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IEEE APPROVES TWO WIRELESS LAN PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS FAST ROAMING AND MESH STANDARDS
Fast
Roaming Standard to Support Mobile, Voice-Over IP Services; Mesh
Standard to Extend Range of WLAN Access Points
Contact:
Stuart J. Kerry, IEEE 802.11 Working Group Chair
+1 408 991 4854, stuart.kerry@philips.com
or
Brian Mathews, IEEE 802.11 Publicity Chair
+1 321 259 0737, brian@linux-wlan.com
or
Karen McCabe, IEEE Senior Marketing Manager
+1 732 562 3824, k.mccabe@www.ieee.org
PISCATAWAY,
N.J., USA, 22 July 2004 The IEEE has approved the start of
work on two projects for fast roaming and mesh applications in
wireless local area networks (WLAN). The fast roaming project,
IEEE P802.11r™, will make it easier to use wireless voice-over-IP
(VOIP) and other real-time interactive applications. The mesh
project, IEEE P802.11s™, will extend WLAN range by allowing
data to pass through wireless nodes.
The Fast Roaming Task Group will standardize MAC layer enhancements
that minimize non-connectivity time between a roaming WLAN unit
and the wired access points within a local area network. The standard
will seek to foster the use of mobile, wireless VOIP phones and
other time-sensitive WLAN applications by eliminating perceptible
disconnections as 802.11™-based handsets transition from
one access point to another during a handoff within an administrative
domain of a local area network such as in a hospital, an office
environment, or a college campus.
Task Group s will create a mesh service standard so wireless access
nodes spread over a large area can connect to a main node. This
arrangement will extend coverage beyond the typical WLAN connectivity
limit of 300 ft. from an access point and make it quicker and
easier to install WLAN service without hard-wired connections.
In a mesh, a single access point can serve a large facility or
broad sensor array. Mesh networks can also allow the military
to place repeater nodes on mobile units that link to a central
point or let a fireman become a node in a communications network
in an emergency.
"The IEEE 802.11 Working Group is committed to creating standards
for all aspects of wireless LAN operation worldwide," said
Stuart J. Kerry, Chairman of the IEEE P802.11 standards committee.
"Task Groups r and s reflect this commitment. The standards
they will develop should help open a variety of new WLAN applications
and continue to promote the rapid growth of IEEE 802.11-based
wireless systems."
New IEEE 802.11 study groups are also being formed for wireless
interworking with external networks and wireless network management.
These will join the newly created Wireless Performance Prediction
Study Group.
“I am pleased to see the continued strong industry support
for the development of new projects within the Local and Metropolitan
Area Networks Standards Committee (LMSC). This new work is an
excellent indicator of the vitality of the data communications
industry and the important role the IEEE 802 LMSC plays in it,”
said Paul Nikolich, Chairman of the IEEE P802 LMSC.
IEEE 802.11 standards form a family of specifications that define
how WLAN equipment should be produced so equipment from different
manufacturers can work together. The standards are developed by
the IEEE 802.11 Working Group, which is sponsored by the IEEE
802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee of the IEEE Computer Society.
For further information, visit: http://www.ieee802.org.
About the
IEEE Standards Association
The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA), a global standards-setting
body, develops consensus standards through an open process that
brings diverse parts of an industry together. It has a portfolio
of more than 870 completed standards and more than 400 in development.
IEEE-SA promotes the engineering process by creating, developing,
integrating, sharing and applying knowledge about electro- and
information technologies and sciences for the benefit of humanity
and the profession. For further information on IEEE-SA visit:
http://standards.ieee.org/.
About the
IEEE
The IEEE has more than 380,000 members in approximately 150 countries.
Through its members, the organization is a leading authority on
areas ranging from aerospace, computers and telecommunications
to biomedicine, electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE
produces nearly 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical
and electronics engineering, computing and control technology
fields. This nonprofit organization also sponsors or cosponsors
more than 300 technical conferences each year. Additional information
about the IEEE can be found at http://www.ieee.org/.
IEEE P802.11r,
P802.11s and 802.11 are trademarks of the IEEE. All other names
or product names are the trademarks, service marks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.
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