LAN Protocol Architecture

LAN Protocol Architecture

Lower layers of OSI model IEEE 802 reference model, is a standardized protocol architecture for LANs, which describes:

Physical layer. Logical link control (LLC) sub-layer, Media access control (MAC) sub-layer.

IEEE 802 v OSI

IEEE 802 Protocol Layers

Physical layer, includes such functions as:

Encoding and decoding of signals Preamble generation and removal (for synchronization) Bit transmission and reception

Logical Link Control, functions:

Assemble data into a frame with address and error-detection fields Disassemble frame and perform address recognition and error detection Govern access to the LAN transmission medium Interface to higher levels and performs flow and error control

Logical Link Control

LLC is concerned with transmission of linklevel PDUs between two stations LLC has two special characteristics:
Must support multiaccess, shared medium (no primary node as in multidrop line) Relieved of some link access details by MAC layer

Addressing involves specifying source and destination LLC users

Referred to as service access points (SAP) Service users are typically higher level protocols

LLC Services
The operation and format of this standard is based on HDLC (High Level Data Link Control). Provide three different services for attached devices:

Unacknowledged connectionless service:

Datagram-style service. No flow-control and no error-control mechanisms. Reliability depend to some higher layer of software.

Connection mode service:

Similar to that of HDLC. Provides flow- and error-control.

Acknowledged connectionless service

Datagrams are to be acknowledged. No prior logical connection is set up.

LLC Protocol
Is modeled after HDLC, and has similar functions and formats. LLC protocol operation:

LLC use asynchronous balanced mode of operation of HDLC to support connection mode LLC service (type 2 operation) LLC supports an unacknowledged connectionless service using unnumbered information PDUs (type 1 operation) LLC supports acknowledged connectionless service using unnumbered information PDUs (type 3 operation) LLC permits multiplexing using LLC service access points (LSAPs)

Media Access Control

Key parameters of MAC technique is where and how: Where

Central
Adv.: Greater control and simple access logic at station (no coordination complexities) Disadv.: Single point of failure and potential bottleneck

Distributed: opposite of central.

How
Synchronous: specific capacity dedicated to connection Asynchronous: in response to demand; can be subdivided into three categories (round robin, reservation, contention)

Asynchronous MAC Techniques

Round robin:
Each station is given the opportunity to transmit. The right to transmit passes in a logical sequence.

Reservation: a node will reserves future slots from the medium time to transmit, this is good for stream traffic. Contention

Good for bursty traffic All stations contend for time Distributed control Simple to implement Efficient under moderate load Tend to collapse under heavy load

MAC Frame Format

MAC layer receives data from LLC layer The fields of MAC frame:
MAC control: protocol control like priority. Destination MAC address Source MAC address LLC: data from next higher layer. CRC: FCS for error detection.

MAC layer detects errors and discards frames LLC optionally retransmits unsuccessful frames

Generic MAC Frame Format

IEEE 802.11 Architecture and Services

In 1990, the IEEE 802 Committee formed a new working group, IEEE 802.11, specifically devoted to wireless LANs. The initial interest was in developing a wireless LAN operating in the ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical) band.

IEEE 802.11 Standards

IEEE 802.11 Architecture

IEEE 802.11 Architecture

BSS(Basic service set) DS(Distribution system) AP(Access Point) Integrating the IEEE 802.11 architecture with a traditional wired LAN, a PORTAL is used. IBSS(Independent BSS) An ESS(Extended service set) consists of two or more basic service sets interconnected by a DS.

IEEE 802.11 Services

IEEE 802.11 MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL

The IEEE 802.11 MAC layer covers three functional areas:

Reliable data delivery Medium access control and Security.

Reliable Data Delivery

IEEE 802.11 includes a frame exchange protocol. When a station receives a data frame from another station, it returns an acknowledgment (ACK) frame to the source station. If the source does not receive an ACK within a short period of time, either because its data frame was damaged or because the returning ACK was damaged, the source retransmits the frame. Thus basic data transfer in IEEE 802.11

Reliable Data Delivery

To enhance reliability a four frame exchange may be used, RTS from source to destination, destination sends CTS and after receiving CTS, source sends data frame and destination responds with an ACK.

Medium Access Control

The 802.11 working group considered two types of proposals for MAC algorithm, Distributed Access Protocol( like Ethernet) Centralized Access Protocol Finally ended up with a MAC algorithm called DFWMAC(Distributed Foundation Wireless MAC)

Distributed Coordination Function

Uses CSMA algorithm without CD(CD not possible in wireless). DCF includes a set of delays to give priorities. Single delay known as IFS(Inter frame Space). IFS

SIFS: Short IFS(short) PIFS: Point Coordination IFS(medium) DIFS: Distributed Coordination IFS(longer)

Distributed Coordination Function

SIFS has the highest priority to determine transmission opportunity. SIFS is used in

ACK: Each frame is acknowledged after SIFS by the recipient. When source receives ACK it immediately sends next frame in sequence. CTS: Poll response

Point Coordination Function

Point Coordination Function

PCF is an alternative access method implemented on top of the DCF, the operation consists of polling by the centralized polling master (point coordinator). PC makes use of PIFS when issuing polls(PIFS<DIFS), so PC will seize the medium. Time sensitive traffic is controlled by Point Coordinator by issuing polls to all stations in Round Robin mode.

Point Coordination Function

When poll is issued , the polled station may respond using SIFS, if PC receives a response, it issues another poll using PIFS. If this continues asynchronous data would be delayed because of continuous polling seizes medium, to prevent this a super frame is used. During the first part of this interval, the PC issues polls in RR fashion to all stations configured for polling. Then PC idles for the remainder of the super frame , allowing a contention period for asynchronous access.

IEEE 802.11 Physical Layer

Issued in four stages. First part, IEEE 802.11includes the MAC layer and three physical layer specifications, two in the 2.4-GHz band (ISM) and one in the infrared, all operating at 1 and 2 Mbps. IEEE 802.11a operates in the 5-GHz band at data rates up to 54 Mbps.