Information technology — Telecommunications and information exchange between systems — Local and metropolitan area networks — Specific requirements — Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications

Technologies de l'information — Télécommunications et échange d'information entre systèmes — Réseaux locaux et métropolitains — Exigences spécifiques — Partie 11: Spécifications pour le contrôle d'accès au support et la couche physique

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Status
Withdrawn
Publication Date
15-Dec-1999
Withdrawal Date
15-Dec-1999
Current Stage
9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
Completion Date
09-Aug-2005
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ISO/IEC
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD 8802-11
IEEE
Std 802.11
First edition
1999-12-15
Information technology —
Telecommunications and information
exchange between systems — Local and
metropolitan area networks — Specific
requirements —
Part 11:
Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC)
and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications
Technologies de l'information — Télécommunications et échange
d'information entre systèmes — Réseaux locaux et métropolitains —
Exigences spécifiques —
Partie 11: Spécifications pour le contrôle d'accès au support et la couche
physique
Reference number
ISO/IEC 8802-11:1999(E)
IEEE
bc
Std 802.11, 1999 edition

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
ISO/IEC 8802-11:1999(E)
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E-mail copyright@iso.ch
Web www.iso.ch

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
Abstract: The medium access control (MAC) and physical characteristics for wireless local area
networks (LANs) are specified in this standard, part of a series of standards for local and metropol-
itan area networks. The medium access control unit in this standard is designed to support physi-
cal layer units as they may be adopted dependent on the availability of spectrum. This standard
contains three physical layer units: two radio units, both operating in the 2400–2500 MHz band,
and one baseband infrared unit. One radio unit employes the frequency-hopping spread spectrum
technique, and the other employs the direct sequence spread spectrum technique.
Keywords: ad hoc network, infrared, LAN, local area network, mobility, radio frequency, wireless
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5997, USA
Copyright © 1999 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
All rights reserved. Published 1999. Printed in the United States of America.
ISBN 0-7381-1658-0
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
20 August 1999 SH94740

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
International Standard ISO/IEC 8802-11:1999(E)
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work.
In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee,
ISO/IEC JTC 1. Draft International Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to
national bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of
the national bodies casting a vote.
International Standard ISO/IEC 8802-11 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1,
Information technology, Subcommittee SC 6, Telecommunications and information exchange between
systems.
ISO/IEC 8802 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology —
Telecommunications and information exchange between systems — Local and metropolitan area
networks — Specific requirements:
— Part 1: Overview of Local Area Network Standards
— Part 2: Logical link control
— Part 3: Carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) access method and
physical layer specifications
— Part 4: Token-passing bus access method and physical layer specifications
— Part 5: Token ring access method and physical layer specifications
— Part 6: Distributed Queue Dual Bus (DQDB) access method and physical layer specifications
— Part 7: Slotted ring access method and physical layer specification
— Part 9: Integrated Services (IS) LAN Interface at the Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical
(PHY) Layers
— Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications
— Part 12: Demand-Priority access method, physical layer and repeater specifications
Annexes A, C and D form a normative part of this part of ISO/IEC 8802. Annexes B and E are for
information only.
B C
International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Genève 20 • Switzerland
ii

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
International Standard ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999(E)
ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition
Information technology—
Telecommunications and information
  exchange between systems—
Local and metropolitan area networks—
Specific requirements—
Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access
Control (MAC) and Physical Layer
(PHY) Specifications
Sponsor
LAN MAN Standards Committee
of the
IEEE Computer Society

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
Foreword to International Standard ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999
This International Standard is part of a family of International Standards for Local and Metropolitan Area
Networks. The relationship between this International Standard, which provides extensions to the behavior
of ISO/IEC 10038, and the other members of the family is shown below. (The numbers in the figure refer to
ISO/IEC Standard numbers.)
8802-1 Overview
8802-2 Logical Link Control
Data
Link
8802-3 8802-4 8802-5 8802-6 8802-9 8802-11 8802-12
Layer
Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium
Access Access Access Access Access Access Access
8802-3 Physical
8802-4 8802-5 8802-6 8802-9 8802-11 8802-12
Physical Layer
Physical Physical Physical Physical Physical Physical
This family of International Standards deals with the Physical and Data Link layers as defined by the ISO
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Basic Reference Model (ISO/IEC 7498-1: 1994). The access standards
define seven types of medium access technologies and associated physical media, each appropriate for
particular applications or system objectives. Other types are under investigation.
The International Standards defining the access technologies are as follows:
a) ISO/IEC 8802-3, utilizing carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) as the
access method.
b) ISO/IEC 8802-4, utilizing token passing bus as the access method.
c) ISO/IEC 8802-5, utilizing token passing ring as the access method.
d) ISO/IEC 8802-6, utilizing distributed queuing dual bus as the access method.
e) ISO/IEC 8802-9, a unified access method offering integrated services for backbone networks.
f) ISO/IEC 8802-11, a wireless LAN utilizing carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance
(CSMA/CA) as the access method.
g) ISO/IEC 8802-12, utilizing Demand Priority as the access method.
ISO/IEC TR 8802-1, Overview of Local Area Network Standards, provides an overview of the series of ISO/
IEC 8802 standards.
ISO/IEC 8802-2, Logical Link Control, is used in conjunction with the medium access standards to provide
the data link layer service to network layer protocols.
ISO/IEC 15802-1, Medium Access Control (MAC) service definition, specifies the characteristics of the
common MAC Service provided by all IEEE 802 LAN MACs. The service is defined in terms of primitives
that can be passed between peer service users, their parameters, their interrelationship and valid sequences,
and the associated events of the service.
ISO/IEC 15802-2, LAN/MAN Management, defines an OSI management-compatible architecture, and
services and protocol elements for use in a LAN/MAN environment for performing remote management.
ISO/IEC 10038, Media Access Control (MAC) bridges, specifies an architecture and protocol for the intercon-
nection of IEEE 802 LANs below the level of the logical link control protocol (to be renumbered 15802-3).
ISO/IEC 15802-4, System Load Protocol, specifies a set of services and protocol for those aspects of manage-
ment concerned with the loading of systems on IEEE 802 LANs.
ISO/IEC 15802-5, Remote Media Access Control (MAC) bridging, specifies extensions for the interconnec-
tion, using non-LAN communication technologies, of geographically separated IEEE 802 LANs below the
level of the logical link control protocol.
Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved. iii

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition
IEEE Standards documents are developed within the Technical Committees of the IEEE Societies and the
Standards Coordinating Committees of the IEEE Standards Board. Members of the committees serve volun-
tarily and without compensation. They are not necessarily members of the Institute. The standards developed
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issued is subject to change brought about through developments in the state of the art and comments
received from users of the standard. Every IEEE Standard is subjected to review at least every five years for
revision or reaffirmation. When a document is more than five years old and has not been reaffirmed, it is rea-
sonable to conclude that its contents, although still of some value, do not wholly reflect the present state of
the art. Users are cautioned to check to determine that they have the latest edition of any IEEE Standard.
Comments for revision of IEEE Standards are welcome from any interested party, regardless of membership
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Note: Attention is called to the possibility that implementation of this standard may require use of sub-
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iv Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved.

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
Introduction to ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition
(This introduction is not a part of ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition or of ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999, but is included for information
purpose only.)
This standard is part of a family of standards for local and metropolitan area networks. The relationship
between the standard and other members of the family is shown below. (The numbers in the figure refer to
IEEE standard numbers.)
802.2 LOGICAL LINK CONTROL
DATA
802.1 BRIDGING
LINK
LAYER
802.3 802.4 802.5 802.6 802.9 802.11 802.12
MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM
ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS
802.3 802.4 802.5 802.6 802.9 802.11 802.12
PHYSICAL
PHYSICAL PHYSICAL PHYSICAL PHYSICAL PHYSICAL PHYSICAL PHYSICAL
LAYER
* Formerly IEEE Std 802.1A.
This family of standards deals with the Physical and Data Link layers as defined by the International Organiza-
tion for Standardization (ISO) Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Basic Reference Model (ISO/IEC 7498-
1: 1994). The access standards define seven types of medium access technologies and associated physical
media, each appropriate for particular applications or system objectives. Other types are under investigation.
The standards defining the access technologies are as follows:
• IEEE Std 802 Overview and Architecture. This standard provides an overview to the family
of IEEE 802 Standards.
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.1B LAN/MAN Management. Defines an OSI management-compatible architec-
and 802.1k ture, and services and protocol elements for use in a LAN/MAN environment
[ISO/IEC 15802-2] for performing remote management.
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.1D Media Access Control (MAC) Bridges. Specifies an architecture and protocol
[ISO/IEC 15802-3] for the interconnection of IEEE 802 LANs below the MAC service boundary.
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.1E System Load Protocol. Specifies a set of services and protocol for those
[ISO/IEC 15802-4] aspects of management concerned with the loading of systems on IEEE 802
LANs.
• IEEE Std 802.1F Common Definitions and Procedures for IEEE 802 Management Information
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.1G Remote Media Access Control (MAC) Bridging. Specifies extensions for the
[ISO/IEC 15802-5] interconnection, using non-LAN communication technologies, of geographi-
cally separated IEEE 802 LANs below the level of the logical link control
protocol.
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.2 Logical Link Control
[ISO/IEC 8802-2]
Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved. v
802.10 SECURITY
802 OVERVIEW & ARCHITECTURE*
802.1 MANAGEMENT

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.3 CSMA/CD Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications
[ISO/IEC 8802-3]
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.4 Token Passing Bus Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications
[ISO/IEC 8802-4]
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.5 Token Ring Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications
[ISO/IEC 8802-5]
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.6 Distributed Queue Dual Bus Access Method and Physical Layer Specifica-
[ISO/IEC 8802-6] tions
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.9 Integrated Services (IS) LAN Interface at the Medium Access Control (MAC)
[ISO/IEC 8802-9] and Physical (PHY) Layers
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.10 Interoperable LAN/MAN Security
• IEEE Std 802.11 Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer Specifi-
[ISO/IEC DIS 8802-11] cations
• ANSI/IEEE Std 802.12 Demand Priority Access Method, Physical Layer and Repeater Specifica-
[ISO/IEC DIS 8802-12] tions
In addition to the family of standards, the following is a recommended practice for a common Physical
Layer technology:
• IEEE Std 802.7 IEEE Recommended Practice for Broadband Local Area Networks
The following additional working group has authorized standards projects under development:
• IEEE 802.14 Standard Protocol for Cable-TV Based Broadband Communication Network
Conformance test methodology
An additional standards series, identified by the number 1802, has been established to identify the
conformance test methodology documents for the 802 family of standards. Thus the conformance test
documents for 802.3 are numbered 1802.3.
ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition [ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999]
This standard is a revision of IEEE Std 802.11-1997. The Management Information Base according to OSI
rules has been removed, many redundant management items have been removed, and Annex D has been
completed with the Management Information Base according to SNMP. Minor changes have been made
throughout the document.
This standard defines the protocol and compatible interconnection of data communication equipment via the
“air”, radio or infrared, in a local area network (LAN) using the carrier sense multiple access protocol with
collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) medium sharing mechanism. The medium access control (MAC) supports
operation under control of an access point as well as between independent stations. The protocol includes
authentication, association, and reassociation services, an optional encryption/decryption procedure, power
management to reduce power consumption in mobile stations, and a point coordination function for time-
bounded transfer of data. The standard includes the definition of the management information base (MIB)
using Abstract Syntax Notation 1 (ASN.1) and specifies the MAC protocol in a formal way, using the Speci-
vi Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved.

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
fication and Description Language (SDL). Both ASN.1 and SDL source code have been added on a floppy
diskette.
The infrared implementation of the PHY supports 1 Mbit/s data rate with an optional 2 Mbit/s extension.
The radio implementations of the PHY specify either a frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
supporting 1 Mbit/s and an optional 2 Mbit/s data rate or a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS)
supporting both 1 and 2 Mbit/s data rates.
This standard contains state-of-the-art material. The area covered by this standard is undergoing evolution.
Revisions are anticipated to this standard within the next few years to clarify existing material, to correct
possible errors, and to incorporate new related material. Information on the current revision state of this and
other IEEE 802 standards may be obtained from
Secretary, IEEE Standards Board
445 Hoes Lane
P.O. Box 1331
Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331 USA
Participants
At the time the draft of the 1999 version of this standard was sent to sponsor ballot, the IEEE 802.11
working group had the following voting members:
Victor Hayes, Chair Stuart J. Kerry and Al Petrick, Vice Chairs
Bob O’Hara, 802.11rev Task Group Chair and Technical Editor
George Fishel, Secretary
David Bagby, Mac Group Chair Dean Kawaguchi, PHY Group and FH Chair
Jan Boer, Direct Sequence Chair
Michael Fischer and Allen Heberling, State Diagram Editors
Naftali Chayat, Task Group a Chair John Fakatselis, Task Group b Chair
Victoria M. Poncini, Task Group c Chair
Karl Hannestad
Jeff Abramowitz William Roberts
Robert Heile
Keith B. Amundsen Kent G. Rollins
Maarten Hoeben
Carl F. Andren Oren Rosenfeld
Duane Hurne
Kazuhiro Aoyagi Michael Rothenberg
Masayuki Ikeda
Phil Belanger Clemens C. W. Ruppel
Richard Jai
John Biddick Chandos Rypinski
Donald C. Johnson
Simon Black Anil K. Sanwalka
Nobuo Karaki
Ronald Brockmann Roy Sebring
Isao Masaki
Wesley Brodsky Mike Shiba
Jim McDonald
John H. Cafarella Thomas Siep
Gene Miller
Ken Clements Donald I. Sloan
Akira Miura
Wim Diepstraten Hitoshi Takanashi
Masaharu Mori
Darrol Draper Satoru Toguchi
Masahiro Morikura
Peter Ecclesine Cherry Tom
Ravi P. Nalamati
Darwin Engwer Mike Trompower
Colin Nayler
Jeff Fischer Tom Tsoulogiannis
Richard van Nee
Matthew Fischer Sarosh N. Vesuna
Tomoki Ohsawa
Michael Fischer Nien C. Wei
Kazuhiro Okanoue
John Fisher Harry Worstell
Richard H. Paine
Motohiro Gochi Timothy M. Zimmerman
Bob Pham
Tim Godfrey Jonathan M. Zweig
Stanley A. Reible
Jan Haagh Jim Zyren
Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved. vii

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
Major contributions to the 1999 edition were received from the following individuals:
Richard Ozer
Henri Moelard Arnoud Zwemmer
The following members of the balloting committee voted on the 1999 version of this standard:
Kit Athul A. Kamerman Ronald C. Petersen
Thomas W. Bailey Dean M. Kawaguchi John R. Pickens
Peter K. Campbell Edward R. Kelly Alberto Profumo
James T. Carlo Gary C. Kessler Vikram Punj
David E. Carlson Yongbum Kim James A. Renfro
Brian J. Casey Stephen Barton Kruger Gary S. Robinson
Naftali Chayat Joseph Kubler Edouard Y. Rocher
Robert S. Crowder Lanse M. Leach James W. Romlein
Wim Diepstraten Jai Yong Lee Floyd E. Ross
Thomas J. Dineen Randolph S. Little Michael Rothenberg
Christos Douligeris Ronald Mahany Christoph Ruland
Paul S. Eastman Peter Martini Anil K. Sanwalka
Philip H. Enslow Richard McBride James E. Schuessler
Changxin Fan Bennett Meyer Rich Seifert
John W. Fendrich Gene E. Milligan Leo Sintonen
Michael A. Fischer David S. Millman Patricia Thaler
George R. Fishel Hiroshi Miyano Mike Trompower
Harvey A. Freeman Warren Monroe Mark-Rene Uchida
Robert J. Gagliano John E. Montague Emmanuel Van Lil
Patrick S. Gonia Wayne D. Moyers Sarosh N. Vesuna
Julio Gonzalez-Sanz Shimon Muller James Vorhies
Chris G. Guy Ken Naganuma Barry M. Vornbrock
Victor Hayes Paul Nikolich Qian-li Yang
Donald N. Heirman Robert O’Hara Oren Yuen
Henry Hoyt Donal O’Mahony Chris Zegelin
Raj Jain Roger Pandanda Jonathan M. Zweig
At the time the draft of the 1997 version of this standard was sent to sponsor ballot, the IEEE 802.11 work-
ing group had the following voting members:
Victor Hayes, Chair Stuart J. Kerry and Chris Zegelin, Vice Chairs
Bob O’Hara and Greg Ennis, Chief Technical Editors
George Fishel and Carolyn L. Heide, Secretaries
David Bagby, MAC Group Chair C. Thomas Baumgartner, Infrared Chair and Editor
Jan Boer, Direct Sequence Chair Michael Fischer, State Diagram Editor
Dean M. Kawaguchi, PHY Group and FH Chair Mike Trompower, Direct Sequence Editor
Jeff Abramowitz Robert J. Egan F. J. Lopez-Hernandez
Keith B. Amundsen Darwin Engwer Ronald Mahany
Phil Belanger John Fakatselis Bob Marshall
Manuel J. Betancor* Matthew Fischer Jim McDonald
John Biddick Keith S. Furuya Akira Miura
Simon Black Rich Gardner Wayne D. Moyers
Alessandro M. Bolea Ian Gifford Ravi P. Nalamati
Pablo Brenner Howard J. Hall Mitsuji Okada
Peter E. Chadwick Bill Huhn Al Petrick
Naftali Chayat Donald C. Johnson Miri Ratner
Jonathon Y. Cheah Mikio Kiyono James A. Renfro
Hae Wook Choi Joseph J. Kubler William Roberts
Wim Diepstraten Arthur Lashbrook Jon Walter Rosdahl
viii Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved.

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
Michael Rothenberg Don Sloan
Tom Tsoulogiannis
Chandos A. Rypinski Greg Smith
Jeanine Valadez
Anil K. Sanwalka Marvin L. Sojka
Sarosh Vesuna
Roy Sebring Dave Strohschein
Richard E. White
Glen Sherwood Bert Sullam
Donna A. Woznicki
Thomas Siep Mack Sullivan
Timothy M. Zimmerman
Nathan Silberman
Johnny Zweig
Major contributions to the 1997 version were received from the following individuals:
Robert Achatz Richard Lee Richard Ozer
Ken Biba Kerry Lynn Thomas Phinney
Paul Eastman Michael Masleid Leon S. Scaldeferri*
Ed Geiger John McKown Jim Schuessler
Larry van der Jagt K. S. Natarajan François Y. Simon
Jim Neally
*Deceased
The following persons were on the balloting committee for the 1997 version of this standard:
Bernhard Albert Richard J. Iliff Thomas L. Phinney
Jon M. Allingham Tomoaki Ishifuji Vikram Prabhu
Jack S. Andresen Carlos Islas-Perez Alberto Profumo
Kit Athul Raj Jain David L. Propp
Anthony L. Barnes A. Kamerman Vikram Punj
Robert T. Bell Peter M. Kelly Andris Putnins
Manuel J. Betancor Yongbum Kim Fernando Ramos
Simon Black Mikio Kiyono James W. Romlein
Alan L. Bridges Thaddeus Kobylarz Floyd E. Ross
Graham Campbell Stephen B. Kruger Michael Rothenberg
James T. Carlo Joseph J. Kubler Christoph Ruland
David E. Carlson David J. Law Chandos A. Rypinski
Peter E. Chadwick Jai Yong Lee Anil K. Sanwalka
Naftali Chayat Jungtae Lee Gregory D. Schumacher
Alan J. Chwick Daniel E. Lewis Rich Seifert
Ken Clements Randolph S. Little Lee A. Sendelbach
Robert S. Crowder Ming T. Liu Michael Serrone
Rifaat Dayem Joseph C. J. Loo Adarshpal S. Sethi
Wim Diepstraten Donald C. Loughry Donald A. Sheppard
Edward A. Dunlop Robert D. Love Nathan Silberman
Sourav K. Dutta Ronald Mahany Joseph S. Skorupa
Paul S. Eastman Jim L. Mangin Michael A. Smith
Peter Ecclesine Peter Martini Marvin L. Sojka
Gregory Elkmann P. Takis Mathiopoulos Efstathios D. Sykas
John E. Emrich Steve Messenger Geoffrey O. Thompson
Philip H. Enslow Bennett Meyer Robert C. Tripi
Changxin Fan Ann Miller Mike Trompower
Michael A. Fischer David S. Millman David B. Turner
Harvey A. Freeman Hiroshi Miyano Mark-Rene Uchida
Robert J. Gagliano Stig Frode Mjolsnes James Vorhies
Patrick S. Gonia W. Melody Moh Yun-Che Wang
N. Douglas Grant John E. Montague Raymond P. Wenig
Govert M. Griffioen Wayne D. Moyers Earl J. Whitaker
Joseph L. Hammond Paul Nikolich David W. Wilson
Victor Hayes Ellis S. Nolley Jerry A. Wyatt
Kenneth C. Heck Robert O’Hara Qian-Li Yang
Jan Hoogendoorn Donal O’Mahony Iwen Yao
Russell D. Housley Roger Pandanda Oren Yuen
Walter K. Hurwitz Lalit Mohan Patnaik Jonathan M. Zweig
Lucy W. Person
Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved. ix

---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
When the IEEE-SA Standards Board approved this standard on 18 March 1999, it had the following
membership:
Richard J. Holleman, Chair Donald N. Heirman, Vice Chair
Judith Gorman, Secretary
James H. Gurney Louis-François Pau
Satish K. Aggarwal
Lowell G. Johnson Ronald C. Petersen
Dennis Bodson
Robert J. Kennelly Gerald H. Peterson
Mark D. Bowman
E. G. “Al” Kiener John B. Posey
James T. Carlo
Gary R. Engmann Joseph L. Koepfinger* Gary S. Robinson
Harold E. Epstein L. Bruce McClung Akio Tojo
Jay Forster* Daleep C. Mohla Hans E. Weinrich
Ruben D. Garzon Robert F. Munzner Donald W. Zipse
*Member Emeritus
Also included is the following nonvoting IEEE-SA Standards Board liaison:
Robert E. Hebner
Valerie E. Zelenty
IEEE Standards Project Editor
x Copyright © 1999 IEEE. All rights reserved.

---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
Contents
1. Overview. 1
1.1 Scope. 1
1.2 Purpose. 1
2. Normative references. 2
3. Definitions. 3
4. Abbreviations and acronyms. 6
5. General description . 9
5.1 General description of the architecture. 9
5.1.1 How wireless LAN systems are different . 9
5.2 Components of the IEEE 802.11 architecture. 10
5.2.1 The independent BSS as an ad hoc network. 10
5.2.2 Distribution system concepts . 11
5.2.3 Area concepts. 12
5.2.4 Integration with wired LANs. 14
5.3 Logical service interfaces . 14
5.3.1 Station serv
...

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