Fabien Lanne

IBM wireless RF LAN design and architecture

This paper describes the medium access control (MAC) protocol and the network integration of the IBM Wireless Radio Frequency (RF) Local Area Network (LAN) product. The MAC protocol is an adaptive, hybrid scheme relying on reservation-based and contention-based methods. It provides sustained high performances, both for light and heavy traffic conditions. Some control services of the wireless channel are also described: security, data compression, and interference management. The network integration is achieved by relying on the industry standards Open Driver Interface (ODI™) and Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS). Wireless connectivity can either provide an extension of an existing cabled network or result in a stand-alone wireless network.