Title: Emerging Technologies in Wireless LANs, Edited by Benny Bing (Cambridge University Press)ISBN: ISBN-13:9780521895842 Cover: Hardback Price: £58
A reader review, by S.Perryman
The IEEE 802.11 radio LAN standard, through the "WiFi" initiative, has become the dominant and ubiquitous technology for wireless networking. Whether at home, in the office, airport lounges or coffee shops, the wireless LAN has become a boon for the user.
However, no technology can rest on its laurels, and must continue to evolve and improve. To this end, the author has attempted to compile a collection of articles that discuss for 802.11 technology the features and issues that are forthcoming, or will have to be addressed, to meet the future challenges of wireless networking.
The articles are structured into cohesive sections, allowing for easy reading. The basic 802.11n standard (the next generation of the technology) is described at a good level, complemented with more specific articles (such as the use of MIMO antenna technology).
There are sections on mesh networking (the future network topology of several radio technologies), the issues of inter-working with other radio technologies such as 2/3G mobile (heterogenous inter-working being a major theme of the future 4G networks) , operational (hot-spots, security) and regulatory issues (public access networks etc), applications, and more (other technologies such as UWB etc).
The author is to be commended for the choice of articles compiled.
There is a good balance of themes : the underlying technology, operational issues (quality of service, security, inter-working etc) , regulatory matters. In particular, the technology articles are generally written at a level that allow the beginner to read a topic without the usual problem of needing extensive background. Similarly, where mathematical treatment is needed, it is well-presented and is not the typical overwhelming reams of equations.
For those seeking extensive treatment of the details of the future 802.11 MAC/PHY layers, this is not the book for you. For those that want a presentation into the 802.11 standard and networks of the future covered with such breadth, but at a depth of detail that doesn't cause loss of understanding or interest, there currently appears to be no better reference book.
S. Perryman
There are sections on mesh networking (the future network topology of several radio technologies), the issues of inter-working with other radio technologies such as 2/3G mobile (heterogenous inter-working being a major theme of the future 4G networks) , operational (hot-spots, security) and regulatory issues (public access networks etc), applications, and more (other technologies such as UWB etc).
The author is to be commended for the choice of articles compiled.
There is a good balance of themes : the underlying technology, operational issues (quality of service, security, inter-working etc) , regulatory matters. In particular, the technology articles are generally written at a level that allow the beginner to read a topic without the usual problem of needing extensive background. Similarly, where mathematical treatment is needed, it is well-presented and is not the typical overwhelming reams of equations.
For those seeking extensive treatment of the details of the future 802.11 MAC/PHY layers, this is not the book for you. For those that want a presentation into the 802.11 standard and networks of the future covered with such breadth, but at a depth of detail that doesn't cause loss of understanding or interest, there currently appears to be no better reference book.
S. Perryman
