Link-level simulator for WLAN networks

Wireless network security protocols are essential for enhancing security, privacy and confidentiality. However, network security protocols also require network resources in other to carry out authentication of users through the use of encryption keys and packet encryption. It is therefore relevant to investigate the effects of the amount of resources used by recommended wireless network security protocols in other to determine if user quality of experience and user quality of service is affected by the implementation wireless network security protocols. Our research investigates and examines the effect of security protocols on wireless network performance. The Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 - PreShared Key (WPA2-PSK) was used as the security protocol in focus while throughput was the network performance feature that was analyzed. Experiments were carried out which showed that throughput in a non-secured Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a bit higher than throughput in a secured WLAN. Our research contributes to the future development of WLAN protocols with low network resource consumption in other to contribute to improved network performance.

More and more devices, such as Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15.4 devices forming Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) and IEEE 802.11 devices constituting Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), share the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band in the realm of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities. However, the coexistence of these devices could pose a real challenge—co-channel interference that would severely compromise network performances. Although the coexistence issues has been partially discussed elsewhere in some articles, there is no single review that fully summarises and compares recent research outcomes and challenges of IEEE 802.15.4 networks, Bluetooth and WLANs together. In this work, we revisit and provide a comprehensive review on the coexistence and interference mitigation for those three types of networks. We summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the current methodologies, analysis and simulation models in terms of numerous important metrics such as the packet reception ratio, latency, scalability and energy efficiency. We discover that although Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15.4 networks are both WPANs, they show quite different performances in the presence of WLANs. IEEE 802.15.4 networks are adversely impacted by WLANs, whereas WLANs are interfered by Bluetooth. When IEEE 802.15.4 networks and Bluetooth co-locate, they are unlikely to harm each other. Finally, we also discuss the future research trends and challenges especially Deep-Learning and Reinforcement-Learning-based approaches to detecting and mitigating the co-channel interference caused by WPANs and WLANs.

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) are widely deployed for Internet-centric data applications. Due to their extensive norm in our day-to-day wireless-enabled life, WLANs are expected to play a vital role for Internet of Things (IoT). It is predicted that by 2020, about 50 billion devices (things) will be connected via IoT. Consequently, WLANs need major improvements in both throughput and efficiency for such a massive device deployment in applications like smart offices, smart train stations, and smart stadiums for smart cities in IoT. New technologies continue to be introduced for WLAN applications for this purpose. The IEEE 802.11ac standard is the currently implemented amendment by the IEEE 802.11 standard working group that promises data rates at gigabits per second. The main features of the IEEE 802.11ac standard are adopting increased bandwidth and higher order modulation than the previous standards, and multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) and multiuser MIMO transmission modes. These features are designed to improve the user experience. In addition to technologies that enhance the efficiency of the WLAN, the IEEE 802.11ax High Efficiency WLAN (HEW) standard is also investigating and evaluating advanced wireless technologies to utilize the existing spectrum more efficiently.

With the increasing popularity of the wireless network, the security issue for mobile users could be even more serious than it can be expected. Here it is need to search for new architecture and mechanisms to protect the wireless networks and mobile computing application. This paper focuses on intrusion detection and security consideration in wireless local area networks (WLANs) and also presents intrusion detection for WLANs, which gives a wireless intrusion detection system and its architecture consideration. A wireless IDS is similar to a standard, wired IDS, but has additional deployment requirements as well as some unique features specific to WLAN intrusion and misuse detection. Meanwhile, we discuss some issues with wireless networks and Intrusion detection solution to wireless networks.

Low proflle, light weight, easily mounted and broad bandwidth are the key charac- teristics for antennae designed for wireless applications. The microstrip antenna (MSA) suits the features mentioned except for its narrow bandwidth. The bandwidth of the microstrip antenna usually ranges from less than 1% to several percent. This paper experimentally investigates an alternative approach in enhancing the bandwidth of the microstrip antenna for the Wireless Lo- cal Area Network (WLAN) application operating at a frequency of 2.45GHz. The bandwidth enhancement technique which is studied is the Identical Dual Patch Microstrip Antenna with Air-Gap (IDMA). A bandwidth enhancement of more than 11% was achieved. Wireless applications have undergone rapid development in recent years. One particular wireless application that has experienced this trend is the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The wireless application that is selected to be studied is the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz frequency band which is based on the 802.11b WLAN standard. This frequency band is very popular due to its low cost. WLAN antenna requires being low proflle, light weight and broad bandwidth. The microstrip antenna suits the features very well except for its narrow bandwidth. The WLAN antenna should have a minimum bandwidth of 100MHz to fully utilize the WLAN band based on the 802.11b standard. The conventional microstrip antenna could not fulflll this requirement as its bandwidth usually ranges from less than 1% to several percent (1). Although the required operating frequency range is from 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz, at least double the bandwidth is required to avoid expensive tuning operations and to cause uncritical manufacturing. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the bandwidth of the microstrip antenna for WLAN applications. This paper investigates a technique which can enhance the bandwidth of the microstrip antenna without increasing the lateral size and the complexity of the microstrip antenna too much. The Identical Dual Patch Microstrip Antenna with Air-Gap (IDMA) bandwidth enhancement technique takes the advantage of using the air gap to lower the efiective permittivity and increase the total thickness of the microstrip antenna which is essential for bandwidth enhancement. This bandwidth enhanced microstrip antenna can be deployed for the WLAN application operating at a frequency of 2.45GHz. 2. SIMULATED AND MEASURED RESULTS OF THE SINGLE-LAYER MICROSTRIP ANTENNA

Wireless communication systems have undergone significant advancements in recent years, revolutionizing the way we communicate and enabling seamless connectivity across various domains. This chapter provides an overview of key research works and advancements in wireless communication systems, covering topics such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and emerging technologies. The brief historical overview highlights the major milestones and advancements in wireless communication systems. It is a testament to human ingenuity and the constant pursuit of improving connectivity and communication capabilities. Wireless communication continues to evolve, driving innovation and transforming the way we interact and share information in an increasingly interconnected world. Bluetooth, Zigbee, and other short-range wireless technologies are widely used for wireless communication between devices over short distances. Here are some details about each of these technologies. Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), commonly known as Wi-Fi, provide wireless connectivity within a limited area such as homes, offices, or public spaces. They operate based on various standards defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Wireless communication systems face challenges such as limited bandwidth, interference, security concerns, and signal propagation issues. Addressing these challenges requires advanced techniques in modulation, channel coding, multiple access schemes, antenna design, signal processing, and network optimization. This abstract provides a brief glimpse into the vast field of wireless communication systems and its profound impact on modern society. This chapter provides the details study of the wireless communication system covering its various parts and the broad area of network. With the rapid development of wireless communication systems, we can expect further advancements and improvements in the future, leading to even more efficient and reliable connectivity across a wide range of applications and industries. Cellular networks are wireless communication systems that enable mobile devices to connect to a network and communicate with each other. They use a network of base stations or cell towers that provide coverage in specific geographic areas called cells. Wi-Fi has become an essential technology, providing convenient and ubiquitous wireless connectivity. The evolution of Wi-Fi standards has brought faster data rates, improved range. Bluetooth, Zigbee, and other short-range wireless technologies are widely used for wireless communication between devices over short distances. Here are some details about each of these technologies:

Many wireless local area network (WLAN) performance estimations are done with the assumption of uniformly distributed stations (STAs). In practice, on the contrary STAs are distributed unevenly among access points (APs), causing hot-spots and under utilized APs in a wireless network. Considering a WLAN is made up of multiple APs, having some APs carrying excessive loads (i.e. hot-spots) degrades both the considered APs as well as the overall network performance. The system performance can be improved by associating incoming STAs effectively throughout the network, in a sense to balance the network load evenly between APs and relieve the hot-spot congestion. Currently employed user association method in IEEE 802.11 WLANs considers only the received signal strength of APs at STAs, and associates STAs to the closest (in signal strength sense) AP, ignoring its load and interference value.Novel user association algorithms are required for congestion relief and network performance improvement. In this work, a new distributed association algorithm taking into consideration not only the received signal strength of the APs at STAs but also AP loadings and interference is proposed. A new AP load calculation method acknowledging the interference between STAs and APs is presented. Our simulations demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can improve the overall system throughput performance more than 50% and offers a better load distribution across the network compared to conventional association algorithm.

Despite unprecedented advancements, wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT), such as IEEE 802.11ah (i.e., WiFi-HaLow), are prone to serious security threats, owing to their constrained computational and memory resources, which limit the use of heavyweight intrusion protection and security protocols. To address this problem, security administrators (sec-admins) must perform regular and comprehensive vulnerability assessments of IoT devices. An Internet-wide port scan (IWPS) is the initial step. However, the medium access control mechanism of IEEE 802.11ah, designed specifically for heterogeneous IoT traffic and low-power operations, can degrade network performance in the case of traditional port-scan traffic. Moreover, Internet-security (IPSec) protocol support is mandatory for IPv6-enabled IoT devices to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although the objective of a port scan is to improve IoT security, the resultant network performance can adversely affect IPSec services. Therefore, in this study, we optimize the IWPS to maximize the IoT security over IEEE 802.11ah WLAN. To this end, we propose novel mathematical models to evaluate IoT security based on port-scan network performance and IPsec services, which derives an optimal scan rate for sec-admins. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is verified by comprehensive numerical analysis, which shows that our approach minimizes the risk to IoT devices while probing them at an optimal scan rate.

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have risen in popularity for in-car networking systems that are designed to make driving safer. Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are widely deployed to expand the coverage of high-speed WLANs and to support last-mile connectivity for mobile users anytime and anywhere at low cost. Many recent measurement studies have shown that the traffic arrival process in wireless networks exhibits the bursty and correlated nature. A new analytical model is developed in this paper as a cost-effective performance tool to investigate the quality-of-service (QoS) of the WMN that interconnects multiple WLANs in the presence of bursty and correlated traffic. After validating its accuracy via extensive simulation experiments, the analytical model is then used to investigate the performance of the hybrid wireless networks.

Wireless communication provides users many benefits such as portability, flexibility, reduced hardware need and lower installation costs. Wireless local area networks (WLANs) for example allow users the ability to carry their laptops from place to place without any physical wires and without losing network connectivity.However, some amount of security risk is always associated with wireless networks. The most significant security risk for wireless technology is the potential outsiders have in gaining access to the communications medium, the communications medium being the air waves. Though WLANs provide the users with the option of roaming, this convenience is facilitated by broadcasting packets to anyone with compatible equipment within range of a transmitting device. This broadcasting of packets induces a compromise between convenience and security. Having an unsecured WLAN can result in a loss of service, or can be used as a staging area to launch attacks against other networks. The significant challenges faced today in securing wireless LANs are maintaining privacy, data confidentiality, and preventing unauthorized access using proper access control mechanisms.As wireless networking and security become more prevalent in the market, more and more computer science programs are incorporating courses in wireless networks or at the least, devoting a significant percentage of the advanced networking courses to wireless topics. As a result, in addition to industry practitioners, there is a growing interest among university researchers and faculty regarding tools used in monitoring and assessing security threats for wireless networks.This paper will demonstrate and evaluate a free and open source software tool, called Network Stumbler, used for monitoring and assessing security threats for wireless networks. Network Stumbler is a Windows-based tool that allows you to detect Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) using 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g. It has many uses:• Verifies that your network is set up the way you intended.• Find locations with poor coverage in your WLAN.• Detects other networks that may be causing interference on your network.• Detects unauthorized rogue access points in your workplace.• Helps aim directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links.• Can be used recreationally for WarDriving.

The increasing demand for the coverage of high‐speed wireless local area networks (WLANs) is driving the installation of a very large number of access points (APs). Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) have emerged as a promising technology in the next generation networks to provide economical and scalable broadband access to wireless interconnection of multiple APs that manage individual WLANs in order to extend the coverage of the conventional single WLANs. In this paper, we develop a new analytical model to investigate the quality‐of‐service (QoS) performance metrics in WMNs interconnecting multiple WLANs. The model takes the phenomenon of communication locality into consideration. Extensive simulation experiments are conducted to validate the accuracy of the analytical model. The proposed model is then used to obtain the maximum achievable throughput, which is a key performance metrics in wireless networks. Moreover, we utilize the model to evaluate the impact of communication locality on network performance and investigate its effects on the optimization of integrated WLANs and multi‐hop mesh networks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nowadays, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) become a popular solution for networking among computers and other devices within a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building. A WLAN is a wireless network of devices, where two or more devices are connected via wireless links. In this network, users with their devices can able to move around within a coverage area, while they are connected with the network. This WLAN is commonly called as Wifi. Proper deployment of Access Points, Switches, Cables and Connectors and tune between them is the main requirement for efficient and faster communication between computers and devices. To get optimized performance from a WLAN, it is essential to do Site Survey and Radio Frequency (RF) planning before the deployment. In this paper, we present and analyze different techniques of site survey and RF planning. We also suggest a methodology for these, which is needs to be adopted by expert engineers while deploying a WLAN.

Automated interference detection is required for operation and management services in wireless networks as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) based on IEEE 802.11 Standard since co-channel interference from other wireless transmitters occurs irregularly. We propose a new approach for detecting the presence of interference on 802.11 links. Our solution focuses on the Access Point (AP)-initiated monitoring approach without Wireless Station (STA)-initiated additional function and sniffer devices. Our approach uses the geographical distribution of the response delay of the Acknowledgment packet (ACK) to the downlink packet that AP transmitted to STAs. The proposed method consists of a continuous monitoring step and a periodical diagnosis step to measure network statistics by ACK response delay between an AP and STAs and to detect whether and where interference occurs respectively. Comprehensive simulation results show that the proposed approach has a good accuracy and low misdetection ratio for diagnosing the interference existence and location in IEEE 802.11 WLANs.

A new multi-rat scheduling algorithm for heterogeneous wireless networks

In wireless data communication, an advanced nonlinear distortion analysis is required in order to see its effect to the performance of a Radio Frequency (RF) front-end system. This technical paper therefore, reports the effect of third order intermodulation (IM3) distortion on the constellation error (a key measure of modulation quality) in RF transmitter of IEEE 802.11a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. The selected RF transmitter architecture is based on the off-the-shelf components. Advanced Design System (ADS) software has been used for RF transmitter modeling and simulation. The constellation error simulation is based on the IEEE 802.11a standard. As results, two observations have been obtained. First, it is shown that the IM3 distortion in the RF transmitter for IEEE 802.11a WLAN system must be kept in minimum level in order to get lower constellation error. Second, with the same IM3 distortion level, the constellation error is very sensitive to the IM3 distortion at higher data rate (e.g. 54 Mbps) compared to lower data rate (e.g. 6 Mbps).