Local area networks: architectures and implementations

In this book we present an explanation of the concepts that underlie local area network technology. We then examine in detail key local area network standards being developed by standards organizations. Finally, we discuss several local area network implementations, examining how their architectures reflect both formally published standards and the development of de facto standards and in what ways and to what levels compatibility is achieved

Performance improvements to the 802.11 wireless network medium access control sub-layer : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering at Massey University

This thesis presents the outcome into the research and development of improvements to the 802.11 wireless networking medium access control (MAC) sublayer. The main products of the research are three types of improvement that increase the efficiency and throughput of the 802.11 protocol. Beginning with an overview of the original 802.11 physical layer and MAC sub-layer standard, the introductory chapters then cover the many supplements to the original standard (including a brief on the future 802.11n supplement). The current state of the 802.11 MAC sub-layer is presented along with an assessment of the realistic performance available from 802.11. Lastly, the motivations for improving the MAC sub-layer are explained along with a summary of existing research into this area. The main improvement presented within the thesis is that of packet aggregation. The operation of aggregation is explained in detail, along with the reasons for the significant available throughput increase to 802.11 from aggregation. Aggregation is then developed to produce even higher throughput, and to be a more robust mechanism. Additionally, aggregation is formally described in the form of an update to the existing 802.11 standard. Following this, two more improvements are shown that can be used either with or without the aggregation mechanism. Stored frame headers are designed to reduce repetition of control data, and combined acknowledgements are an expansion of the block acknowledgement system introduced in the 802.11e supplement. This is followed by a description of the simulation environment used to test the three improvements presented, such as the settings used and metrics created. The results of the simulations of the improvements are presented along with the discussion. The developments to the basic improvements are also simulated and discussed in the same way. Finally, conclusions about the improvements detailed and the results shown in the simulations are drawn. Also at the end of the thesis, the possible future direction of research into the improvements is given, as well as the aspects and issues of implementing aggregation on a personal computer based platform

The Significance of Wireless Local Area Networks for the University Sector

The wireless networks create new opportunities for university teaching. Conventional classrooms can be converted within minutes into computer laboratories providing access to local and remote databases, multimedia presentations, telephony (voice over IP) and other resources. Students bring laptop computers with wireless network cards to the classroom and gain access to the university network through the wireless access points. Other benefits include access to the university library, online study groups or online enrolments from any place within the range of the wireless network. The paper outlines the fast progress of wireless technology in relation to the university teaching and problems related to the multiplicity of standards. Also explained are the differences between major wireless Local Area Network standards. In addition, the paper summarizes the required equipment and provides details of two wireless networks from the university sector

Modeling of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for Transmission in Broadband Wireless Communications

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a multi carrier modulation technique that provides high bandwidth efficiency because the carriers are orthogonal to each other and multiple carriers share the data among themselves. The main advantage of this transmission technique is its robustness to channel fading in wireless communication environment. This paper investigates the effectiveness of OFDM and assesses its suitability as a modulation technique in wireless communications. Several of the main factors affecting the performance of a typical OFDM system are considered and they include multipath delay spread, channel noise, distortion (clipping), and timing requirements. The core processing block and performance analysis of the system is modeled usingMatlab

Advanced local area network concepts

Development of a good model of the data traffic requirements for Local Area Networks (LANs) onboard the Space Station is the driving problem in this work. A parameterized workload model is under development. An analysis contract has been started specifically to capture the distributed processing requirements for the Space Station and then to develop a top level model to simulate how various processing scenarios can handle the workload and what data communication patterns result. A summary of the Local Area Network Extendsible Simulator 2 Requirements Specification and excerpts from a grant report on the topological design of fiber optic local area networks with application to Expressnet are given

Design of a tunable multi-band differential LC VCO using 0.35 mu m SiGe BiCMOS technology for multi-standard wireless communication systems

In this paper, an integrated 2.2-5.7GHz multi-band differential LC VCO for multi-standard wireless communication systems was designed utilizing 0.35 mu m SiGe BiCMOS technology. The topology, which combines the switching inductors and capacitors together in the same circuit, is a novel approach for wideband VCOs. Based on the post-layout simulation results, the VCO can be tuned using a DC voltage of 0 to 3.3 V for 5 different frequency bands (2.27-2.51 GHz, 2.48-2.78 GHz, 3.22-3.53 GHz, 3.48-3.91 GHz and 4.528-5.7 GHz) with a maximum bandwidth of 1.36 GHz and a minimum bandwidth of 300 MHz. The designed and simulated VCO can generate a differential output power between 0.992 and -6.087 dBm with an average power consumption of 44.21 mW including the buffers. The average second and third harmonics level were obtained as -37.21 and -47.6 dBm, respectively. The phase noise between -110.45 and -122.5 dBc/Hz, that was simulated at 1 MHz offset, can be obtained through the frequency of interest. Additionally, the figure of merit (FOM), that includes all important parameters such as the phase noise, the power consumption and the ratio of the operating frequency to the offset frequency, is between -176.48 and -181.16 and comparable or better than the ones with the other current VCOs. The main advantage of this study in comparison with the other VCOs, is covering 5 frequency bands starting from 2.27 up to 5.76 GHz without FOM and area abandonment. Output power of the fundamental frequency changes between -6.087 and 0.992 dBm, depending on the bias conditions (operating bands). Based on the post-layout simulation results, the core VCO circuit draws a current between 2.4-6.3 mA and between 11.4 and 15.3 mA with the buffer circuit from 3.3 V supply. The circuit occupies an area of 1.477 mm(2) on Si substrate, including DC, digital and RF pads

Packetized-voice/data integrated transmission on a token passing ring local area network

This paper investigates the performance of a token passing ring network with packetized-voice/data mixed traffic through extensive simulations. Both data and voice users are modeled in the simulations. Data users produce bursty traffic. Voice traffic is modeled as having alternating talkspurts and silences, with generation of voice packets at a constant rate during talkspurts and no packet generation during silence periods.The network performance measures obtained include: the distribution of transmission delays for voice packets, the average transmission delay and loss probabilities for voice packets, the number of voice users allowed on a network while satisfying the real-time constraints of speech, and the average transmission delay for data packets.Token passing ring local area networks are shown to effectively handle both voice and data traffic. The effects of system parameters (e.g., voice packet length, talkspurt/silence lengths, data traffic intensity, and limited versus exhaustive service disciplines) on network performance are discussed

User Perceptions of Wi-Fi Security Service in Universiti Utara Malaysia

At the time of information technology, the development of technology runs rapidly for the needs of the users themselves. Internet access is very important to obtain any desired information around the world. As well as the internet, it develops rapidly. High mobility of the users is in need of access that can be connected all the time to the electronic device which is owned by the user. A wireless access is one of the exact solutions being applied at the present time. A security network is necessary to keep the rights of the wireless access user and security is one of the most important priorities. Security can be applied by the user or provider of communication services themselves. Because of the danger's security could be from anywhere. There are many factors that can disturb the network security. This project attempt to use the questionnaire methodology to the users of Wi-Fi in the Universiti Utara Malaysia, particularly at SOC building, to find out the perception of the users toward Wi-Fi security service provided by Universiti Utara Malaysia. All participants were SOC students with the total of 873 populations. The sample size used in this project was 109 students. The confidence level stated was 92% which represent a high confidentiality. This study found that the user aspect has a positive relation with the security aspect