Issues with real-time streaming applications roaming in QoS-based secure IEEE 802.11 WLANs

Abstract

The mass deployment of IEEE 802.11 based wireless local area networks (WLAN), and increased sales in portable devices supporting WLAN, have resulted in an urgent need to support real time applications while wireless users are on the move. This critical support necessitates research into current WLAN roaming capabilities. This paper evaluates the current status of WLAN roaming capabilities and how they would react to new standards such as IEEE 802.11i and IEEE 802.11e. The paper briefly discusses wired equivalent privacy (WEP), IEEE 802.11i authentication mechanism, and the new IEEE 802.11r in terms of roaming capability. Simulation results show that when using IEEE 802.11i authentication mechanism, the latency incurred would deter voice quality if there is continuous roaming. However, the new IEEE 802.11r draft standard not only supports IEEE 802.11e in terms of quality of service and IEEE 802.11i in terms of security enhancement, but it also provides a shorter roaming time that is suitable for today's voice calls. (7 pages)