July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 1

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Proposal for Fast Roam Fast Handoff Study Group

Clint Chaplin, Symbol Technologies

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 2

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Three Colliding Trends

• Industry evolving from portable computing to mobile computing

• Applications starting to demand seamless connectivity (VoIP)

• More state necessary to set up during association before data communications allowed (QoS, Security)

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 3

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Problem Statement

• Develop a standard to allow fast roaming in a general way that will allow seamless connectivity during a roam that can be extended for future negotiation requirements

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 4

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

What is Meant by Fast Roam Fast Handoff?

• The actual process of dropping an association at one AP and making an association at another AP, and setting up the state at the new AP to allow connectivity.

• Does not cover AP discovery process, nor the process of choosing which AP to roam to (that is TGk). This is for the process after choosing which AP to roam to.

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 5

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Possible Solutions 1

• Make before break (associate with new AP before dropping association from old AP)

• Pre-association negotiation (allow handshaking and negotiation before Associate Request/Associate Response)

Problem: APs will probably be on different channels

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 6

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Possible Solutions 2

• 11-03-241 Keying for Fast Roaming

• State handoff between APs using IAPP (push or pull model)

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 7

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Possible Overlaps 1

• IEEE P802 Handoff Study GroupIntended to facilitate fast roaming between heterogeneous networks (e.g. Bluetooth <-> 802.11), and roaming between ESSs. Roaming within an ESS will specifically not be addressed.

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 8

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Possible Overlaps 2

• IEEE 802.11 TGfRecommended practice, not a standard, and that Task Group is done.

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 9

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Possible Overlaps 3

• IEEE 802.11 TGiNeed a more general purpose mechanism, one that can help QoS and any future needs.

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 10

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

Possible Overlaps 4

• IEEE 802.11 TGkThe PAR and preliminary draft are for facilitating measurements of radio resources, especially for fast discovery, and exposing those measurements to the decision makers. The PAR does not cover actual procedures or algorithms for roaming, much less fast roaming.

July 2003

Clint Chaplin, Symbol TechnologiesSlide 11

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/533r3

Submission

PAR and 5 Criteria Straw Man

• 11-03-461r0-WNGA Possible PAR and Five Criteria for Fast Roaming-Fast Handoff