PAR Discussion

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PAR Discussion

• David Johnston
• david.johnston_at_ieee.org
• dj.johnston_at_intel.com

2
Scope Intent

• The scope of this project is to develop a
  standard that shall define mechanisms that may be
  adopted into 802 implementations ...
• This is an 802 thing
• We are not a layer 3 thing

3
Scope Intent

• so that handoff of handoff-capable upper layer
  entities e.g. MobileIP sessions, can be optimized
  ...
• We are not trying to hand of MAC or PHY layer
  entities. It is the upper layer entity that is
  handing off
• We are trying to enable higher layer entities to
  be handed off
• We are not MobileIP but MobileIP is and example
  of something that is applicable

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Scope Intent

• between homogeneous and heterogeneous 802 media
  types both wired and wireless...
• We apply for handoff between
• 802.x ? 802.y when xy or x!y
• We include 802.3 and other wired technologies
• Addresses the case of a docked laptop/PDA handing
  off to a wireless connection when undocked
• When xy we must not conflict with handoff
  mechanisms specified for that case
• Also we must avoid cases where specific optimized
  handoff mechanisms have been defined between a
  pair of dissimilar network types (x!y)
• So, we need an exception

5
Scope Intent

• , where handoff is not otherwise defined...
• Avoids E.G. intra ESS 802.11 handoff
• But applies to inter ESS 802.11 handoff
• Addresses handoff between heterogeneous network
  types since no 802.x to 802.y handoff mechanism
  is currently specified

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Scope Intent

• Consideration will be made to ensure
  compatibility with the 802 architectural model.
  
• This is a 5C requirement
• Make it clear in the PAR
• In our case it speaks in particular to 802.1x
  that influences the pre and post authentication
  flow of data through a MAC

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Scope Intent

• Consideration will be made to ensure that
  compatibility is maintained with 802 security
  mechanisms including 802.1x. Neither security
  algorithms nor security protocols shall be
  defined in the specification.
• Here we address security issues
• Specifically call out consideration 802.1x. We
  are cognizant of intersections with 802.1x as a
  result of our study work.
• We are not defining new security protocols
• We are not defining new security algorithms
• To do combined secure-handoff across
  heterogeneous media would be a huge task that is
  unlikely to complete and is likely to overlap
  with work ongoing elsewhere (linksec, 802.1aa,
  IETF etc)

8
Proposed PAR - Scope
12. Scope of Proposed Project The scope of this
project is to develop a standard that shall
define mechanisms that may be adopted into 802
implementations so that handoff of
handoff-capable upper layer entities, e.g.
MobileIP sessions, can be optimized between
homogeneous or heterogeneous 802 media types both
wired and wireless, where handoff is not
otherwise defined. Consideration will be made to
ensure compatibility with the 802 architectural
model. Consideration will be made to ensure that
compatibility is maintained with 802 security
mechanisms including 802.1x. Neither security
algorithms nor security protocols shall be
defined in the specification.
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Purpose Intent

• The purpose of the project is to
• a) facilitate the optimization of handoff
  between 802 networks that may be of different
  media types both wired and wireless, where 802
  level handoff is not otherwise defined...
• We are an optimization spec. Not a handoff spec
• The handoff must be there already

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Purpose Intent

• b) to make it possible for mobile devices to
  perform seamless handoff where the network
  environment supports it ...
• Seamless handoff (as in smooth and fast) is the
  end goal. But it is not universally available
  since the network interfaces may have features
  that inhibit seamless handoff.
• So do not promise the impossible

11
Purpose Intent

• This will improve the user experience of mobile
  devices by improving the available continuous
  network coverage through the support of multiple
  media types and preventing the interruption of
  upper layer sessions during handoff.
• The end goal is improvement of user experience
  through greater continuity of not only
  connectivity, but the sessions operating over
  that connectivity

12
Proposed PAR - purpose
13. Purpose of Proposed Project The purpose of
the project is to a) facilitate the optimization
of handoff between 802 networks that may be of
different media types both wired and wireless,
where 802 level handoff is not otherwise defined
b) to make it possible for mobile devices to
perform seamless handoff where the network
environment supports it. This will improve the
user experience of mobile devices by improving
the available network coverage through the
support of multiple media types and preventing
the interruption of upper layer sessions during
handoff.