January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Benefits of Smart Antennas in 802.11 Networks

Presented to: IEEE802.11 Wireless Next Generation Standing Committee 14 January 2003

Submission

Slide 1

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Presentation Goals
1. Show the test results that illustrate the benefits of applying Smart Antennas to 802.11 equipment. 2. Highlight/introduce the opportunity within the Standards to further optimize the control & operation of Smart Antennas.

Submission

Slide 2

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Todays Antenna Topologies

Omni-directional Monopole over ground plane Low Cost Baseline performance RF No interference protection Subject to multi-path fades

Control RF

Switched Diversity Two dipoles Higher cost No interference protection Select antenna with stronger signal to mitigate fades Directive Dipole with back reflector Low Cost Fixed pattern of coverage Directional interference suppression Directional suppression of multi-path components
Slide 3 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

RF
Submission

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Benefits of a Smart Antenna for 802.11 Applications

Improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Increased coverage / range Increased data rate reach

Interference Reduction
Confine Tx RF energy to desired areas Rx signal controlled by antenna pattern

Multi-path Reduction
Signal paths reduced or eliminated by coverage pattern Signal strength variance reduced

Increased network capacity

Clients / Stations operate at higher data rates Reduced probability of collisions

Increased Battery Life

Clients / Stations reduce Tx power Increased data rate reduces Tx time
Submission Slide 4 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Definition

Multiple mode antenna: Omni & Directional Switching: < 100 nsec between modes / directions Interfaces: Single RF I/O, digital control lines Designed for Consumer applications Antenna control:
Automatic steering via HW or SW implementation Integrated with communications protocol Integrated within device for simplicity & cost

Submission

Slide 5

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Implementation

Omni & directional modes Single transceiver design input / output Simple digital control from PHY / MAC Directional beam-forming at RF Noise suppression provided by pattern Multi-path components suppressed by pattern Printed circuit board implementation Standard commercial materials and components Simple fabrication, assembly, and test
Submission Slide 6 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Multiple Antenna Configurations

2.4 GHz

5 GHz

Dual Band

Submission

Slide 7

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Description

Gain
Omni mode: 0 dBi Directional mode: 3.5 to 5 dBi

Beam-width
1 dB: 60 3 dB: 110

Front-to-back ratio: 13 dB Interfaces

RF: 50O Control: 2 to 4 Digital signals Power: 3 VDC, 200A
Submission Slide 8 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Representative Coverage Patterns

Omni & Directional
Directional Pattern Omni Pattern

Omni + 4 Directions

Directional pattern always has higher signal gain than Omni Submission Slide 9 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test Objectives

Collect range-rate data with a 802.11b WLAN to investigate performance advantages with the use of Smart Antenna Investigate the impact of Smart Antennas for both downlink and uplink file transfers The goal of this testing is to demonstrate a data rate improvement with the Smart Antenna as compared to a switch diversity antenna

Submission

Slide 10

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test Equipment

Hardware
Commercially available Access Point and Client / Station

Software
WarFTPd 1.70.b01.04 (Aug 18 1998) application on the laptop connected to the AP DOS ftp command imbedded in batch files on the laptop connected to the Client

Antennas
AP: Internal diversity or External Smart Antenna Client/Station: Internal diversity antenna

Submission

Slide 11

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Test Setup
Access Point
Server - IBM ThinkPad War FTPd software Internal Switched Diversity Antenna External Smart Antenna

Client/Station
Laptop - IBM ThinkPad DOS FTP commands Internal Switched Diversity Antenna

Submission

Slide 12

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Test Antenna
Photo and coverage patterns of test antenna Antenna provides eight directional beams in 45 increments

Submission

Slide 13

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test Procedure

File transfer size: 3 MB Antenna Configurations
Internal Switched Diversity Smart Antenna in Omni mode Smart Antenna at each of 4 angles (90 steps)

Locate Client/Station at the desired test location For each antenna configuration, transfer 5 files in the desired direction using a DOS ftp command from Client/Station
Submission Slide 14 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test Locations

SERVER ROOM

First Floor: Tantivy Corporate Headquarters

ELEC RM
133

REF

C.O.P.

TP13 TP08 TP28 TP12 TX01 TP10 TP15

TP19
FAX/COPY

TP20

TP23

WOMENS 105

EC 104

MENS 103

TP29
EXIST STAIR #2

TP22 TP14 TP11 TP16 TP18 TP21 TP24

TP06

TP07 TP09

LEGEND Access Point Location Test Location

Test Point TP# Dist Tot (ft)

6 37

7 47

8 35

9 52

10 54

28 74

29 75

11 83

12 80

13 92

14 97

15 103

16 114

18 141

19 124

20 142

21 160

22 162

23 172

24 188

Submission

Slide 15

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test Environment

Commercial Office Space Exterior walls: Concrete block Interior walls: Steel Studs with sheet rock Ceiling height: 9 feet Ceiling type: Suspended acoustic tiles Data Collection: Daytime work hours

Submission

Slide 16

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test: Data Analysis

Average the 5 file transfers
Uplink and Downlink Internal Switched Diversity Antenna External Smart Antenna: Omni mode External Smart Antenna: 4 directional positions

Plots
Average Data for Uplink and Downlink
Switched Diversity Antenna Smart Antenna

Min/Max/Avg Plot for Uplink and Downlink

Switched Diversity Antenna Smart Antenna
Submission Slide 17 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test Results - Downlink

Submission

Slide 18

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Test Results - Uplink

Submission

Slide 19

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna: Downlink Min/Max/Avg

Submission

Slide 20

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna: Uplink Min/Max/Avg

Submission

Slide 21

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Smart Antenna Benefits Network Capacity

802.11b Smart Antenna

802.11b Switched Diversity

Submission

Slide 22

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003
Average Network Throughput Comparison

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Average Network Throughput

3.5 3

2.5
Network Throughtput

1.5

0.5

11b Switched Diversity

11b Smart Antenna

Submission

Slide 23

John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.

January 2003

doc.: IEEE 802.11-03/025r0

Summary
The Smart Antenna improved WLAN performance 82% increase in coverage (3.8dB to 5dB) Benefits similar for Uplink and Downlink directions Significant reduction in Min/Max difference results in reduced variance Performance improvements expected from interference reduction Test results were collected using existing technology, not simulations
Submission Slide 24 John Regnier, Tantivy Communications, Inc.