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wifi system architecture

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Wi-Fi, which stands for Wireless Fidelity, is a technology that allows devices to connect and communicate wirelessly using radio waves. The Wi-Fi system architecture involves several components and protocols to enable seamless wireless communication. Let's break down the key elements of a Wi-Fi system architecture:

  1. Device (Client or Station):
    • A device, such as a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or IoT device, that needs to connect to a Wi-Fi network is referred to as a client or station.
    • The device must have a Wi-Fi network interface card (NIC) to communicate over Wi-Fi.
  2. Access Point (AP):
    • An Access Point is a networking hardware device that allows a Wi-Fi device to connect to a wired network. It bridges the gap between the wireless and wired networks.
    • In infrastructure mode, devices communicate with each other through the Access Point.
  3. Basic Service Set (BSS):
    • The BSS is the basic building block of a Wi-Fi network and consists of an Access Point and the associated clients connected to it.
    • BSS can operate in two modes: Infrastructure mode and Ad-hoc mode. Infrastructure mode involves an Access Point, while Ad-hoc mode allows devices to communicate with each other directly without an Access Point.
  4. Extended Service Set (ESS):
    • An Extended Service Set is a set of interconnected BSSs. It allows users to roam seamlessly between different Access Points within the same network.
  5. Distribution System (DS):
    • The Distribution System connects a set of BSSs and provides the necessary infrastructure to extend the network beyond a single Access Point.
    • The DS is responsible for passing data frames between different BSSs and handling the association and disassociation of clients.
  6. Wi-Fi Channels:
    • Wi-Fi operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Each band is divided into multiple channels.
    • Channels are used to separate different Wi-Fi networks and reduce interference. Devices can operate on different channels within the same frequency band.
  7. Wi-Fi Protocols:
    • Wi-Fi uses a variety of protocols, such as IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). These protocols define the specifications for the physical and data link layers of the Wi-Fi network.
  8. Wi-Fi Security:
    • Wi-Fi networks implement security protocols such as WEP, WPA, and WPA2/WPA3 to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted over the wireless network.
  9. Wireless Distribution System (WDS):
    • WDS allows the interconnection of Access Points wirelessly, creating a wireless bridge between different parts of the network.
  10. Wireless Mesh Networks:
    • In a wireless mesh network, multiple Access Points are interconnected to provide coverage over a larger area. Mesh networks enhance reliability and coverage.

A Wi-Fi system architecture involves devices, Access Points, BSSs, ESSs, Distribution Systems, channels, protocols, security mechanisms, and additional features like WDS and mesh networking to create a flexible and scalable wireless communication infrastructure. The IEEE 802.11 standards define the technical specifications for these components, ensuring interoperability between different Wi-Fi devices.