Multi-layered architecture for home multimedia digital wireless LAN

This paper discusses the issues involved in the design of a multimedia digital wireless LAN (MWLAN) for home environments and proposes a hierarchical, multi-layered architecture as a solution. The major factors to be considered in the design of a MWLAN are classified into six groups, namely physical media and MAC related, data traffic related, device related, ease-of-use related, security related and inter operation related. The proposed architecture is dynamically configurable to a complete mesh and makes use of multiple media at different hierarchical levels. This architecture provides a hierarchical data structure between different layers in the network. The network services in this architecture are broadly classified into dynamic network management service (DNMS) and static network management service (SNMS). The DNMS, apart from providing other regular services, uses a novel concept called shadow client to achieve a mesh configuration and multicast transmissions without having to repeat the data on the channel. The SNMS is mainly geared towards assisting in network maintenance. It provides various types of data that can help decide maintenance, relocation or replacement of the client devices in order to achieve better performance.