Next Generation WLAN Standard

1. Next Generation WLAN Standard Pratik Mehta Pratik Mehta

2. Introduction • Market Progression • Backwards Compatibility • Desired features • Conclusions Pratik Mehta

3. WLAN Market Progression 54Mbps at 2.4GHz 802.11g 802.11b 802.11-NG Dual-Band 802.11a 11Mbps Next generation 100-400Mbps? 54Mbps at 5GHz Past 2002 2003 2004 2005+ 11b and 11a standards done First WLAN Ramp 11b only The start of something good 11b as primary WLAN connection First 11a showing Industry awaits dual-band 11g standard done Dual-band, Multi-mode adoption ramp 11b/g/a 11b/g/a as primary WLAN connection Next-Gen standard done …the cycle repeats WLAN Pratik Mehta

4. Market Progression - Recommendation • Adoption of next generation technology expected in 2005/6 • Product cycles are 2-3 years apart • Take the opportunity to get the right features and performance in the next-generation WLAN standard and products Pratik Mehta

5. Example: Ethernet Products Cycle 100 80 60 Mu shipped per year 40 20 1990 1993 1996 1991 1992 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 10Mbps 10/100Mbps 10/100/1000Mbps 10Gbps Based on IDC and In-Stat data Sept. 2000 Pratik Mehta

6. Backward Compatibility • Systems strongly desire backward compatibility • Market success built on adding improvements rather than replacing with something brand new • However, backward compatibility can … • … limit the achievable improvement levels • … result in higher complexity for a given benefit level • We need to resolve this conflict smoothly Pratik Mehta

7. Backward Compatibility Precedents Pratik Mehta

8. Backward Compatibility- Recommendation • Products must (and will) provide backward compatibility • Example: Dual-Band, Multi-mode products • The standard does not have to address backward compatibility • Prioritize higher improvement levels over maintaining backward compatibility • Performance and Features with lesser complexity • Standard should not preclude backward compatibility Pratik Mehta

9. Product Attributes Needed • Higher throughput – 100Mbps as baseline • Longer range along with the increased throughput • Move the throughput-range curve to the right and up • Lower latency and jitter for real-time applications • Efficient spectrum usage is important • Exploit the learning in industry to achieve capacity gains (more advanced adaptive channel allocation, multi-user detection, adaptive antennas/beam switching, adaptive channel coding) Pratik Mehta

10. Product Attributes Needed • Coexistence across technologies (not just 802) • Management and Security • “IP everywhere” is the right prime directive • Wi-Fi certified Pratik Mehta

11. Summary • There is no rush to get a new standard out • Backward compatibility is important but can be achieved in many ways … be open • Focus on getting the right feature set and performance levels • Scope should include minimum goals up front Pratik Mehta

12. References • Usage scenarios and features work done in IAG, 5GSG (IEEE+BRAN) • Presentation to WNG-SC by Pratik Mehta and Amer Hassan Pratik Mehta