Wi-MAX(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

WI-MAX

Wi-MAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) unites the technologies of wireless and broadband to provide high-speed internet access across long distances. The name was christened by WiMAX Forum that promotes interoperability and conformity of the standard. The forum defines the technology as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL". With the guarantee of WiMAX Forum the vendors are authorized to sell their WiMAX certified products so they can enjoy operability with other products of same type. It is a telecommunication protocol capable of providing internet access to fixed and mobile users. For an outstanding performance like Wi-Fi networks along with QOS (Quality of Service) and coverage this Wireless Broadband Access (BAS) technology is assembled around IP (internet protocol). Currently it offers 40 Mbit/s but expected to offer 1 Gbit/s speed for fixed users.

WI-MAX ARCHITECTURE

There are three main components of WiMax network architecture.

·        The first component is the mobile stations which are used as a source of network connection for end user.

·        The second network is an access service network which is formed of more than two or three base stations. It also contains ASN gateways which build the radio access at the end.

·        The third component is connectivity service network which is responsible for providing IP functions. The base station provides the air interface for the mobile stations. The base stations also provide mobile management functions, triggering and tunnel establishment, radio resource management, dynamic host control protocol proxy, quality of service enforcement and multicast group management. ASN is responsible for radio resource management, encryption keys, routing to the selected network and client functionality. Connectivity service network is responsible for internet connections, corporate and public networks and many other user services.

Standard WiMax Architecture

The WiMax network is based on three four basic components they are: 

3. AS gateway,    4. CSN and  5. MS.

The basic network has a inner IP core which is bounded by an ASN gateway, which is associated to service network or CSN. The main IP core is attach to the internet backbone for aid and coverage. The WiMax network which is also part of the ISP network is recognized as access service gateway. This ASN handles the micro and macro base stations, which offer WiMax access to end users. The connectivity examine network or CSN is an important part of WiMax architecture which provides the verification to the user devices.

CSN is in charge for providing roaming among the network service providers. It is CSN which is accountable for user security and quality for service for this reason it uses several protocols. The IP address management is also handled by CSN. IP core is in the middle of CSN and ASN. CSN provides the internet and telecommunications connectivity. ASP communicates to the base stations and the mobile stations. At the users end the WiMax architecture may additionally contain firewall for security. WiMax architecture provides discretion at user end to make possible amendments.

Two Dimensions of WiMax Network

WiMax network is composed of two parts the 1. WiMax tower 2. WiMax receiver.

WiMax tower is associated straightly to the internet backbone using a wired connection such as optical fiber. It can be linked to the WiMax tower using a line of sight link or a non line of sight link. The line of site communiqué involves the use of fixed antenna or dish. This antenna is unchanging or deployed on the roof top or the tower of the building. Line of sight connection is measured as more strong and stable connection. Thus it sends lot of error free data over the network. It uses a frequency range of 66Ghz. Higher frequency reduces the possibility of signal flaw and interference and provides extra bandwidth. On the other hand the non line of sight link provides you connectivity with the fixing of small antenna in your PC. This mode provides lower frequency range from 2 GHz to 11 GHz. The lower band signals are not prone to obstacles like trees and walls. Hence the signal

strength is more and the user receives the quality of service. For every WiMax connectivity and architecture it is significant to connect to an internet backbone via swift wired connection.

L2CAP-LOGICAL LINK CONTROL AND ADAPTION PROTOCOL:

The L2CAP is a data link control protocol.The L2CAP link layer operates over an ACL link provided by the baseband. A single ACL link, set up by the link manager using LMP, is always available between the master and any active slave. This provides a point-to-multipoint link supporting both asynchronous and isochronous data transfer. L2CAP provides services to upper-level protocols by transmitting data packets over L2CAP channels. Three types of L2CAP channels exist: bidirectional signaling channels that carry commands; connection-oriented channels for bidirectional point-to-point connections; and unidirectional connectionless channels that support point-to multipoint connections, allowing a local L2CAP entity to be connected to a group of remote devices.

Functions:

It Performs 4 major functions

·        Managing the creation and termination of logical links for each connection through ―channel‖ structures

·        Enforcing and defining QoS requirements

·        Adapting Data, for each connection, between application (APIs) and Bluetooth Baseband formats through Segmentation and Reassembly (SAR)

·        Performing Multiplexing to support multiple concurrent connections over a single common radio interface.

Channels:

L2CAP CHANNELS

The above figure shows L2CAP entities with various types of channels between them. Every L2CAP channel includes two endpoints referred to by a logical channel identifier (CID). Each CID may represent a channel endpoint for a connection oriented channel, a connectionless channel, or a signaling channel. Since a bi-directional signaling channel is required between any two L2CAP entities before communication can take place, every L2CAP entity will have one signaling channel endpoint with a reserved CID of 0x0001. All signal channels between the local L2CAP entity and any remote entities use this one endpoint. Each connection-oriented channel in an L2CAP entity will have a local CID that is dynamically allocated. All connection-oriented

CIDs must be connected to a single channel, and that channel must be configured before data

transfer can take place. Note that the channel will at that point be bound to a specific upper level

protocol. In addition, a quality of service (QoS) agreement for the channel will be established

between the two devices. QoS is negotiated for each channel during configuration and includes data flow parameters such as peak bandwidth, as well as the transmission type: best effort, guaranteed, or no traffic. Connectionless channels are unidirectional and used to form groups. A single outgoing connectionless CID on a local device may be logically connected to multiple remote devices.

The devices connected to this outgoing endpoint form a logical group. These outgoing CIDs are dynamically allocated. The incoming connectionless CID, however, is fixed at 0x0002. Although multiple outgoing CIDs may be created to form multiple logical groups, only one incoming connectionless CID is provided on each L2CAP entity. All incoming connectionless data arrives via this endpoint. These channels do not require connection or configuration. Therefore, any required configuration information, such as upper-level protocol, is passed as part of the data packet.

Functional requirement:

Protocol multiplexing distinguishes between upper-layer protocols like SDP, RFCOMM. It Segments larger packets from higher layers into smaller baseband packets. It allows QoS parameters to be exchanged during connection establishment and it also allows efficient mapping of protocol groups to piconets.

L2CAP Operation:

L2CAP channel end-points are represented by channel identifiers (CIDs). An L2CAP channel is uniquely defined by 2 CIDs and device addresses. Reserved CIDs

0x0001: Signaling channel

0x0002: Connection-less reception

0x0003-0x003F: Reserved for future use

Operation between layers:

It transfers data between higher layer protocols and lower layer protocols. It Signal with peer L2CAP implementation. L2CA layer should be able to accept events from lower/upper layers. L2CA layer should be able to take appropriate actions in response to these events.

L2CAP Format

L2CAP Frame field for connectionless service:

Length – It indicates length of information payload, PSM fields Channel ID – 2, indicating connectionless channel

Protocol/service multiplexer (PSM) – identifies higher-layer recipient for payload

Not included in connection-oriented frames Information payload – higher-layer user data

Signaling frame payload:

It Consists of one or more L2CAP commands, each with four fields Code – identifies type of command

Identifier – used to match request with reply

Length – length of data field for this command

Data – additional data for command, if necessary

L2CAP signaling command codes: