Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A discussion of the technological issues associated with wireless local area networks (WLANs) as a means of providing cable-free data access, easy upgrading and flexible reconfiguration compared to the extensive multimedia and intensive application support provided by terrestrial and satellite asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. It explores the benefits and the issues related to developing wireless ATM and provides an overview of both WLAN and WATM technologies, as well as their global standards, performance evaluations of the two network options, and the pros and cons of each. Designed to provide a survey of requirements for third-generation wireless networks, the book discusses how WLANs offer flexibility, and simple methods for reconfiguring or expanding networks without much expense or redesign, making upgrades inexpensive and easy. It also depicts how ATM is capable of supporting precise and demanding applications, including today's most intense multimedia functions, and it explores the technical issues related to extending ATM from wireline to wireless environments.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. xiii)
• 1 Wireless Local Area Networks (p. 1)
• 1.1 The need for wireless LANs (p. 1)
• 1.2 Indoor wireless communications (p. 4)
• 1.3 Radio spectrum (p. 5)
• 1.4 Path loss (p. 6)
• 1.5 Multiple access (p. 7)
• 1.6 Multipath (p. 9)
• 1.6.1 Delay spread (p. 10)
• 1.6.2 Flat fading (p. 10)
• 1.6.3 Frequency-selective fading (p. 14)
• 1.6.4 Intersymbol interference (p. 16)
• 1.6.5 Countermeasures against multipath (p. 17)
• 1.7 Shadow fading (p. 19)
• 1.8 Propagation delay (p. 19)
• 1.9 Summary (p. 19)
• References (p. 21)
• 2 Classification of Wireless LANs (p. 23)
• 2.1 Radio LANs (p. 23)
• 2.2 Direct-sequence spread spectrum (p. 24)
• 2.3 Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (p. 30)
• 2.4 Comparison of DSSS and FHSS wireless LANs (p. 32)
• 2.4.1 Overall network capacity (p. 32)
• 2.4.2 Interference rejection (p. 35)
• 2.4.3 Collisions (p. 36)
• 2.4.4 Carrier sensing (p. 37)
• 2.4.5 Health concerns (p. 38)
• 2.5 Infrared LANs (p. 39)
• 2.5.1 Directed and diffuse infrared LANs (p. 40)
• 2.5.2 Characteristics of infrared LANs (p. 41)
• 2.6 Summary (p. 43)
• References (p. 43)
• 3 Wireless LAN Implementation (p. 45)
• 3.1 Wireless LAN components (p. 45)
• 3.1.1 Wireless network interface cards (p. 45)
• 3.1.2 Wireless access points (p. 46)
• 3.1.3 Remote wireless bridges (p. 47)
• 3.2 Wireless LAN protocol architectures (p. 48)
• 3.3 Wireless LAN topologies (p. 50)
• 3.4 Wireless LAN deployment considerations (p. 52)
• 3.4.1 Hidden node (p. 54)
• 3.4.2 Power capture (p. 58)
• 3.4.3 Radio interference sources (p. 59)
• 3.4.4 Obstructions to signal propagation (p. 59)
• 3.5 Enhancing the performance of wireless LANs (p. 60)
• 3.5.1 Multichannel configuration (p. 60)
• 3.5.2 Multichannel operation for 2.4 GHz DSSS wireless LANs (p. 62)
• 3.5.3 Multichannel operation for 2.4 GHz FHSS wireless LANs (p. 63)
• 3.5.4 Fall back rate (p. 63)
• 3.5.5 Filtering network traffic (p. 63)
• 3.5.6 Roaming and handoff (p. 64)
• 3.5.7 Mobile Internet support (p. 66)
• 3.5.8 Load balancing (p. 67)
• 3.5.9 Securing wireless access (p. 68)
• 3.5.10 Power management (p. 68)
• 3.6 Wireless LAN applications and benefits (p. 69)
• 3.7 Summary (p. 70)
• References (p. 70)
• 4 Wireless LAN Standards (p. 73)
• 4.1 The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard (p. 74)
• 4.1.1 IEEE 802.11 network architecture and reference model (p. 74)
• 4.1.2 The IEEE 802.11 basic reference model (p. 76)
• 4.2 IEEE 802.11 physical layer (p. 77)
• 4.2.1 General packet formats (p. 77)
• 4.2.2 DSSS physical layer (p. 78)
• 4.2.3 FHSS physical layer (p. 80)
• 4.2.4 Infrared physical layer (p. 83)
• 4.3 IEEE 802.11 medium access control layer (p. 85)
• 4.3.1 General 802.11 MAC protocol data unit (p. 86)
• 4.3.2 Interframe spaces (p. 86)
• 4.3.3 Distributed coordination function (p. 88)
• 4.3.4 Point coordination function (p. 97)
• 4.3.5 Association and reassociation (p. 98)
• 4.3.6 Authentication and privacy (p. 99)
• 4.3.7 Synchronization (p. 99)
• 4.3.8 Power management (p. 100)
• 4.3.9 Packet fragmentation (p. 102)
• 4.4 Unresolved issues of the IEEE 802.11 standard (p. 104)
• 4.4.1 Access point coordination for roaming (p. 104)
• 4.4.2 Conformance test suite (p. 104)
• 4.5 Current developments of the IEEE 802.11 standard (p. 105)
• 4.5.1 The high-speed 2.4 GHz standard (p. 105)
• 4.5.2 The high-speed 5 GHz standard (p. 107)
• 4.5.3 The personal area network study group (p. 108)
• 4.6 Commercial IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs (p. 109)
• 4.7 The HIPERLAN Type 1 standard (p. 110)
• 4.7.1 Physical layer (p. 111)
• 4.7.2 Comparison of IEEE 802.11 and HIPERLAN specifications (p. 112)
• 4.8 HIPERLAN Type 1 medium access control layer (p. 113)
• 4.8.1 Intraforwarding (p. 115)
• 4.8.2 Hidden node (p. 117)
• 4.8.3 Quality of service (p. 117)
• 4.8.4 Power management (p. 119)
• 4.8.5 Security (p. 119)
• 4.8.6 Commercial HIPERLAN Type 1 wireless LANs (p. 119)
• 4.9 The WLIF OpenAir standard (p. 119)
• 4.10 The HomeRF SWAP standard (p. 120)
• 4.10.1 Network configuration (p. 121)
• 4.10.2 Applications (p. 122)
• 4.11 The Bluetooth standard (p. 123)
• 4.11.1 The need for the Bluetooth standard (p. 123)
• 4.11.2 Bluetooth specifications (p. 123)
• 4.11.3 Connection types (p. 124)
• 4.11.4 Error correction (p. 125)
• 4.11.5 Authentication and privacy (p. 126)
• 4.11.6 Power consumption (p. 126)
• 4.11.7 Future developments for Bluetooth (p. 127)
• 4.12 The W3C and WAP standards (p. 127)
• 4.12.1 W3C (p. 127)
• 4.12.2 WAP Forum (p. 127)
• 4.13 The Infrared Data Association standard (p. 128)
• 4.14 International wireless data associations (p. 129)
• 4.14.1 The Wireless LAN Alliance (p. 130)
• 4.14.2 The Wireless Data Forum (p. 130)
• 4.14.3 The Portable Computer and Communications Association (p. 131)
• 4.15 Summary (p. 131)
• References (p. 131)
• 5 Performance Evaluation of Wireless LANs (p. 133)
• 5.1 Performance evaluation techniques (p. 134)
• 5.2 Evaluation of IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs (p. 134)
• 5.2.1 Theoretical calculations (p. 134)
• 5.2.2 Measurement setups (p. 139)
• 5.2.3 Measured results (p. 140)
• 5.3 The non-802.11 WavePOINT wireless LAN (p. 149)
• 5.3.1 Measured results (p. 151)
• 5.4 The Motorola Altair Plus wireless LAN (p. 154)
• 5.4.1 Measurement setups (p. 156)
• 5.4.2 Point-to-point measured results (p. 157)
• 5.4.3 Point-to-multipoint measured results (p. 160)
• 5.5 Summary (p. 160)
• References (p. 165)
• 6 Wireless ATM Networks (p. 167)
• 6.1 ATM technology (p. 167)
• 6.1.1 Comparison of transfer modes (p. 168)
• 6.1.2 ATM versus IP (p. 173)
• 6.2 The need for wireless ATM (p. 176)
• 6.3 Wireless communications using ATM (p. 177)
• 6.3.1 Wireless ATM transport modes (p. 179)
• 6.3.2 Cellular architecture (p. 179)
• 6.3.3 Operating frequency (p. 181)
• 6.3.4 Modulation (p. 181)
• 6.3.5 Equalization and antenna techniques (p. 183)
• 6.3.6 Multicarrier schemes (p. 183)
• 6.3.7 Duplexing (p. 185)
• 6.3.8 Multiple access (p. 185)
• 6.3.9 Code division multiple access (p. 186)
• 6.3.10 Time division multiple access and polling schemes (p. 187)
• 6.3.11 The simple asynchronous multiple access protocol (p. 188)
• 6.3.12 Error control (p. 188)
• 6.3.13 Transport control (p. 191)
• 6.3.14 Resource allocation (p. 192)
• 6.3.15 Mobility management (p. 193)
• 6.4 Multimedia communications using wireless ATM (p. 196)
• 6.5 Wireless ATM prototypes (p. 200)
• 6.5.1 WATMnet (p. 201)
• 6.5.2 BAHAMA/MII (p. 201)
• 6.5.3 Magic WAND (p. 202)
• 6.5.4 Median (p. 203)
• 6.5.5 Awacs (p. 203)
• 6.6 Commercial wireless ATM systems for local loops (p. 203)
• 6.6.1 Alcatel 9900 WW (p. 204)
• 6.6.2 WI-LAN 300-24 (p. 204)
• 6.7 Satellite communications using ATM (p. 205)
• 6.7.1 Satellite networks (p. 205)
• 6.7.2 Multiple access (p. 208)
• 6.7.3 Error control (p. 208)
• 6.7.4 Traffic and congestion control (p. 210)
• 6.7.5 Transport control (p. 211)
• 6.7.6 Intersatellite links (p. 212)
• 6.7.7 Rain attenuation (p. 213)
• 6.8 Summary (p. 213)
• References (p. 214)
• 7 Wireless ATM Standardization (p. 217)
• 7.1 The ATM Forum wireless ATM standard (p. 217)
• 7.2 The BRAN standards (p. 221)
• 7.3 The MMAC-PC (p. 224)
• 7.4 Summary (p. 224)
• References (p. 225)
• Glossary (p. 227)
• About the Author (p. 237)
• Index (p. 239)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Bing is with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland. He has worked for Singapore Telecom, Hewlett Packard, and AT&T Global Information Solutions. He served as a member of the international advisory committee of the IEEE International Conference on ATM and has been guest editor of IEEE Communications Magazine.

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