into groups for higher data rates. the maximum being one
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`614.4 “NS stream for computer data from one access point to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`another. It typically takes 30 ms to set up and clcar such a con-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nection; this limits the practical throughput in LAN systems to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`about 300 this
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Active Standards Groups
`Two committees an: working on wireless communications
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in the U5. The Accredited Standards Committee Tl estab-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lished a group, TlPl, chartered with the systems engineering.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`standards planning. and programs man
`at of wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`networks within Tl , in October 1990. The first project is called
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Universal Personal Telecommunications (UPT). UFT would
`
`
`
`
`
`
`enable a user to access network services from any terminal, i.e.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`fixed. movable, or mobile. The user could move across difi‘er—
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ent networks. both private and public, such as the Public
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Switched Telephone Network (PS’I‘N), Integrated Services
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Digital Networks (ISDNs). and cellular radio networks It is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`not clear what the data rate and error requirements should be.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`From the list of networks mentioned, this writer assnrnes that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`thedataratewould mainlybebciowé‘ikbbandbemz. would
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IE‘l‘Sl was formed by the Conference ofEuropean Postfl andTele-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communications LCEPT} administration in 1988. and is only accessi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ble for its members. i.e., European administrations. European tele-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communication sen'iee providers. European telecommunication and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computumanufacrumanduscrorganintions. ‘l‘hegoalofETSIis
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to create Europe-wide telecommunication standards.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`not fit the requirements for local area computer communica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cons
`
`The institute ofEiec-trical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`established a standards working group for wireless LANs in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`July 1990. More details of this committee are given in the next
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`section.
`
`In Europe, the two potential candidates for establishing a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`standard are ETSI and the European Computer Manufacturers
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Association (ECMA).
`_
`
`
`'l'heECMAproposalisthatETSlandECMAeslabhsha
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`joint committee with the charter offeetfins the IEEE working
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`group with European requirements for wireless LANs. coordi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nating European radio spectrum Immunization. and provid-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing technical contributions with the aim of obtaining a world-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wide standard for wireless LANs
`
`
`
`
`
`ETSI is in the process of establishing a rubtechnical com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mittee for wireless LANs. An ad hoc group is already working
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to prepare the terms and reference for the group. The next op-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`portunity for approving the establishment of the sublechnrcal
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`committee is in the Dec. 1991—.lan. 1992 timeframe. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`first charter ofthe committee is to manage research for the def-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`inition of “services and facilities.” The original plan called for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`having the definition established in June 1992.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Although ECMA could invite experts from outside, both
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ECMA and ETSI restrict participation in the standards making
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`m to members only.
`
`
`
`
`The European Radio Commission {ERG} of the CEFF ad-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ministration is studying the acceptance ofa Recommendation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`for radio LANs. It is expected that the Recommendation could
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be agreed upon in the beginning of 1992.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In Japan. four groups are active on wireless LAN. The Tele-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communication Technology Council (TIC) ofthe Ministry for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Post and Teleconununications (MPT) is responsible for fre-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`quency allocation and has recommended that radio IAN sys—
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tems share the LES-3,4!!!) MHZ and the l?.?—2].2 Gil:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`bands with other services. The Research and Development
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Center for Radio Systems (RCRJ. within the MPT. is preparing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Tabla 1. International Standards Prepared by IEEE P802
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`U" it"
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WWW
`
`
`WWW—urti-
`
`
`
`
`iP-na: wmwm
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ImWnW-m—
`
`
`
`
`mammummm
`
`
`
`
`
`00-”me
`
`
`
`Hollrodand
`
`
`WWW
`
`
`
`Pans: Tm ham-aw all
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BMWJBUOM 'I-(IHQ $01.00 " 199! IEEE
`
`
`
`
`
`November 1991 ~IEEE Network Magazine
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`. 19
`
`
`
`
`ST. JUDE 1016
`ST. IUDE 1016
`
`1
`
`
`
`Tabbfl.WodtPlaflnllheIEEEm11 Norman“)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Goal
`Projected Eli-rte
`
`
`
`
`amounts-gunmen
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Nov. 1892
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mass
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Nou.1993
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“c.1393
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mum-rum
`
`
`
`
`mm
`
`
`
`
`draf'l specifications for the Japanese wireless standard. Re-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`search is being done at the Institute of Electronics Information
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and Computer Engineering (IEICE) and the Ministry of Inter-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`national Trade and Industry {MITI}.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The IEEE Working Group
`The IEEE working group2 for wireless LAN: (designated
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[BEE PSOZJI) is part of IEEE Standards Project 802. This
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`project is sponsored by the Technical Committee for Comput-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`er Communications, a standards activity ofthe Computer So-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ciety. It is recognized as the focal point for the development of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LAN standards and is respected for its expertise and produc-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tivity within the IEEE. Their work is appreciated internation-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ally. Table I shows those standards that have been adopted as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`International Standards by the International Organization for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Standardizationfluternatioual Electrotechnical Commission
`
`
`(ISCItIIlEC)3 community to date.
`
`
`
`
`The first activity on a wireless medium was started in Work-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing Group 802.4, which worked on the token-passing bus ac-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cess method in 193?. The prime interest ofthe participants was
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`using radio transmission.
`
`
`
`During the studies of modulation techniques. the group‘s
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interest focussod on the nonlicensed radio frequencies. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`only opportunity to do so was by using spread spectrum modu-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lation aspermittcd in the U.S. by the Federal Communications
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Commission (FCC) in the 902—928 MHz. 2,400—2.50(l MHz.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and 5325—5375 MHz bands. These bands are designated for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Industrial. Scientific. and Medical (ISM) applications. Other
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`results of the studies were the understanding of radio channel
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`characteristics. such as propagation and noise in buildings.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The information was gained partly from literature and partly
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from measurements obtained at the automobile plant of Gen-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`eral Motors (GM) at Oshawa. Ontario, Canada.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`At the July 1990 meeting, the group had come to the oonclu~
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sion that the token-passing bus protocol was not suitable for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`controlling a radio medium without causing inefi'tcient use of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the radio frequency spectrum. The Executive Committee of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IEEE Project 802 decided at the same meeting to establish
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2The working group in IEEE is an open forum; anyone can attend
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the meetings, but participation in the discussions may be restricted by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the chaiman to members. Membership of the working group is grant-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ed to individuals that have a satisfactory attendance record.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3The ISO and {EC are jointly responsible for the international stan-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`dard ization of infest-nation technology related subjects. Membershipis
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`by national standards institute.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`20 - November 1991 - [BEE Network Magazine
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Working GroupIEEE P301] l withthechanerto defineanac-
`
`
`
`
`cess protocol and a medium control specification suited for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`radio.
`
`The working group now has over 3'0 voting members and a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mailing list with over 300 addresses. Members are from the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`US. as well as Canada. Japan. Australia. and Europe. Most
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`major computer manufacturers participate in this group.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`First, the plan calls for the establishment of an IEEE Stan-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`dard and then the introduction ofthat standard asa draft to the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ISOIIEC for consideration as an International Standard. In
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`concert with the policy of the Open Systems Interconnection
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(OSI) community in ISOJIEC, the plan includes the prepara-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion of abstract test suites. The goal ofabstract test suites is to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ensure that all products can be tested for oonfonnance to the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`standard, employing the saute set of test rules and providing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the same verdict of test results. no matter where in the world
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the testing is performed.
`
`
`
`
`Although ”Wireless” may include infrared or visible light
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`waves, the majority of the group has an interest in radio. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`radio spectrum, however. is a scarce resource and “owned“ by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the administration of each country. The major challenge, first
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of all. is to obtain sufficient spectrum in various countries, and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`harmonize the allocation and rule-making worldwide. Thus.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`panofthetaskofthe workinggroupistoencourage regrlatory
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`agents to allocate bands for radio LANs. To prevent it require-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ment for end-user licensing. the means of sharing radio fre»
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`oucncies must be such that no coordination with existing users
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is needed. Because of the many uncertainties involved in the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`regulatory process, the group started work in the bands desig-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nated for ISM applications.
`
`
`
`
`Presently the working group is focusing on the formulation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of design goals based on user requirements. A majorissue is the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`decision whether voice communication is to be accommodat—
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ed. Onoeanagreement basbeen reached. the group willestab—
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lishanarchitecturebeforeafirstdraftisdcvektped'fhework-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing group has set an ambitious scheduie (see Table II). The goal
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is to have a standard by the end of 1993.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`As stipulated in its Project Authorization. the goal of IEEE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`P802 is to propose a standard suitable for adoption by the ISO!
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IEC as an International Standard. Liaison with ETSI andTl P I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`has been set up to prevent duplication of work However.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`scamcncss of radio frequency spectrum and historical differ-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ences in national frequency allocations may force the specifica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion of separate transmitterkeceiver specifications in some
`
`
`
`
`
`
`countries.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Biography
`VietcrfllynroceivedhlaB.E.dcataofromm1erAmmarM’h
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ammrdln. (fl Netherlands. h195l.l'|oiathachalrpcrsmof£EEle11.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ethmmm.h1974.hmmNCRCfi~
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Wile Engi‘tnaring Sumo: on data emuicatlom. to.W Data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Llnlt Control lHDLCl. and x25 packet amt, Ho ism mutt-sine Inn's pm-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pationhwhalaotmrdfldsuorkandlsiaiconlorrdfidacfltdtiuwhpov-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mag-noise.
`Before mtg the chair of E standards Mag m for wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`uM|n1SBD.MMtMNIthm'mrdamfurmm
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`layer OSI standardsandwaaheodufdalagatim oithe Netherlands’ delegation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`hhflWmhmMfltia..Wfidefli-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ealComtnimaSHno-w
`hhmTodmlcalcul-Miruc‘lu‘rcn
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`dlSOMCmpomflefwaflthudeT-dw.fle
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`alauchairadthl taskgoupforlowcrioyautdlfwmnandumufmamn.
`He is a morrtbor of the SE.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`