Chapter 6
Wireless and
Mobile Computer
Networks Networking: A
Top Down
Approach
6th edition
Jim Kurose, Keith
Ross
Addison-Wesley
March 2012
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-1
Ch. 6: Wireless and Mobile
Networks
Background:
❖ # wireless (mobile) phone subscribers now
exceeds # wired phone subscribers (5-to-
1)!
❖ # wireless Internet-connected devices
equals # wireline Internet-connected
devices
▪ laptops, Internet-enabled phones promise
anytime untethered Internet access
❖ two important (but different) challenges
▪ wireless: communication over wireless link
▪ mobility: handling the mobile user who changes
point of attachment to network
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-2
Wireless communication
❖ Wireless communication involves no physical link
established between two or more devices,
communicating wirelessly.
❖ Wireless signals are spread over in the air and are
received and interpreted by appropriate antennas.
6-3
Elements of a wireless
network
network
infrastructure
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-4
Elements of a wireless
network
wireless hosts
❖ laptop, smartphone
❖ run applications
❖ may be stationary
(non-mobile) or
network mobile
infrastructure
▪ wireless does not
always mean
mobility
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-5
Elements of a wireless
network
base station
❖ typically connected
to wired network
❖ relay - responsible
for sending packets
between wired
network
network and
infrastructure
wireless host(s) in
its “area”
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-6
Elements of a wireless
network
wireless link
❖ typically used to
connect mobile(s)
to base station
❖ also used as
backbone link
network
infrastructure ❖ multiple access
protocol coordinates
link access
❖ various data rates,
transmission
distance
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-7
Elements of a wireless
network
infrastructure
mode
❖ base station
connects mobiles
into wired network
network ❖ mobile changes
infrastructure base station
providing
connection into
wired network
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-8
Elements of a wireless
network
ad hoc mode
❖ no base stations
❖ nodes can only
transmit to other
nodes within link
coverage
❖ nodes organize
themselves into
a network: route
among
themselves
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-9
Question: Self study
Difference between Ad hoc network communication
and network Infrastructure communication ?
6-10
Wireless Link Characteristics (1)
important differences from wired link ….
▪ decreased signal strength: radio signal
attenuates as it propagates through matter
(path loss)
▪ interference from other sources:
standardized wireless network frequencies
(e.g., 2.4 GHz) shared by other devices
(e.g., phone); devices (motors) interfere as
well
▪ multipath propagation: radio signal reflects
off objects ground, arriving ad destination
at slightly different times
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-11
Wireless network characteristics
Multiple wireless senders and receivers create
additional problems (beyond multiple access):
A B C
C
A’s signal C’s signal
B strength strength
A
space
Hidden terminal problem
❖ B, A hear each other Signal attenuation:
❖ B, C hear each other ❖ B, A hear each other
❖ A, C can not hear each ❖ B, C hear each other
other means A, C ❖ A, C can not hear each
unaware of their other interfering at B
interference at B Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-12
Hidden terminal problem
6-13
Avoiding collisions
idea: allow sender to “reserve” channel rather
than random access of data frames: avoid
collisions of long data frames
❖ sender first transmits small request-to-send
(RTS) packets to BS using CSMA
▪ RTSs may still collide with each other (but they’re
short)
❖ BS broadcasts clear-to-send CTS in response to
RTS
❖ CTS heard by all nodes
▪ sender transmits data frame
▪ other stations defer transmissions
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-14
Collision Avoidance: RTS-CTS
exchange
A B
AP
RTS(A) RTS(B)
reservation collision
RTS(A)
CTS(A) CTS(A)
DATA (A)
defer
time
ACK(A) ACK(A)
Wireless, Mobile Networks 6-15
Types of wireless networks
1.Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Size: Small, typically confined to a single building or
campus.
Range: Generally up to 100-300 meters (328-984 feet).
Connectivity Requirements:
● Uses Wi-Fi technology (IEEE 802.11 standards).
● Typically requires a central access point (router).
● Ideal for connecting devices like laptops, smartphones,
and printers within a localized area.
6-16
Types of wireless networks
2. Wireless PAN (WPAN)
● Size: Very small, for personal use.
● Range: Up to about 10 meters (33 feet).
● Connectivity Requirements:
○ Utilizes technologies like Bluetooth and Zigbee.
○ Designed for short-range communication between
personal devices.
○ Commonly used for connecting peripherals like
headphones, keyboards, or smartwatches.
6-17
Types of wireless networks
3. Wireless PAN (WPAN)
● Size: Medium, spanning cities or larger areas.
● Range: Approximately 5-50 kilometers (3-31 miles).
● Connectivity Requirements:
○ Often employs WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access) technology.
○ Provides high-speed connectivity over metropolitan
areas.
○ Suitable for connecting multiple WLANs and
facilitating broadband access.
6-18
Types of wireless networks
3. Wireless PAN (WPAN)
● Size: Medium, spanning cities or larger areas.
● Range: Approximately 5-50 kilometers (3-31 miles).
● Connectivity Requirements:
○ Often employs WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access) technology.
○ Provides high-speed connectivity over metropolitan
areas.
○ Suitable for connecting multiple WLANs and
facilitating broadband access.
6-19
Types of wireless networks
4. Wireless WAN (WWAN)
● Size: Large, covering wide geographical areas, including
countries.
● Range: Can extend over hundreds of kilometers (miles).
● Connectivity Requirements:
○ Relies on cellular technologies (e.g., 4G, 5G).
○ Supports mobile devices with internet access on the
go.
○ Requires a subscription to a mobile carrier service.
6-20
Wireless LANs / WiFi (IEEE802.11)
● use high frequency radio waves instead of cables for
connecting the devices in LAN.
● Users connected by WLANs can move around within the
area of network coverage.
● Most WLANs are based upon the standard IEEE 802.11
6-21
Wireless LANs / WiFi (IEEE 802.11)
6-22
Wireless LANs / WiFi (IEEE802.11)
● Wireless Access Point (WAP) − WAPs or simply access
points (AP) are generally wireless routers that form the
base stations or access.
● Basic Service Set (BSS) −A basic service set is a group
of stations communicating at physical layer level.
● Extended Service Set (ESS) − It is a set of all connected
BSS.
● Distribution System (DS) − It connects access points in
ESS
6-23
Self Study
Q.
Advantages of WLANs and disadvantages of
WLAN???
6-24
2g Architecture
6-25
Self Study
Q1. GSM(2G) vs UMTS(3G) vs LTE(4G) ?
Q2. Architecture of 2G,3G and 4G?
6-26
Thank You
6-27
