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Introducing 802.11s - Wireless Mesh Networking

Posted by timothy on from the pass-it-on dept.

ikewillis writes "Intel has introduced a new wireless networking standard called 802.11s. This standard utilizes a mesh topology, allowing for fully self-configuring networks where each node can relay messages on behalf of others, thus increasing the range and available bandwidth with the number of nodes active within the system, versus the point-to-point structure of existing WiFi networks. This will radically transform WiFi hotspots, allowing the geographical area and available bandwidth on the network to scale with the number of participants."

9 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. This is great but... by readpunk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    WiMax and other technologies like it will still be much more important because, do we really want a grid of short range networks that will ultimately cause divisions between different parts of the networks if one node goes down or would we prefer enourmously large networks that overlap each other (the different nodes) once or twice or thrice?

    --

    ./revolution
  2. s? by Oen_Seneg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    where do they get all these letters from? There seems to be 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g and now 802.11s, and I have no idea why the letters are what they are. Anyone care to explain?

    1. Re:s? by Tatarize · · Score: 5, Funny

      No. We will not explain.

      However, we will chide you for not including 802.11n on your list!

      --

      It is no longer uncommon to be uncommon.
    2. Re:s? by Evan+Meakyl · · Score: 5, Informative

      to tell the truth, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c, 802.11d, ... exists, but some are less used (and known) than others.

      More info (with explanations) here

  3. Nifty . . Highway net! by millisa · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think it sure would be nifty to see this type of AP installed in cars and have uplink points along major highways . . . It'd be a fluid network that would improve with traffic . . . Then again, maybe encouraging heavier traffic is a bad thing . . . it'd still be cool.

  4. A clarification and question by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Intel has not introduced the 802.11s standard; Intel has made a proposal to the IEEE, which they will take into consideration while designing the 802.11s standard.

    The article makes 802.11s sound like a general mesh standard, which would be really nice. However, what I read on the IEEE Web site recently made it sound like merely a self-configuring version of WDS (so that only access points participate in the mesh). Can anyone provide details on the features of Intel's proposal?

  5. Wimax is LICENSED, Wifi is NOT licensed by Cryofan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    once you get licenses in the picture, you disempower the smaller entities and empower the larger entities. And I think that most Americans are starting to see that whenever larger entities gain power over small entities and citizens, then things start to go sour...

    --
    eat shiat and bark at the moon
    1. Re:Wimax is LICENSED, Wifi is NOT licensed by gid13 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Frankly, I have a certain suspicion that most Americans (perhaps even more than other nationalities) are too busy watching wrestling, praising Jesus, declaring war on abstract nouns, etc., to pay attention to whether the leader of their country is capable of rational discourse, let alone whether a particular wireless protocol is empowering large companies or not.

      (Yes, I'm going for an even split between funny and troll).

  6. WiMAX runs over unlicensed freqs too by mveloso · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just an FYI, WiMAX runs across both licensed and unlicensed bands.