Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) Fundamentals

SUMMARY

The convergence of two highly disruptive technologies, VoIP and WLAN, is set to drastically alter the way we communicate, do business, and play. VoWLAN represents both an opportunity and a threat to traditional business and communications. This report provides the foundation knowledge and understanding necessary to capitalize on this evolution from wireline to wireless and from circuit to packet.

Purpose of VoWLAN Fundamentals

Where other reports fall short, providing only forecast data for the VoWLAN market, VoWLAN Fundamentals is intended to help the reader learn the fundamentals of how to design, integrate and maintain a VoWLAN system. In addition to providing an excellent foundation knowledge to the technical and business issues involved in the convergence of VoIP and WLAN, this report provides enough information to assist in planning the business case and technical challenges of a VoWLAN deployment.

Target Audience for the Report

While this report will be of interest to anyone involved in the business, engineering, planning, and/or operation of a VoWLAN network or service offering, VoWLAN Fundamentals will be of particular value to the following groups:

• Investors in the VoIP, WLAN, and VoWLAN space
• Suppliers of VoIP, WLAN, WiMax, MMDS, and VoWLAN equipment and software
• Hotspot WLAN (WiFi and HiperLAN) service providers
• Traditional circuit-switched and next generation VoIP service providers
• Cellular and broadband wireless service providers
• Consultants, analysts and systems integration companies
• Corporations, VoIP and unlicensed spectrum regulatory agencies, and governmental organizations such as the US Department of Homeland Security

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

VoIP Standards and Protocols - A Brief Overview

• Signaling Protocols
  • ITU-T, H.323
  • Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
  • Table 1 - SIP Vs H.323 Comparison Table
  • Cisco Client Control Protocol (CSCCP)
• Media Gateway Control Protocols
• VoIP Media Transport Protocols
• Section Summary

The VoIP Market Opportunity

• A Disruptive Technology at Play
• Tech Convergence - Cell Phones, PCs and Other Toys
• The Global Economy and Enterprise Networking
  • IP Telephony (IPT)
  • Voice Services Over the Internet
• Telephony in the Enterprise Network
  • Unified Messaging
  • Presence
  • Custom Applications Development
  • Figure 1 - Voice Services Over the Internet
• The Telecommunications Services Frenzy
  • Internet Telephone Service Providers
  • Cable Network Telephone Service
  • Call Centers
  • Figure 2 - IP Enabled Call Center
  • Wireless Network Service Providers
    • Cellular Telephone Networks
    • Fixed Wireless Network Service Providers
• Regulatory Impacts on the VoIP Market Opportunity
• Section Summary

WLAN Systems/Standards - A Brief Overview

• Table 2 - Spectrum Bands
• 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
  • Emerging 802.11 Specifications & Feature Enhancements
  • Table 3 - 802.11a - 802.11b/g Comparison Table
• HiperLAN & HiperMAN
• 802.16 WiMax
• MMDS, 2.5 GHz Super-cells
• WLL, 3.5 GHz Multi-cells
• Section Summary

The Wireless LAN/WAN Market

• Hot Spots and Hot Zones
  • An Interesting Case Study - The Insurance Industry
  • The Medical Industry Opportunity
    • Convergence to the Rescue
• The Corporate WLAN - Wired Network Extensions
  • Radio Frequency Identification Systems (RFID)
• Wireless Wide Area Networks
• Mesh Networks
  • Mesh Networks, VoWLAN, and Homeland Security
• Section Summary

Why VoIP and Wireless?

• The VoIP/WLAN Market Opportunity
  • Corporate Enterprise Solutions
    • Convergence to the Rescue
    • Economic Assessment - Does It Pay?
  • Wide Area Networks
    • Economic Assessment - Does It Profitable?
      • Third World Nations
      • Rural America/Urban America
      • Second Line Service/Life Line Service
• Section Summary

VoWLAN Implementation - Issues and Answers

• RF Bandwidth - The Critical Resource
• Spectrum Constraints and Technology Selections
• Network Audits
  • Identify Your Traffic
  • Identify Your Network Technologies
• Traffic Planning
  • VoIP Coding Algorithms & Bandwidth Usage
  • Engineering Voice Traffic in an IP World - Erlangs
  • The "V" Challenge
    • Television Broadcast Video
    • Digitized Broadcast Video
    • Video Conferencing
    • Internet Streaming Video & MPEG Files
    • Security/Surveillance Video
    • Digital Collaborative Video
    • JPEG Files
  • Traffic Loading - The "Active" User
• (Sub) Section Summary
• The RF Channel - Characteristics and Planning
  • Bandwidth
    • "Raw" Data Rate
    • Modulation Format
  • Channel Plan
  • Figure 3 - Example Channel Plan Using 802.11a
  • Planning WLAN Channel Capacity
• RF Coverage Requirements - Who's on Net?
  • Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
  • Mesh Networking
  • FDD Vs TDD
• RF Site Surveys
• Other Networks and Overheads
  • Protocol Overheads
  • A Technology Overhead
  • System Management Overhead
• (Sub) Section Summary
• Bandwidth Management Techniques
  • Managing the RF Bandwidth for QoS
    • Data Grams - MIR & CIR
    • Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation
    • Dynamic Adaptive Modulation
    • Smart Antenna Systems
  • Networking Protocols & Techniques for BW Management
    • Policing and Shaping
    • Congestion Avoidance
    • IP Class and Marking
    • Traffic Queuing
      • Class Based Weighted Fair Queuing
      • Low Latency Queuing
      • IP RTP Priority Queuing
      • Resource Reservation Protocol
• Performance Monitoring
  • Tools
• (Sub) Section Summary

Network Security - More Issues and Answers

• Radio Frequency Interception and Hacking
• Wireless Network Security Techniques
  • Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
  • IEEE 802.11i, aka WPA2
    • Upgrading to 802.11i
• Security Recommendations for Hot Spot Users
• Encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) & Security
  • A WLAN View of VPNs
    • Authentication
    • Data Encryption
    • Management and Security Policy Enforcement
    • User and Device Management
• Security Issues Related to VoIP
  • SIP Issues
  • Other Bad News
• Intrusion Detection and Counter Measures
  • A Pro-Active Defense Approach
  • Intrusion Detection System
  • Secure Your SIP Network
• Section Summary

Emerging Technology - Hopes for the Future

• Emerging Technology
  • It's in The Chips
  • Advancements in VoIP QoE

More VoWLAN from Mind Commerce

• VoWLAN Planning and Operations
• VoWLAN Training